Find a string by searching all tables in SQL Server - sql

Question

Is there any way to search for a string in all tables of a database in SQL Server?
I want to search for string say john. The result should show the tables and their respective row that contain john.

Answer 1

If you are like me and have certain restrictions in a production environment, you may wish to use a table variable instead of temp table, and an ad-hoc query rather than a create procedure.
Of course depending on your sql server instance, it must support table variables.
I also added a USE statement to narrow the search scope
USE DATABASE_NAME
DECLARE #SearchStr nvarchar(100) = 'SEARCH_TEXT'
DECLARE #Results TABLE (ColumnName nvarchar(370), ColumnValue nvarchar(3630))
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #TableName nvarchar(256), #ColumnName nvarchar(128), #SearchStr2 nvarchar(110)
SET #TableName = ''
SET #SearchStr2 = QUOTENAME('%' + #SearchStr + '%','''')
WHILE #TableName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName = ''
SET #TableName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
AND QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) > #TableName
AND OBJECTPROPERTY(
OBJECT_ID(
QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME)
), 'IsMSShipped'
) = 0
)
WHILE (#TableName IS NOT NULL) AND (#ColumnName IS NOT NULL)
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar', 'int', 'decimal')
AND QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME) > #ColumnName
)
IF #ColumnName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Results
EXEC
(
'SELECT ''' + #TableName + '.' + #ColumnName + ''', LEFT(' + #ColumnName + ', 3630)
FROM ' + #TableName + ' (NOLOCK) ' +
' WHERE ' + #ColumnName + ' LIKE ' + #SearchStr2
)
END
END
END
SELECT ColumnName, ColumnValue FROM #Results

Answer 2

A bit late but hopefully useful.
Why not try some of the third party tools that can be integrated into SSMS.
I’ve worked with ApexSQL Search (100% free) with good success for both schema and data search and there is also SSMS tools pack that has this feature (not free for SQL 2012 but quite affordable).
Stored procedure above is really great; it’s just that this is way more convenient in my opinion. Also, it would require some slight modifications if you want to search for datetime columns or GUID columns and such…

Answer 3

To update TechDo's answer for SQL server 2012. You need to change: 'FROM ' + #TableName + ' (NOLOCK) ' to FROM ' + #TableName + 'WITH (NOLOCK) ' +
Other wise you will get the following error: Deprecated feature 'Table hint without WITH' is not supported in this version of SQL Server.
Below is the complete updated stored procedure:
CREATE PROC SearchAllTables
(
#SearchStr nvarchar(100)
)
AS
BEGIN
CREATE TABLE #Results (ColumnName nvarchar(370), ColumnValue nvarchar(3630))
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #TableName nvarchar(256), #ColumnName nvarchar(128), #SearchStr2 nvarchar(110)
SET #TableName = ''
SET #SearchStr2 = QUOTENAME('%' + #SearchStr + '%','''')
WHILE #TableName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName = ''
SET #TableName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
AND QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) > #TableName
AND OBJECTPROPERTY(
OBJECT_ID(
QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME)
), 'IsMSShipped'
) = 0
)
WHILE (#TableName IS NOT NULL) AND (#ColumnName IS NOT NULL)
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar', 'int', 'decimal')
AND QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME) > #ColumnName
)
IF #ColumnName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Results
EXEC
(
'SELECT ''' + #TableName + '.' + #ColumnName + ''', LEFT(' + #ColumnName + ', 3630)
FROM ' + #TableName + 'WITH (NOLOCK) ' +
' WHERE ' + #ColumnName + ' LIKE ' + #SearchStr2
)
END
END
END
SELECT ColumnName, ColumnValue FROM #Results
END

Answer 4

A bit late, but you can easily find a string with this query
DECLARE
#search_string VARCHAR(100),
#table_name SYSNAME,
#table_id INT,
#column_name SYSNAME,
#sql_string VARCHAR(2000)
SET #search_string = 'StringtoSearch'
DECLARE tables_cur CURSOR FOR SELECT ss.name +'.'+ so.name [name], object_id FROM sys.objects so INNER JOIN sys.schemas ss ON so.schema_id = ss.schema_id WHERE type = 'U'
OPEN tables_cur
FETCH NEXT FROM tables_cur INTO #table_name, #table_id
WHILE (##FETCH_STATUS = 0)
BEGIN
DECLARE columns_cur CURSOR FOR SELECT name FROM sys.columns WHERE object_id = #table_id
AND system_type_id IN (167, 175, 231, 239)
OPEN columns_cur
FETCH NEXT FROM columns_cur INTO #column_name
WHILE (##FETCH_STATUS = 0)
BEGIN
SET #sql_string = 'IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM ' + #table_name + ' WHERE [' + #column_name + ']
LIKE ''%' + #search_string + '%'') PRINT ''' + #table_name + ', ' + #column_name + ''''
EXECUTE(#sql_string)
FETCH NEXT FROM columns_cur INTO #column_name
END
CLOSE columns_cur
DEALLOCATE columns_cur
FETCH NEXT FROM tables_cur INTO #table_name, #table_id
END
CLOSE tables_cur
DEALLOCATE tables_cur

