---
title: Remove Columns from Query Results
ms.custom: seo-lt-2019
ms.date: 01/19/2017
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: sql-tools
ms.technology: ssms
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "columns [SQL Server], deleting"
  - "result sets [SQL Server], queries"
  - "removing columns"
  - "results [SQL Server], query"
  - "deleting columns"
  - "queries [SQL Server], results"
ms.assetid: a7de7a87-4249-49bd-863d-dc0b40a49e78
author: markingmyname
ms.author: maghan
ms.manager: jroth
ms.reviewer: 

---
# Remove Columns from Query Results (Visual Database Tools)
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md](../../includes/appliesto-ss-asdb-asdw-pdw-md.md)]
If you are using a column in a Select query but do not want to display it in the result set (that is, you do not want it in the query's select list), you can remove it from output. After you remove the column from the query's output, you can still use it in search conditions or as a sorting field.  
  
> [!NOTE]  
> If you want to remove a column from the query altogether, see [Remove Columns from Queries (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/remove-columns-from-queries-visual-database-tools.md).  
  
### To remove a column from the query output  
  
-   In the **Criteria Pane**, clear the check box in the **Output** column for the data column you want to remove. (If you want to add the column back to the query output, you can check the **Output** column again.)  
  
    -or-  
  
-   Remove the column from the output list in the [SQL pane](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/sql-pane-visual-database-tools.md).  
  
## See Also  
[Add Columns to Queries (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/add-columns-to-queries-visual-database-tools.md)  
[Remove Columns from Queries (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/remove-columns-from-queries-visual-database-tools.md)  
[Sort and Group Query Results (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/sort-and-group-query-results-visual-database-tools.md)  
[Summarize Query Results (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/summarize-query-results-visual-database-tools.md)  
[Perform Basic Operations with Queries (Visual Database Tools)](../../ssms/visual-db-tools/perform-basic-operations-with-queries-visual-database-tools.md)