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View the definition of a stored procedure

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL database in Microsoft Fabric Preview

View the definition of a stored procedure

This article describes how to view the definition of procedure in Object Explorer or T-SQL.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

To view the definition a procedure in Object Explorer:

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine and then expand that instance.

  2. Expand Databases, expand the database in which the procedure belongs, and then expand Programmability.

  3. Expand Stored Procedures, right-click the procedure and then select Script Stored Procedure as, and then select one of the following: Create To, Alter To, or Drop and Create To.

  4. Select New Query Editor Window. This will display the procedure definition.

Use Transact-SQL

In T-SQL, you can use one of the following three commands:

Note

The system stored procedure sp_helptext is not supported in Azure Synapse Analytics. Instead, use sys.sql_modules object catalog view.

Use sp_helptext

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the Database Engine.

  2. On the toolbar, select New Query.

  3. In the query window, enter the following statement that uses the sp_helptext system stored procedure. Change the database name and stored procedure name to reference the database and stored procedure that you want.

    USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
EXEC sp_helptext N'AdventureWorks2022.dbo.uspLogError';

Use OBJECT_DEFINITION

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the Database Engine.

  2. On the toolbar, select New Query.

  3. In the query window, enter the following statements that use the OBJECT_DEFINITION system function. Change the database name and stored procedure name to reference the database and stored procedure that you want. This query leverages OBJECT_ID and OBJECT_DEFINITION to identify the object by its three-part name.

    USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
SELECT OBJECT_DEFINITION (OBJECT_ID(N'AdventureWorks2022.dbo.uspLogError'));

Use sys.sql_modules

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the Database Engine.

  2. On the toolbar, select New Query.

  3. In the query window, enter the following statements that use the sys.sql_modules catalog view. Change the database name and stored procedure name to reference the database and stored procedure that you want.

    USE AdventureWorks2022;  
GO  
SELECT [definition]
FROM sys.sql_modules  
WHERE object_id = (OBJECT_ID(N'dbo.uspLogError'));

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