Microsoft SQL Server 2000 provides a method for obtaining meta data using information schema views.

List all user tables in the pubs database, we’re not interested in views

SELECT *
FROM information_schema.tables
WHERE table_type = 'base table'

List only the table names

SELECT table_name
FROM information_schema.tables
WHERE table_type = 'base table'

List all columns in the authors table

SELECT *
FROM information_schema.columns
WHERE table_name = 'authors'

List only the column names

SELECT column_name
FROM information_schema.columns
WHERE table_name = 'authors'