Answer 5

There's no need for nested looping (outer looping through tables and inner looping through all table columns). One can retrieve all (or arbitrary selected/filtered) table-column combinations from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS and in one loop simply pass through (search) all of them:
DECLARE #search VARCHAR(100), #table SYSNAME, #column SYSNAME
DECLARE curTabCol CURSOR FOR
SELECT c.TABLE_SCHEMA + '.' + c.TABLE_NAME, c.COLUMN_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS c
JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES t
ON t.TABLE_NAME=c.TABLE_NAME AND t.TABLE_TYPE='BASE TABLE' -- avoid views
WHERE c.DATA_TYPE IN ('varchar','nvarchar') -- searching only in these column types
--AND c.COLUMN_NAME IN ('NAME','DESCRIPTION') -- searching only in these column names
SET #search='john'
OPEN curTabCol
FETCH NEXT FROM curTabCol INTO #table, #column
WHILE (##FETCH_STATUS = 0)
BEGIN
EXECUTE('IF EXISTS
(SELECT * FROM ' + #table + ' WHERE ' + #column + ' = ''' + #search + ''')
PRINT ''' + #table + '.' + #column + '''')
FETCH NEXT FROM curTabCol INTO #table, #column
END
CLOSE curTabCol
DEALLOCATE curTabCol

Answer 6

I have written a SP for the this which returns the search results in form of Table name, the Column names in which the search keyword string was found as well as the searches the corresponding rows as shown in below screen shot.
This might not be the most efficient solution but you can always modify and use it according to your need.
IF OBJECT_ID('sp_KeywordSearch', 'P') IS NOT NULL
DROP PROC sp_KeywordSearch
GO
CREATE PROCEDURE sp_KeywordSearch #KeyWord NVARCHAR(100)
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE #Result TABLE
(TableName NVARCHAR(300),
ColumnName NVARCHAR(MAX))
DECLARE #Sql NVARCHAR(MAX),
#TableName NVARCHAR(300),
#ColumnName NVARCHAR(300),
#Count INT
DECLARE #tableCursor CURSOR
SET #tableCursor = CURSOR LOCAL SCROLL FOR
SELECT N'SELECT #Count = COUNT(1) FROM [dbo].[' + T.TABLE_NAME + '] WITH (NOLOCK) WHERE CAST([' + C.COLUMN_NAME +
'] AS NVARCHAR(MAX)) LIKE ''%' + #KeyWord + N'%''',
T.TABLE_NAME,
C.COLUMN_NAME
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES AS T WITH (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS AS C WITH (NOLOCK)
ON T.TABLE_SCHEMA = C.TABLE_SCHEMA AND
T.TABLE_NAME = C.TABLE_NAME
WHERE T.TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE' AND
C.TABLE_SCHEMA = 'dbo' AND
C.DATA_TYPE NOT IN ('image', 'timestamp')
OPEN #tableCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM #tableCursor INTO #Sql, #TableName, #ColumnName
WHILE (##FETCH_STATUS = 0)
BEGIN
SET #Count = 0
EXEC sys.sp_executesql
#Sql,
N'#Count INT OUTPUT',
#Count OUTPUT
IF #Count > 0
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Result
(TableName, ColumnName)
VALUES (#TableName, #ColumnName)
END
FETCH NEXT FROM #tableCursor INTO #Sql, #TableName, #ColumnName
END
CLOSE #tableCursor
DEALLOCATE #tableCursor
SET #tableCursor = CURSOR LOCAL SCROLL FOR
SELECT SUBSTRING(TB.Sql, 1, LEN(TB.Sql) - 3) AS Sql, TB.TableName, SUBSTRING(TB.Columns, 1, LEN(TB.Columns) - 1) AS Columns
FROM (SELECT R.TableName, (SELECT R2.ColumnName + ', ' FROM #Result AS R2 WHERE R.TableName = R2.TableName FOR XML PATH('')) AS Columns,
'SELECT * FROM ' + R.TableName + ' WITH (NOLOCK) WHERE ' +
(SELECT 'CAST(' + R2.ColumnName + ' AS NVARCHAR(MAX)) LIKE ''%' + #KeyWord + '%'' OR '
FROM #Result AS R2
WHERE R.TableName = R2.TableName
FOR
XML PATH('')) AS Sql
FROM #Result AS R
GROUP BY R.TableName) TB
ORDER BY TB.Sql
OPEN #tableCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM #tableCursor INTO #Sql, #TableName, #ColumnName
WHILE (##FETCH_STATUS = 0)
BEGIN
PRINT #Sql
SELECT #TableName AS [Table],
#ColumnName AS Columns
EXEC(#Sql)
FETCH NEXT FROM #tableCursor INTO #Sql, #TableName, #ColumnName
END
CLOSE #tableCursor
DEALLOCATE #tableCursor
END

