sp_helprotect (Transact-SQL)
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Returns a report that's information about user permissions for an object, or statement permissions, in the current database.
Important
sp_helprotect doesn't return information about securables that were introduced in SQL Server 2005 (9.x) and later versions. Use sys.database_permissions and sys.fn_builtin_permissions instead.
Doesn't list permissions that are always assigned to the fixed server roles or fixed database roles. Doesn't include logins or users that receive permissions based on their membership in a role.
Transact-SQL syntax conventions
Syntax
sp_helprotect
[ [ @name = ] N'name' ]
[ , [ @username = ] N'username' ]
[ , [ @grantorname = ] N'grantorname' ]
[ , [ @permissionarea = ] 'permissionarea' ]
[ ; ]
Arguments
[ @name = ] N'name'
The name of the object in the current database, or a statement, that's the permissions to report. @name is nvarchar(776), with a default of NULL, which returns all object and statement permissions. If the value is an object (table, view, stored procedure, or extended stored procedure), it must be a valid object in the current database. The object name can include an owner qualifier in the form <owner>.<object>.
If @name is a statement, it can be a CREATE statement.
[ @username = ] N'username'
The name of the principal for which permissions are returned. @username is sysname, with a default of NULL, which returns all principals in the current database. @username must exist in the current database.
[ @grantorname = ] N'grantorname'
The name of the principal that granted permissions. @grantorname is sysname, with a default of NULL, which returns all information for permissions granted by any principal in the database.
[ @permissionarea = ] 'permissionarea'
A character string that indicates whether to display object permissions (character string o), statement permissions (character string s), or both (o s). @permissionarea is varchar(10), with a default of o s. @permissionarea can be any combination of o and s, with or without commas or spaces between o and s.
Return code values
0 (success) or 1 (failure).
Result set
| Column name | Data type | Description |
|---|---|---|
Owner |
sysname | Name of the object owner. |
Object |
sysname | Name of the object. |
Grantee |
sysname | Name of the principal to which permissions were granted. |
Grantor |
sysname | Name of the principal that granted permissions to the specified grantee. |
ProtectType |
nvarchar(10) | Name of the type of protection:GRANT REVOKE |
Action |
nvarchar(60) | Name of the permission. Valid permission statements depend upon the type of object. |
Column |
sysname | Type of permission:All = Permission covers all current columns of the object.New = Permission covers any new columns that might be changed (by using the ALTER statement) on the object in the future.All+New = Combination of All and New.Returns a period if the type of permission doesn't apply to columns. |
Remarks
All the parameters in the following procedure are optional. If executed with no parameters, sp_helprotect displays all the permissions that are granted or denied in the current database.
If some but not all the parameters are specified, use named parameters to identify the particular parameter, or NULL as a placeholder. For example, to report all permissions for the grantor database owner (dbo), execute the following script:
EXEC sp_helprotect NULL, NULL, dbo;
Or
EXEC sp_helprotect @grantorname = 'dbo';
The output report is sorted by permission category, owner, object, grantee, grantor, protection type category, protection type, action, and column sequential ID.
Permissions
Requires membership in the public role.
Information returned is subject to restrictions on access to metadata. Entities on which the principal has no permission don't appear. For more information, see Metadata Visibility Configuration.
Examples
A. List the permissions for a table
The following example lists the permissions for the titles table.
EXEC sp_helprotect 'titles';
B. List the permissions for a user
The following example lists all permissions that user Judy has in the current database.
EXEC sp_helprotect NULL, 'Judy';
C. List the permissions granted by a specific user
The following example lists all permissions granted by user Judy in the current database, and uses NULL as a placeholder for the missing parameters.
EXEC sp_helprotect NULL, NULL, 'Judy';
D. List the statement permissions only
The following example lists all the statement permissions in the current database, and uses NULL as a placeholder for the missing parameters.
EXEC sp_helprotect NULL, NULL, NULL, 's';
e. Listing the permissions for a CREATE statement
The following example list all users who are granted the CREATE TABLE permission.
EXEC sp_helprotect @name = 'CREATE TABLE';