How to effectively document a database (tables, attributes with a definition)?

Question

We have a fairly large database (in SQL Server 2008) with many tables. We just bought a Red Gate SQL Doc for documentation. We would like to document this database in detail. What is the best database documentation practice? How do you document your attributes with definitions? The SQL Doc document documents the database well, but how do I add attribute definitions to this document (is there some kind of auto-path)?

Answer 1

We use advanced properties in the "tag" restrictions, tables, indexes, viws, proc, lot. (we also use SQL doc)

It is mentioned on Interweb quite a lot too

Answer 2

I don't know any automatic ways to do this, it's a little tedious, but worth it. There are several ways to do this: one through the table designer (right-clicking on the table and selecting “design”) and entering text in the “Description” property in each column, or you can also use the “Database Chart” tool as described here :

http://devtoolshed.com/content/sql-create-table-add-description-column

Answer 3

, .

Thus, when you run update scripts, you can add descriptions to columns or tables with advanced properties that GBN mentioned