Answer 7

There are lots of workable answers already. Just thought I would add one I came up with that has a lot of optional funcionality.
--=======================================================================
-- MSSQL Unified Search
-- Minimum compatibility level = 130 (SQL Server 2016)
-- NOTE: The minimum compatibility level is required by the built-in STRING_SPLIT() function.
-- However, you can create the STRING_SPLIT() function at the bottom of this script for
-- lower versions of MSSQL Server.
--
-- Usage:
-- Set the parameters below and execute this script.
--
/************************ Enter Parameters Here ************************/
/**/
/**/ DECLARE #SearchString VARCHAR(1000) = 'string to search for'; -- Accepts SQL wilcards
/**/
/**/ DECLARE #IncludeUserTables BIT = 1;
/**/ DECLARE #IncludeViews BIT = 0;
/**/ DECLARE #IncludeStoredProcedures BIT = 0;
/**/ DECLARE #IncludeFunctions BIT = 0;
/**/ DECLARE #IncludeTriggers BIT = 0;
/**/
/**/ DECLARE #DebugMode BIT = 0;
/**/ DECLARE #ExcludeColumnTypes NVARCHAR(500) = 'text, ntext, char, nchar, timestamp, bigint, tinyint, smallint, bit, date, time, smalldatetime, datetime, datetime2, real, money, float, decimal, binary, varbinary, image'; -- Comma delimited list
/**/
/***********************************************************************/
SET NOCOUNT ON;
SET #SearchString = QUOTENAME(#SearchString,'''');
DECLARE #Results TABLE ([ObjectType] NVARCHAR(200), [ObjectName] NVARCHAR(200), [ColumnName] NVARCHAR(400), [Value] NVARCHAR(MAX), [SelectStatement] NVARCHAR(1000));
DECLARE #ExcludeColTypes TABLE (system_type_id INT);
INSERT INTO #ExcludeColTypes ([system_type_id])
SELECT [system_type_id]
FROM sys.types WHERE
[name] IN (
SELECT LTRIM(RTRIM([value])) FROM STRING_SPLIT(#ExcludeColumnTypes,',')
);
DECLARE #ObjectType NVARCHAR(200);
DECLARE #ObjectName NVARCHAR(200);
DECLARE #Value NVARCHAR(MAX);
DECLARE #SelectStatement NVARCHAR(1000);
DECLARE #Query NVARCHAR(4000);
/********************* Table Objects *********************/
IF (#IncludeUserTables = 1)
BEGIN
DECLARE #TableObjectId INT = (SELECT MIN([object_id]) FROM sys.tables);
DECLARE #ColumnId INT;
WHILE #TableObjectId IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SELECT #ObjectType = 'USER TABLE';
SELECT #ObjectName = '[' + SCHEMA_NAME([schema_id]) + '].[' + OBJECT_NAME(#TableObjectId) + ']' FROM sys.tables WHERE [object_id] = #TableObjectId;
SET #ColumnId = (SELECT MIN([column_id]) FROM sys.columns WHERE [system_type_id] NOT IN (SELECT [system_type_id] FROM #ExcludeColTypes) AND [object_id] = #TableObjectId);
WHILE #ColumnId IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SELECT #Value = '[' + [name] +']' FROM sys.columns WHERE [object_id] = #TableObjectId AND column_id = #ColumnId;
SET #SelectStatement = 'SELECT * FROM ' + #ObjectName + ' WHERE CAST(' + #Value + ' AS NVARCHAR(4000)) LIKE ' + #SearchString + ';';
SET #Query = 'SELECT '
+ QUOTENAME(#ObjectType, '''')
+ ', ' + QUOTENAME(#ObjectName, '''')
+ ', ' + QUOTENAME(#Value, '''')
+ ', ' + #Value
+ ', ''' + REPLACE(#SelectStatement,'''','''''') + ''''
+ ' FROM ' + #ObjectName
+ ' WHERE CAST(' + #Value + ' AS NVARCHAR(4000)) LIKE ' + #SearchString + ';';
IF #DebugMode = 0
