Search a database for a string (MySQL, T-SQL)

: Joel Lipman; Databases; 08 October 2012; Hits: 10200

What?
I have a PHP script which behaves like PhpMyAdmin, in that it automatically lists a database structure and the fields to modify similar to an excel spreadsheet. Now without using PHP, I need standalone SQL scripts that can simply be used to search an entire database for a particular string of word(s).

I've posted my own as well as some others I've lifted from elsewhere, as they worked with my environment, to put them in one place on a website I've bookmarked (my personal site :c)

My own with Typos
Note that the below only prints out the SQL query to copy and paste into your SQL administration software. You can put a distinct on it (not forgetting the collate). This example is expanded in a further article called "Search a database with soundex":

copy raw

/* USING A CURSOR */
DECLARE @SqlToExecute nvarchar(max);
DECLARE @mySearchString varchar(50);
SET @mySearchString = 'dnya';
DECLARE MyCursor CURSOR FOR
		SELECT
			'SELECT ' + COLUMN_NAME + ' COLLATE Latin1_General_CS_AS AS column1 FROM ' + (TABLE_SCHEMA + '.' + TABLE_NAME) + ' WHERE SOUNDEX(' + COLUMN_NAME + ')=SOUNDEX('''+ @mySearchString +''')' + CHAR(10)
		FROM
			INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
		WHERE
			DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'nchar', 'varchar', 'nvarchar', 'text', 'ntext')
			AND TABLE_SCHEMA='dbo'
		ORDER BY TABLE_SCHEMA, TABLE_NAME, COLUMN_NAME;

OPEN MyCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM MyCursor INTO @SqlToExecute
WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
	PRINT ' union all ' + @SqlToExecute;
    FETCH NEXT FROM MyCursor INTO @SqlToExecute
END
CLOSE MyCursor
DEALLOCATE MyCursor

/* USING A CURSOR */
DECLARE @SqlToExecute nvarchar(max);
DECLARE @mySearchString varchar(50);
SET @mySearchString = 'dnya';
DECLARE MyCursor CURSOR FOR
SELECT
'SELECT ' + COLUMN_NAME + ' COLLATE Latin1_General_CS_AS AS column1 FROM ' + (TABLE_SCHEMA + '.' + TABLE_NAME) + ' WHERE SOUNDEX(' + COLUMN_NAME + ')=SOUNDEX('''+ @mySearchString +''')' + CHAR(10)
FROM
INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE
DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'nchar', 'varchar', 'nvarchar', 'text', 'ntext')
AND TABLE_SCHEMA='dbo'
ORDER BY TABLE_SCHEMA, TABLE_NAME, COLUMN_NAME;
OPEN MyCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM MyCursor INTO @SqlToExecute
WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
PRINT ' union all ' + @SqlToExecute;
FETCH NEXT FROM MyCursor INTO @SqlToExecute
END
CLOSE MyCursor
DEALLOCATE MyCursor

T-SQL
Source: http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/c0c57332-8624-48c0-b4c3-5b31fe641c58 - Sorna Kumar

copy raw

IF OBJECT_ID('usp_SearchDB','P') IS NOT NULL 
    DROP PROCEDURE usp_SearchDB
GO 
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_SearchDB
 @Tablenames VARCHAR(500) 
,@SearchStr NVARCHAR(60) 
,@GenerateSQLOnly Bit = 0 
AS 
 
/* 
    Parameters and usage 
 
    @Tablenames        -- Provide a single table name or multiple table name with comma seperated.  
                        If left blank , it will check for all the tables in the database 
    @SearchStr        -- Provide the search string. Use the '%' to coin the search.  
                        EX : X%--- will give data staring with X 
                             %X--- will give data ending with X 
                             %X%--- will give data containig  X 
    @GenerateSQLOnly -- Provide 1 if you only want to generate the SQL statements without seraching the database.  
                        By default it is 0 and it will search. 
 
    Samples : 
 
    1. To search data in a table 
 
        EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = 'T1' 
                         ,@SearchStr  = '%TEST%' 
 
        The above sample searches in table T1 with string containing TEST. 
 
    2. To search in a multiple table 
 
        EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = 'T2' 
                         ,@SearchStr  = '%TEST%' 
 
        The above sample searches in tables T1 & T2 with string containing TEST. 
     
    3. To search in a all table 
 
        EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = '%' 
                         ,@SearchStr  = '%TEST%' 
 
        The above sample searches in all table with string containing TEST. 
 
