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

Question

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.

Answer 1

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