Create a Database Schema

This topic describes how to create a schema in SQL Server 2012 by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

In This Topic

• Before you begin:

  Limitations and Restrictions

  Security

• To create a schema, using:

  SQL Server Management Studio

  Transact-SQL

Before You Begin

Limitations and Restrictions

• The new schema is owned by one of the following database-level principals: database user, database role, or application role. Objects created within a schema are owned by the owner of the schema, and have a NULL principal_id in sys.objects. Ownership of schema-contained objects can be transferred to any database-level principal, but the schema owner always retains CONTROL permission on objects within the schema.

• When creating a database object, if you specify a valid domain principal (user or group) as the object owner, the domain principal will be added to the database as a schema. The new schema will be owned by that domain principal.

Security

Permissions

• Requires CREATE SCHEMA permission on the database.

• To specify another user as the owner of the schema being created, the caller must have IMPERSONATE permission on that user. If a database role is specified as the owner, the caller must have one of the following: membership in the role or ALTER permission on the role.

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Using SQL Server Management Studio

To create a schema

1. In Object Explorer, expand the Databases folder.

2. Expand the database in which to create the new database schema.

3. Right-click the Security folder, point to New, and select Schema.

4. In the Schema - New dialog box, on the General page, enter a name for the new schema in the Schema name box.

5. In the Schema owner box, enter the name of a database user or role to own the schema. Alternately, click Search to open the Search Roles and Users dialog box.

6. Click OK.

Additional Options

The Schema– New dialog box also offers options on two additional pages: Permissions and Extended Properties.

• The Permissions page lists all possible securables and the permissions on those securables that can be granted to the login.

• The Extended properties page allows you to add custom properties to database users.

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Using Transact-SQL

To create a schema

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

2. On the Standard bar, click New Query.

3. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click Execute.

   USE AdventureWorks2012;
   GO
   -- Creates the schema Sprockets owned by Annik that contains table NineProngs. 
   -- The statement grants SELECT to Mandar and denies SELECT to Prasanna.
   
   CREATE SCHEMA Sprockets AUTHORIZATION Annik
       CREATE TABLE NineProngs (source int, cost int, partnumber int)
       GRANT SELECT ON SCHEMA::Sprockets TO Mandar
       DENY SELECT ON SCHEMA::Sprockets TO Prasanna;
   GO
   

For more information, see CREATE SCHEMA (Transact-SQL).

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