    4. Generate the SQL for the Select statements 
 
        EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames        = 'T1' 
                         ,@SearchStr        = '%TEST%' 
                         ,@GenerateSQLOnly    = 1 
 
*/ 
 
    SET NOCOUNT ON 
 
    DECLARE @CheckTableNames Table 
    ( 
    Tablename sysname 
    ) 
 
    DECLARE @SQLTbl TABLE 
    ( 
     Tablename        SYSNAME 
    ,WHEREClause    VARCHAR(MAX) 
    ,SQLStatement   VARCHAR(MAX) 
    ,Execstatus        BIT  
    ) 
 
    DECLARE @sql VARCHAR(MAX) 
    DECLARE @tmpTblname sysname 
 
    IF LTRIM(RTRIM(@Tablenames)) IN ('' ,'%') 
    BEGIN 
 
        INSERT INTO @CheckTableNames 
        SELECT Name 
          FROM sys.tables 
    END 
    ELSE 
    BEGIN 
 
        SELECT @sql = 'SELECT ''' + REPLACE(@Tablenames,',',''' UNION SELECT ''') + '''' 
 
        INSERT INTO @CheckTableNames 
        EXEC(@sql) 
 
    END 
     
    INSERT INTO @SQLTbl 
    ( Tablename,WHEREClause) 
    SELECT SCh.name + '.' + ST.NAME, 
            ( 
                SELECT '[' + SC.name + ']' + ' LIKE ''' + @SearchStr + ''' OR ' + CHAR(10) 
                  FROM SYS.columns SC 
                  JOIN SYS.types STy 
                    ON STy.system_type_id = SC.system_type_id 
                   AND STy.user_type_id =SC.user_type_id 
                 WHERE STY.name in ('varchar','char','nvarchar','nchar') 
                   AND SC.object_id = ST.object_id 
                 ORDER BY SC.name 
                FOR XML PATH('') 
            ) 
      FROM  SYS.tables ST 
      JOIN @CheckTableNames chktbls 
                ON chktbls.Tablename = ST.name  
      JOIN SYS.schemas SCh 
        ON ST.schema_id = SCh.schema_id 
     WHERE ST.name  'SearchTMP' 
      GROUP BY ST.object_id, SCh.name + '.' + ST.NAME ; 
 
      UPDATE @SQLTbl 
         SET SQLStatement = 'SELECT * INTO SearchTMP FROM ' + Tablename + ' WHERE ' + substring(WHEREClause,1,len(WHEREClause)-5) 
 
      DELETE FROM @SQLTbl 
       WHERE WHEREClause IS NULL 
     
    WHILE EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM @SQLTbl WHERE ISNULL(Execstatus ,0) = 0) 
    BEGIN 
 
        SELECT TOP 1 @tmpTblname = Tablename , @sql = SQLStatement 
          FROM @SQLTbl  
         WHERE ISNULL(Execstatus ,0) = 0 
 
          
 
         IF @GenerateSQLOnly = 0 
         BEGIN 
 
            IF OBJECT_ID('SearchTMP','U') IS NOT NULL 
                DROP TABLE SearchTMP 
            EXEC (@SQL) 
 
            IF EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM SearchTMP) 
            BEGIN 
                SELECT Tablename=@tmpTblname,* FROM SearchTMP 
            END 
 
         END 
         ELSE 
         BEGIN 
             PRINT REPLICATE('-',100) 
             PRINT @tmpTblname 
             PRINT REPLICATE('-',100) 
             PRINT replace(@sql,'INTO SearchTMP','') 
         END 
 
         UPDATE @SQLTbl 
            SET Execstatus = 1 
          WHERE Tablename = @tmpTblname 
 
