Retrieving table/column descriptions

In sql I can view the tables - the tables columns have a description. 
Now when I use eclipse/birt to access data I can get all the data barring the descriptions as they're not columns, I believe they're in a massive file relating to the tables. 
Does anyone have an idea as to if this is possible to even access or has anyone tried to do something similar before? 
Table example: 
Data 1 | Data 2 | Data 3 
d1 | d2 | d3 
desc : This is table 1

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Comments

JFreeman

What database are you using?
How do you want to use the descriptions within the report design?
Can you post an example of the query you use to obtain the descriptions?

Katieee

Hi Jesse, 
I'm using a db2 type of database, I would like to have the descriptions used instead of the column names so external users can understand what the columns do 
- for example FFAPPID could mean something like 'factory floor applicant ID' but they may not know this so I would prefer to use the descriptions from the columns as the headers instead. 
I don't have a query purely down to the fact that I'm not entirely sure how I would access these descriptions if they don't show up in birt when doing my sql statement yet they show up when I view the database. I was just curious as to if anyone else has ever come across this issue and whether or not they figured out a way of doing it if the descriptions don't have a column. 
I hope I haven't confused anyone too much.
 
*edit I believe this sounds similar to what I am asking but its quite an old post 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://jazz.net/forum/questions/79315/project-description-in-birt-report'>https://jazz.net/forum/questions/79315/project-description-in-birt-report</a> 
Regards, 
Kate

JFreeman

Well one option would be to set a display name for the columns when creating the query in BIRT.
 
For example:
<pre class="_prettyXprint _lang-sql">
SELECT table.FFAPPID as 'Factory Floor Applicant ID'
FROM table
</pre>
You may be able to construct the query so that the display name is dynamically obtained from description instead of hard coded like in my example.

Katieee

Thank you for your quick reply!
 
Hopefully I will be able to set it dynamically but your example was a good idea too, I was just changing them in the output columns originally so you have provided an easier solution to that too. 
Thank you for that, it may give me a good starting point if I can figure out how to access the descriptions

Regards, 
Kate

JFreeman

You're welcome.
I'm glad I could be of assistance.
 
Let us know if you have any additional questions.