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sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities (Transact-SQL)

Returns one row for each entity in the current database that references another user-defined entity by name. A dependency between two entities is created when one entity, called the referenced entity, appears by name in a persisted SQL expression of another entity, called the referencing entity. For example, if a user-defined type (UDT) is specified as the referenced entity, this function returns each user-defined entity that reference that type by name in its definition. The function does not return entities in other databases that may reference the specified entity. This function must be executed in the context of the master database to return a server-level DDL trigger as a referencing entity.

You can use this dynamic management function to report on the following types of entities in the current database that reference the specified entity:

  • Schema-bound or non-schema-bound entities

  • Database-level DDL triggers

  • Server-level DDL triggers

Topic link iconTransact-SQL Syntax Conventions

Syntax

sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities (
    ' schema_name.referenced_entity_name ' , ' <referenced_class> ' )

<referenced_class> ::=
{
  OBJECT
  | TYPE
  | XML_SCHEMA_COLLECTION
  | PARTITION_FUNCTION
}

Arguments

  • schema_name.referenced_entity_name
    Is the name of the referenced entity.

    schema_name is required except when the referenced class is PARTITION_FUNCTION.

    schema_name.referenced_entity_name is nvarchar(517).

  • <referenced_class> ::= { OBJECT  | TYPE  | XML_SCHEMA_COLLECTION | PARTITION_FUNCTION }
    Is the class of the referenced entity. Only one class can be specified per statement.

    <referenced_class> is nvarchar(60).

Table Returned

Column name

Data type

Description

referencing_schema_name

sysname

Schema in which the referencing entity belongs. Is nullable.

NULL for database-level and server-level DDL triggers.

referencing_entity_name

sysname

Name of the referencing entity. Is not nullable.

referencing_id

int

ID of the referencing entity. Is not nullable.

referencing_class

tinyint

Class of the referencing entity. Is not nullable.

1 = Object

12 = Database-level DDL trigger

13 = Server-level DDL trigger

referencing_class_desc

nvarchar(60)

Description of class of referencing entity.

OBJECT

DATABASE_DDL_TRIGGER

SERVER_DDL_TRIGGER

is_caller_dependent

bit

Indicates the resolution of the referenced entity ID occurs at run time because it depends on the schema of the caller.

1 = The referencing entity has the potential to reference the entity; however, resolution of the referenced entity ID is caller dependent and cannot be determined. This occurs only for non-schema-bound references to a stored procedure, extended stored procedure, or user-defined function called in an EXECUTE statement.

0 = Referenced entity is not caller dependent.

Exceptions

Returns an empty result set under any of the following conditions:

  • A system object is specified.

  • The specified entity does not exist in the current database.

  • The specified entity does not reference any entities.

  • An invalid parameter is passed.

Returns an error when the specified referenced entity is a numbered stored procedure.

Remarks

The following table lists the types of entities for which dependency information is created and maintained. Dependency information is not created or maintained for rules, defaults, temporary tables, temporary stored procedures, or system objects.

Entity type

Referencing entity

Referenced entity

Table

Yes*

Yes

View

Yes

Yes

Transact-SQL stored procedure**

Yes

Yes

CLR stored procedure

No

Yes

Transact-SQL user-defined function

Yes

Yes

CLR user-defined function

No

Yes

CLR trigger (DML and DDL)

No

No

Transact-SQL DML trigger

Yes

No

Transact-SQL database-level DDL trigger

Yes

No

Transact-SQL server-level DDL trigger

Yes

No

Extended stored procedures

No

Yes

Queue

No

Yes

Synonym

No

Yes

Type (alias and CLR user-defined type)

No

Yes

XML schema collection

No

Yes

Partition function

No

Yes

* A table is tracked as a referencing entity only when it references a Transact-SQL module, user-defined type, or XML schema collection in the definition of a computed column, CHECK constraint, or DEFAULT constraint.

** Numbered stored procedures with an integer value greater than 1 are not tracked as either a referencing or referenced entity.

For more information, see Understanding SQL Dependencies.

Permissions

Requires CONTROL permission on the referenced entity and SELECT permission on sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities. When the referenced entity is a partition function, CONTROL permission on the database is required. By default, SELECT permission is granted to public.

Examples

A. Returning the entities that refer to a given entity

The following example returns the entities in the current database that refer to the specified table.

USE AdventureWorks2008R2;
GO
SELECT referencing_schema_name, referencing_entity_name, referencing_id, referencing_class_desc, is_caller_dependent
FROM sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities ('Production.Product', 'OBJECT');
GO

B. Returning the entities that refer to a given type

The following example returns the entities that reference the alias type dbo.Flag. The result set shows that two stored procedures use this type. The dbo.Flag type is also used in the definition of several columns in the HumanResources.Employee table; however, because the type is not in the definition of a computed column, CHECK constraint, or DEFAULT constraint in the table, no rows are returned for the HumanResources.Employee table.

USE AdventureWorks2008R2;
GO
SELECT referencing_schema_name, referencing_entity_name, referencing_id, referencing_class_desc, is_caller_dependent
FROM sys.dm_sql_referencing_entities ('dbo.Flag', 'TYPE');
GO

Here is the result set.

referencing_schema_name referencing_entity_name   referencing_id referencing_class_desc is_caller_dependent

----------------------- -------------------------  ------------- ---------------------- -------------------

HumanResources          uspUpdateEmployeeHireInfo  1803153469    OBJECT_OR_COLUMN       0

HumanResources          uspUpdateEmployeeLogin     1819153526    OBJECT_OR_COLUMN       0

(2 row(s) affected)