    END 
     
    SET NOCOUNT OFF 
 
GO

IF OBJECT_ID('usp_SearchDB','P') IS NOT NULL
DROP PROCEDURE usp_SearchDB
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_SearchDB
@Tablenames VARCHAR(500)
,@SearchStr NVARCHAR(60)
,@GenerateSQLOnly Bit = 0
AS
/*
Parameters and usage
@Tablenames -- Provide a single table name or multiple table name with comma seperated.
If left blank , it will check for all the tables in the database
@SearchStr -- Provide the search string. Use the '%' to coin the search.
EX : X%--- will give data staring with X
%X--- will give data ending with X
%X%--- will give data containig X
@GenerateSQLOnly -- Provide 1 if you only want to generate the SQL statements without seraching the database.
By default it is 0 and it will search.
Samples :
1. To search data in a table
EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = 'T1'
,@SearchStr = '%TEST%'
The above sample searches in table T1 with string containing TEST.
2. To search in a multiple table
EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = 'T2'
,@SearchStr = '%TEST%'
The above sample searches in tables T1 & T2 with string containing TEST.
3. To search in a all table
EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = '%'
,@SearchStr = '%TEST%'
The above sample searches in all table with string containing TEST.
4. Generate the SQL for the Select statements
EXEC SearchTables @Tablenames = 'T1'
,@SearchStr = '%TEST%'
,@GenerateSQLOnly = 1
*/
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE @CheckTableNames Table
(
Tablename sysname
)
DECLARE @SQLTbl TABLE
(
Tablename SYSNAME
,WHEREClause VARCHAR(MAX)
,SQLStatement VARCHAR(MAX)
,Execstatus BIT
)
DECLARE @sql VARCHAR(MAX)
DECLARE @tmpTblname sysname
IF LTRIM(RTRIM(@Tablenames)) IN ('' ,'%')
BEGIN
INSERT INTO @CheckTableNames
SELECT Name
FROM sys.tables
END
ELSE
BEGIN
SELECT @sql = 'SELECT ''' + REPLACE(@Tablenames,',',''' UNION SELECT ''') + ''''
INSERT INTO @CheckTableNames
EXEC(@sql)
END
INSERT INTO @SQLTbl
( Tablename,WHEREClause)
SELECT SCh.name + '.' + ST.NAME,
(
SELECT '[' + SC.name + ']' + ' LIKE ''' + @SearchStr + ''' OR ' + CHAR(10)
FROM SYS.columns SC
JOIN SYS.types STy
ON STy.system_type_id = SC.system_type_id
AND STy.user_type_id =SC.user_type_id
WHERE STY.name in ('varchar','char','nvarchar','nchar')
AND SC.object_id = ST.object_id
ORDER BY SC.name
FOR XML PATH('')
)
FROM SYS.tables ST
JOIN @CheckTableNames chktbls
ON chktbls.Tablename = ST.name
JOIN SYS.schemas SCh
ON ST.schema_id = SCh.schema_id
WHERE ST.name 'SearchTMP'
GROUP BY ST.object_id, SCh.name + '.' + ST.NAME ;
UPDATE @SQLTbl
SET SQLStatement = 'SELECT * INTO SearchTMP FROM ' + Tablename + ' WHERE ' + substring(WHEREClause,1,len(WHEREClause)-5)
DELETE FROM @SQLTbl
WHERE WHEREClause IS NULL
WHILE EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM @SQLTbl WHERE ISNULL(Execstatus ,0) = 0)
BEGIN
SELECT TOP 1 @tmpTblname = Tablename , @sql = SQLStatement
FROM @SQLTbl
WHERE ISNULL(Execstatus ,0) = 0
IF @GenerateSQLOnly = 0
BEGIN
IF OBJECT_ID('SearchTMP','U') IS NOT NULL
DROP TABLE SearchTMP
EXEC (@SQL)
IF EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM SearchTMP)
BEGIN
SELECT Tablename=@tmpTblname,* FROM SearchTMP
END
END
ELSE
BEGIN
PRINT REPLICATE('-',100)
PRINT @tmpTblname
PRINT REPLICATE('-',100)
PRINT replace(@sql,'INTO SearchTMP','')
END
UPDATE @SQLTbl
SET Execstatus = 1
WHERE Tablename = @tmpTblname
END
SET NOCOUNT OFF
GO

MySQL
Source: http://kedar.nitty-witty.com/blog/search-through-all-databases-tables-columns-in-mysql - Kedar at Nitty-Witty.com

## Procedure for search in all fields of all databases
DELIMITER $$
#Script to loop through all tables using Information_Schema
DROP PROCEDURE IF EXISTS get_table $$
CREATE PROCEDURE get_table(in_search varchar(50))
READS SQL DATA
BEGIN
DECLARE trunc_cmd VARCHAR(50);
DECLARE search_string VARCHAR(250);
DECLARE db,tbl,clmn CHAR(50);
DECLARE done INT DEFAULT 0;
DECLARE COUNTER INT;
DECLARE table_cur CURSOR FOR
SELECT concat('SELECT COUNT(*) INTO @CNT_VALUE FROM `',table_schema,'`.`',table_name,'` WHERE `', column_name,'` REGEXP "',in_search,'"') ,table_schema,table_name,column_name FROM information_schema.COLUMNS WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA IN ('network_detail');
DECLARE CONTINUE HANDLER FOR NOT FOUND SET done=1;
#Truncating table for refill the data for new search.
PREPARE trunc_cmd FROM "TRUNCATE TABLE temp_details;";
EXECUTE trunc_cmd ;
OPEN table_cur;
table_loop:LOOP
FETCH table_cur INTO search_string,db,tbl,clmn;
#Executing the search
SET @search_string = search_string;
#SELECT search_string;
PREPARE search_string FROM @search_string;
EXECUTE search_string;
SET COUNTER = @CNT_VALUE;
#SELECT COUNTER;
IF COUNTER>0 THEN
# Inserting required results from search to table
INSERT INTO temp_details VALUES(db,tbl,clmn);
END IF;
IF done=1 THEN
LEAVE table_loop;
END IF;
END LOOP;
CLOSE table_cur;
#Finally Show Results
SELECT concat("SELECT * FROM ",t_table, " WHERE ", t_field, " REGEXP '", in_search, "';") FROM temp_details;
END $$
DELIMITER ;

Category: Databases :: Article: 437

Search a database for a string (MySQL, T-SQL)

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