When possible you should access metadata through the information_schema views, system stored procedures or functions. The system tables are subject to change at the will of MS.

-Mike

>Thanks a million!
>
>By the way, should a developper use information_schema instead of systables?
>
>>Run
>>
>>sp_helptext 'SP_MsHelpColumns'
>>
>>from the master database. The results will be the source for sp_MsHelpColumns.
>>
>>-Mike
>>
>>>I am currently using this store proc to get columns information : SP_MsHelpColumns because with this one I get the COL_LEN and COL_SCALE.
>>>I cannot have this information from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.Columns nor SP_Columns
>>>And I use fn_listextendedproperty to retreive extended properties.
>>>
>>>Is there a way to combine the SP_MsHelpColumns with the fn_listextendedproperty in one single SQL statement?
>>>
>>>Or What's the SQL statement behind SP_MsHelpColumns?