GetSchemaTable and Friendly Column Name

13 Apr 2006 4:50 PM

Michael Jackson

Looking for a suggestion.

Using .NET 2003 and SQL Server 2000, I'm using GetSchemaTable to get the
schema of mutiple tables. I populate a listbox with the column names and
allow the user to multi-select the column names, then using the selected
column names, I create a query returning just those columns.

However, I would like to present the user with a "friendly name" for the
column rather than the column name from the table, e.g. Employee Name as
opposed to EmpName.

When designing a table in SQL Server Enterprise Manager, you can enter a
Description for the column. How could I use that information?

Michael

14 Apr 2006 3:15 AM

Otis Mukinfus

Show quote

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:50:23 -0500, "Michael Jackson" <michaeldjack***@cox.net>
wrote:

>Looking for a suggestion.
>
>Using .NET 2003 and SQL Server 2000, I'm using GetSchemaTable to get the
>schema of mutiple tables. I populate a listbox with the column names and
>allow the user to multi-select the column names, then using the selected
>column names, I create a query returning just those columns.
>
>However, I would like to present the user with a "friendly name" for the
>column rather than the column name from the table, e.g. Employee Name as
>opposed to EmpName.
>
>When designing a table in SQL Server Enterprise Manager, you can enter a
>Description for the column. How could I use that information?
>
>Michael
>

1. Create a class that has two fields "ColumnName" and "FriendlyName".
2. override the ToString() method of the class to return the "FriendlyName"
field.

3. Add the classes to the list box. The list box will display the String
returned by the objects ToString() method.

Good luck with your project,

Otis Mukinfus
http://www.arltex.com
http://www.tomchilders.com

16 Apr 2006 10:09 PM

Michael Jackson

Thanks for the reply.

But where does "Friendly Name" come from? GetSchemaTable has no such
property? I hesitate to use system tables because we want to migrate to SQL
Server 2005 soon.

Michael Jackson

Show quote

"Otis Mukinfus" <ph***@emailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:bo4u32lsprjqmpi2pm21vhjnh4m086kbth@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 11:50:23 -0500, "Michael Jackson"
> <michaeldjack***@cox.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Looking for a suggestion.
>>
>>Using .NET 2003 and SQL Server 2000, I'm using GetSchemaTable to get the
>>schema of mutiple tables. I populate a listbox with the column names and
>>allow the user to multi-select the column names, then using the selected
>>column names, I create a query returning just those columns.
>>
>>However, I would like to present the user with a "friendly name" for the
>>column rather than the column name from the table, e.g. Employee Name as
>>opposed to EmpName.
>>
>>When designing a table in SQL Server Enterprise Manager, you can enter a
>>Description for the column. How could I use that information?
>>
>>Michael
>>
>
> 1. Create a class that has two fields "ColumnName" and "FriendlyName".
> 2. override the ToString() method of the class to return the
> "FriendlyName"
> field.
>
> 3. Add the classes to the list box. The list box will display the String
> returned by the objects ToString() method.
>
> Good luck with your project,
>
> Otis Mukinfus
> http://www.arltex.com
> http://www.tomchilders.com