CODEWITHSUNDEEP
sqlsql-server
Ritesh
Ritesh

Reputation: 237

Get column names in SQL server that satisfy a where condition on data

I just had a random doubt while working with SQL-server to which i thought i could get it clarified here. Say- i have a condition that i want to find out all the column names in the database which satisfy my where condition on data.

Example:- There are some 20-30 tables in a SQL-Server DB.Now all i need is a query to find out the list of column names which have "Ritesh" as a data field in them. I don't know if it is really possible in the first place.

I hope i am clear. Please, any help will be most appreciated.

Thank You. Ritesh.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 3614

Answers (1)

Raj
Raj

Reputation: 10843

This should work, but be aware, this will take a while to execute in large databases. I have assumed that the search string might be just a part of the data contained and am using wildcards. I feel this is purely academic, as I am unable to imagine a scenario, where this will be required.

--you need to iterate the whole columns of entire table to find the matched record
--another thing is that you need dynamic sql to find the table name

DECLARE @Value varchar(50) --value for that find the column Name
SET @Value = 'Ritesh'

CREATE TABLE #Table
(
    TableName Varchar(500),ColumnName Varchar(500),
    Id int Identity(1,1) --use for iteration
)
CREATE TABLE #Results
(
TableName varchar(500),
ColumnName varchar(500)
)
INSERT INTO #Table
    SELECT
        TABLE_SCHEMA + '.' + TABLE_NAME AS TableNam,
        Column_name AS ColumnName
    FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
    WHERE Data_type IN ('char', 'nchar', 'varchar', 'nvarchar')
--change the datatype based on the datatype of sample data you provide
-- also remember to change the wildcard, if the input datatype is not a string

DECLARE @Count Int --total record to iterated
SET @Count = 0;


SELECT
    @Count = COUNT(*)
FROM #Table


DECLARE @I int --initial value one to iterate
SET @I = 1;


DECLARE @TableName varchar(500)
SET @TableName = ''
DECLARE @ColumnName varchar(500)
SET @ColumnName = ''


DECLARE @Str nvarchar(1000)
SET @Str = ''
DECLARE @param nvarchar(1000)
SET @param = ''


DECLARE @TableNameFound varchar(max)
SET @TableNameFound = ''


DECLARE @Found bit
SET @Found = 0;

WHILE @I<=@Count
BEGIN

SET @Found = 0;
SELECT
    @TableName = TableName,
    @ColumnName = ColumnName
FROM #Table
WHERE Id = @I;
SET @param = '@TableName varchar(500),@ColumnName varchar(500),@Value varchar(50),@TableNameFound varchar(max),@Found bit output'
SET @str = 'Select @Found=1 From ' + @TableName + ' where ' + @ColumnName + ' Like ' + '''' + '%' + @Value + '%' + ''''

-- here we are using tablename and actual value to find in table
EXEC sp_executesql  @str,
                    @param,
                    @TableName,
                    @ColumnName,
                    @Value,
                    @TableNameFound,
                    @Found OUTPUT

    IF @Found=1
    BEGIN
    INSERT INTO #Results (TableName, ColumnName)
    SELECT
        @TableName,
        @ColumnName
    END

--increment value of @I
SET @I = @I + 1;
END

--Display Results
SELECT * FROM #Results

--Clean Up
DROP TABLE #Table
DROP TABLE #Results

Upvotes: 2

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