Get-DbaDbTable

Synopsis

Retrieves table metadata including space usage, row counts, and table features from SQL Server databases

Description

Returns detailed table information including row counts, space usage (IndexSpaceUsed, DataSpaceUsed), and special table characteristics like memory optimization, partitioning, and FileTable status. Essential for database capacity planning, documentation, and finding tables with specific features across multiple databases. Supports complex three-part naming with special characters and can filter by database, schema, or specific table names.

Syntax

Get-DbaDbTable
    [[-SqlInstance] <DbaInstanceParameter[]>]
    [[-SqlCredential] <PSCredential>]
    [[-Database] <String[]>]
    [[-ExcludeDatabase] <String[]>]
    [-IncludeSystemDBs]
    [[-Table] <String[]>]
    [[-Schema] <String[]>]
    [[-InputObject] <Database[]>]
    [-EnableException]
    [<CommonParameters>]

Examples

Example: 1

PS C:\> Get-DbaDbTable -SqlInstance DEV01 -Database Test1

Return all tables in the Test1 database

Example: 2

PS C:\> Get-DbaDbTable -SqlInstance DEV01 -Database MyDB -Table MyTable

Return only information on the table MyTable from the database MyDB

Example: 3

PS C:\> Get-DbaDbTable -SqlInstance DEV01 -Database MyDB -Table MyTable -Schema MySchema

Return only information on the table MyTable from the database MyDB and only from the schema MySchema

Example: 4

PS C:\> Get-DbaDbTable -SqlInstance DEV01 -Table MyTable

Returns information on table called MyTable if it exists in any database on the server, under any schema

Example: 5

PS C:\> Get-DbaDbTable -SqlInstance DEV01 -Table dbo.[First.Table]

Returns information on table called First.Table on schema dbo if it exists in any database on the server

Example: 6

PS C:\> 'localhost','localhost\namedinstance' | Get-DbaDbTable -Database DBA -Table Commandlog

Returns information on the CommandLog table in the DBA database on both instances localhost and the named instance localhost\namedinstance

Example: 7

PS C:\> Get-DbaDbTable -SqlInstance DEV01 -Table "[[DbName]]].[Schema.With.Dots].[`"[Process]]`"]" -Verbose

Return table information for instance Dev01 and table Process with special characters in the schema name

Optional Parameters

-SqlInstance

The target SQL Server instance or instances. This can be a collection and receive pipeline input.

-SqlCredential

Login to the target instance using alternative credentials. Accepts PowerShell credentials (Get-Credential).
Windows Authentication, SQL Server Authentication, Active Directory - Password, and Active Directory - Integrated are all supported.
For MFA support, please use Connect-DbaInstance.

-Database

Specifies which databases to retrieve table information from. Accepts multiple database names and wildcards.
Use this when you need table data from specific databases instead of scanning all databases on the instance.

-ExcludeDatabase

Excludes specific databases from table retrieval. Accepts multiple database names and wildcards.
Helpful when you want most databases but need to skip problematic or irrelevant ones like temp databases.

-IncludeSystemDBs

Includes system databases (master, model, msdb, tempdb) in the table scan.
By default system databases are excluded since they rarely contain user tables of interest.

-Table

Specifies specific tables to retrieve using one, two, or three-part naming (table, schema.table, or database.schema.table).
Use this when you need information on particular tables instead of all tables in the database.
Wrap names containing special characters in square brackets and escape actual ] characters by doubling them.

-Schema

Filters results to tables within specific schemas. Accepts multiple schema names.
Useful for focusing on application schemas while excluding utility or system schemas.

-InputObject

Accepts database objects from Get-DbaDatabase via pipeline input.
Use this when you have already filtered databases and want to pass them directly for table processing.

-EnableException

By default, when something goes wrong we try to catch it, interpret it and give you a friendly warning message.
This avoids overwhelming you with “sea of red” exceptions, but is inconvenient because it basically disables advanced scripting.
Using this switch turns this “nice by default” feature off and enables you to catch exceptions with your own try/catch.