Making a Code Book in Sql Server

While working through a coursera course recently (https://www.coursera.org/course/getdata) I started to think about how a code book could be implemented in sql server. There are 3 points that Jeff Leek makes regarding a code book and they are as follows:

Information about the variables ...
Information about the Summary Choices you made
Information about the study design you used

My focus for this article will be able point number one, information about the variables. Often times it would be nice to know more about your data than simply what data structure it is defined by. For a simple working example, load the Iris datasets into Sql Server and then add some metadata about the columns to provide further information for the users.

Use YourDataBaseName
Go

-- Create Table 
If Object_Id('YourDataBaseName.dbo.Iris','U') is not null 
Drop Table dbo.Iris

Create Table dbo.Iris
(
IrisID bigint not null identity(1,1) ,
SepalLength numeric,
SepalWidth numeric,
PetalLength numeric,
PetalWidth numeric,
Species nvarchar(100)
)
-- Insert Values
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.5','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.9','3','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.7','3.2','1.3','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.6','3.1','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.6','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.4','3.9','1.7','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.6','3.4','1.4','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.4','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.4','2.9','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.9','3.1','1.5','0.1','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.4','3.7','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.8','3.4','1.6','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.8','3','1.4','0.1','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.3','3','1.1','0.1','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','4','1.2','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','4.4','1.5','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.4','3.9','1.3','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.5','1.4','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','3.8','1.7','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.8','1.5','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.4','3.4','1.7','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.7','1.5','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.6','3.6','1','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.3','1.7','0.5','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.8','3.4','1.9','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3','1.6','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.4','1.6','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.2','3.5','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.2','3.4','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.7','3.2','1.6','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.8','3.1','1.6','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.4','3.4','1.5','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.2','4.1','1.5','0.1','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','4.2','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.9','3.1','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.2','1.2','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','3.5','1.3','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.9','3.6','1.4','0.1','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.4','3','1.3','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.4','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.5','1.3','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.5','2.3','1.3','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.4','3.2','1.3','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.5','1.6','0.6','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.8','1.9','0.4','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.8','3','1.4','0.3','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','3.8','1.6','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.6','3.2','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.3','3.7','1.5','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','3.3','1.4','0.2','setosa')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7','3.2','4.7','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','3.2','4.5','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.9','3.1','4.9','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','2.3','4','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.5','2.8','4.6','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','2.8','4.5','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','3.3','4.7','1.6','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.9','2.4','3.3','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.6','2.9','4.6','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.2','2.7','3.9','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','2','3.5','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.9','3','4.2','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6','2.2','4','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.1','2.9','4.7','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.6','2.9','3.6','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3.1','4.4','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.6','3','4.5','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','2.7','4.1','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.2','2.2','4.5','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.6','2.5','3.9','1.1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.9','3.2','4.8','1.8','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.1','2.8','4','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','2.5','4.9','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.1','2.8','4.7','1.2','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','2.9','4.3','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.6','3','4.4','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.8','2.8','4.8','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3','5','1.7','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6','2.9','4.5','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','2.6','3.5','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','2.4','3.8','1.1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','2.4','3.7','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','2.7','3.9','1.2','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6','2.7','5.1','1.6','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.4','3','4.5','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6','3.4','4.5','1.6','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3.1','4.7','1.5','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','2.3','4.4','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.6','3','4.1','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','2.5','4','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.5','2.6','4.4','1.2','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.1','3','4.6','1.4','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','2.6','4','1.2','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5','2.3','3.3','1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.6','2.7','4.2','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','3','4.2','1.2','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','2.9','4.2','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.2','2.9','4.3','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.1','2.5','3','1.1','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','2.8','4.1','1.3','versicolor')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','3.3','6','2.5','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','2.7','5.1','1.9','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.1','3','5.9','2.1','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','2.9','5.6','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.5','3','5.8','2.2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.6','3','6.6','2.1','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('4.9','2.5','4.5','1.7','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.3','2.9','6.3','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','2.5','5.8','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.2','3.6','6.1','2.5','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.5','3.2','5.1','2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','2.7','5.3','1.9','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.8','3','5.5','2.1','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.7','2.5','5','2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','2.8','5.1','2.4','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','3.2','5.3','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.5','3','5.5','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.7','3.8','6.7','2.2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.7','2.6','6.9','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6','2.2','5','1.5','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.9','3.2','5.7','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.6','2.8','4.9','2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.7','2.8','6.7','2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','2.7','4.9','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3.3','5.7','2.1','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.2','3.2','6','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.2','2.8','4.8','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.1','3','4.9','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','2.8','5.6','2.1','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.2','3','5.8','1.6','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.4','2.8','6.1','1.9','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.9','3.8','6.4','2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','2.8','5.6','2.2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','2.8','5.1','1.5','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.1','2.6','5.6','1.4','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('7.7','3','6.1','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','3.4','5.6','2.4','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.4','3.1','5.5','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6','3','4.8','1.8','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.9','3.1','5.4','2.1','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3.1','5.6','2.4','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.9','3.1','5.1','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.8','2.7','5.1','1.9','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.8','3.2','5.9','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3.3','5.7','2.5','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.7','3','5.2','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.3','2.5','5','1.9','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.5','3','5.2','2','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('6.2','3.4','5.4','2.3','virginica')
Insert Into dbo.Iris Values('5.9','3','5.1','1.8','virginica')

