Beginning Microsoft SQL Server 2008 ... - S3 Tech Training

FROM Sales.Customer AS sc
INNER JOIN Sales.SalesOrderHeader AS soh
ON sc.CustomerID = soh.CustomerID
INNER JOIN Sales.SalesOrderDetail AS sod
ON soh.SalesOrderID = sod.SalesOrderID
INNER JOIN Production.Product AS pp
ON sod.ProductID = pp.ProductID
WHERE CAST(soh.OrderDate AS Date) =
CAST(DATEADD(day,-1,GETDATE()) AS Date)
Now let’s try it the other way — using the sys.sql_modules metadata function. The only major hassle
with using this function is that all the objects are coded in object IDs.
Object IDs are SQL Server’s internal way of keeping track of things. They are integer
values rather than the names that you’re used to for your objects. In general, they
are outside the scope of this book, but it is good to realize they are there, as you will
find them used by scripts you may copy from other people or just bump into them
later in your SQL endeavors.
Fortunately, you can get around this by using the OBJECT_ID() function:
SELECT *
FROM sys.sql_modules
WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(‘dbo.YesterdaysOrders_vw’);
Again, you get the same block of code (indeed, all sp_helptext does is run what amounts to this same
query).
Note that, by default, the Results in Text option in the Query window limits the
results from any individual column to just 256 characters, so running the previous
sys.sql_modules query may get you a truncated version of the text for the view. If
you look at it in grid mode, the limit is 64k, so everything comes through. You can
change the maximum number of characters per column by going to Tools ➪
Options ➪ Query Results ➪ SQL Server ➪ Results to Text and changing the appropriate
setting.
Protecting Code: Encr ypting V iews
If you’re building any kind of commercial software product, odds are that you’re interested in protecting
your source code. Views are the first place we see the opportunity to do just that.
All you have to do to encrypt your view is use the WITH ENCRYPTION option. This one has a couple of
tricks to it if you’re used to the WITH CHECK OPTION clause:
❑ WITH ENCRYPTION goes after the name of the view, but before the AS keyword
❑ WITH ENCRYPTION does not use the OPTION keyword
Chapter 10: Views
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