Learn how to use the SQL Server to view the contents of databases.
To view the contents of a database:
- Attach the database in the Object Explorer.
- In the Object Explorer, select the database you attached and expand its contents.
- From the Tables category, select the table you want to view.
- Right-click on the table name and select Edit Top 200 Rows from the contextual menu.
- The table contents (the first 200 rows) is opened in a new tab window, on the right side. Here you can edit the cell content.
Note: If you need to view or edit the entire contents of a table (not only the first 200 rows):
- In the SQL Server application toolbar, go to the Tools tab and select Options…
- In the Options window, go to the SQL Server Object Explorer tab.
- Change the values under Table and View Options to 0.
- Click OK to save and exit.
After changing the values to 0, when you right-click on a table name in the Object Explorer, in the contextual menu you will find the Edit All Rows option, instead of the Edit Top 200 Rows option.