-- Add Extended Properties
EXEC sys.sp_addextendedproperty @name=N'Notes', @value=N'
Sepal Length of Iris plant in centimetres.
' , @level0type=N'SCHEMA',
	@level0name=N'dbo', 
	@level1type=N'TABLE',
	@level1name=N'Iris', 
	@level2type=N'COLUMN',
	@level2name=N'SepalLength'
GO


EXEC sys.sp_addextendedproperty @name=N'Notes', @value=N'
Sepal width of Iris plant in centimetres.
' , @level0type=N'SCHEMA',
	@level0name=N'dbo', 
	@level1type=N'TABLE',
	@level1name=N'Iris', 
	@level2type=N'COLUMN',
	@level2name=N'SepalWidth'
GO



EXEC sys.sp_addextendedproperty @name=N'Notes', @value=N'
Petal Length of Iris plant in centimetres.
' , @level0type=N'SCHEMA',
	@level0name=N'dbo', 
	@level1type=N'TABLE',
	@level1name=N'Iris', 
	@level2type=N'COLUMN',
	@level2name=N'PetalLength'
GO

EXEC sys.sp_addextendedproperty @name=N'Notes', @value=N'
Petal Width  of Iris plant in centimetres.
' , @level0type=N'SCHEMA',
	@level0name=N'dbo', 
	@level1type=N'TABLE',
	@level1name=N'Iris', 
	@level2type=N'COLUMN',
	@level2name=N'PetalWidth'
GO

 
EXEC sys.sp_addextendedproperty @name=N'Notes', @value=N'
Species of Iris plant.
' , @level0type=N'SCHEMA',
	@level0name=N'dbo', 
	@level1type=N'TABLE',
	@level1name=N'Iris', 
	@level2type=N'COLUMN',
	@level2name=N'Species'
GO

Use YourDataBaseName

-- Create Table

If Object_Id('YourDataBaseName.dbo.Iris','U') is not null

Drop Table dbo.Iris

Create Table dbo.Iris

(

IrisID bigint not null identity(1,1) ,

Now, you should have a table called Iris with some basic metadata about the columns. While you can navigate to the extended properties through the object explorer, it would be nice to access this information through a query.

-- View the Code book for the Iris Table and some information about the data structure
SELECT 
	[major_id], 
	[minor_id], 
	[t.name] AS [Table Name], 
	[c.name] AS [Column Name], 
	[value] AS [Extended Property],
	infos.[Data_Type],
	infos.[is_nullable],
	infos.[Numeric_Precision],
	infos.[Numeric_Scale]
FROM 
	sys.extended_properties AS ep
	inner join
	sys.tables AS t 
	ON ep.major_id = t.object_id 
	inner join
	sys.columns AS c 
	ON ep.major_id = c.object_id 
	  and ep.minor_id = c.column_id
	inner join 
	INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS infos
	on infos.table_name = t.name 
	  and infos.column_name = c.name
Where 
	class = 1
	and t.name ='Iris' /* This is our Table name */



-- Drop Iris Table to avoid cluttering up your database
Drop Table dbo.Iris

-- View the Code book for the Iris Table and some information about the data structure

SELECT

[major_id],

[minor_id],

[t.name] AS [Table Name],

[c.name] AS [Column Name],

[value] AS [Extended Property],

infos.[Data_Type],

infos.[is_nullable],

infos.[Numeric_Precision],

Now you have the framework for creating a data code book that can be self contained within the table itself. This will prove most useful when you can can share a sql server table with someone else.

Making a Code Book in Sql Server

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