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Results EXEC(#Query);
END;
ELSE
BEGIN
PRINT 'Select Statement: ' + #SelectStatement;
PRINT 'Query: ' + #Query;
END;
SET #ColumnId = (SELECT MIN([column_id]) FROM sys.columns WHERE [system_type_id] NOT IN (SELECT [system_type_id] FROM #ExcludeColTypes) AND [object_id] = #TableObjectId AND [column_id] > #ColumnId);
END;
SET #TableObjectId = (SELECT MIN([object_id]) FROM sys.tables WHERE [object_id] > #TableObjectId);
END;
END;
/********************* Objects Other than Tables *********************/
SET #Query = 'SELECT ' +
'ObjectType = CASE ' +
'WHEN b.[type] = ''V'' THEN ''VIEW'' ' +
'WHEN b.[type] = ''P'' THEN ''STORED PROCEDURE'' ' +
'WHEN b.[type] = ''FN'' THEN ''SCALAR-VALUED FUNCTION'' ' +
'WHEN b.[type] = ''IF'' THEN ''TABLE-VALUED FUNCTION'' ' +
'WHEN b.[type] = ''TR'' THEN ''TRIGGER'' ' +
'END ' +
',[ObjectName] = ''['' + SCHEMA_NAME(b.[schema_id]) + ''].['' + OBJECT_NAME(a.[object_id]) + '']'' ' +
',[ColumnName] = NULL ' +
',[Value] = a.[definition] ' +
',[SelectStatement] = ''SP_HELPTEXT '' + QUOTENAME(''['' + SCHEMA_NAME(b.[schema_id]) + ''].['' + OBJECT_NAME(a.[object_id]) + '']'','''''''') + '';'' ' +
'FROM [sys].[sql_modules] a ' +
'JOIN [sys].[objects] b ON a.[object_id] = b.[object_id] ' +
'WHERE ' +
'( ' +
' a.[definition] LIKE ' + #SearchString +
') ' +
'AND ' +
'( ' +
' ( ' +
CAST(#IncludeViews AS VARCHAR(1)) + ' = 1 ' +
' AND ' +
' b.[type] IN (''V'') ' +
' ) ' +
' OR ' +
' ( ' +
CAST(#IncludeStoredProcedures AS VARCHAR(1)) + ' = 1 ' +
' AND ' +
' b.[type] IN (''P'') ' +
' ) ' +
' OR ' +
' ( ' +
CAST(#IncludeFunctions AS VARCHAR(1)) + ' = 1 ' +
' AND ' +
' b.[type] IN (''FN'',''IF'') ' +
' ) ' +
' OR ' +
' ( ' +
CAST(#IncludeTriggers AS VARCHAR(1)) + ' = 1 ' +
' AND ' +
' b.[type] IN (''TR'') ' +
' ) ' +
'); ';
IF #DebugMode = 0
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Results EXEC(#Query);
END;
ELSE
BEGIN
PRINT 'Select Statement: ' + #SelectStatement;
PRINT 'Query: ' + #Query;
END;
IF #DebugMode = 0
BEGIN
SELECT
[ObjectType]
,[ObjectName]
,[ColumnName]
,[Value]
,[Count] = CASE
WHEN [ObjectType] IN ('USER TABLE') THEN COUNT(1)
ELSE NULL
END
,[SelectStatement]
FROM #Results
GROUP BY [ObjectType], [ObjectName], [ColumnName], [Value], [SelectStatement]
ORDER BY [Value];
END;
/********************** STRING_SPLIT() FUNCTION **********************
CREATE FUNCTION STRING_SPLIT (
#Expression nvarchar(4000)
,#Delimiter nvarchar(100)
)
RETURNS #Ret TABLE ([value] NVARCHAR(4000))
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE #Start INT = 0, #End INT, #Length INT;
SELECT #End = CHARINDEX(#Delimiter,#Expression), #Length = #End - #Start;
IF #End <= 0
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Ret ([value]) VALUES (#Expression);
END
ELSE
BEGIN
WHILE #Length >= 0
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Ret ([value])
SELECT ltrim(rtrim(substring(#Expression,#Start,#Length)));
SELECT #Start = #End + LEN(#Delimiter)
SELECT #End = CHARINDEX(#Delimiter,#Expression,#Start)
IF #End < 1
SELECT #End = LEN(#Expression) + 1;
SELECT #Length = #End - #Start;
END;
END;
RETURN;
END;
*********************************************************************/

Answer 8

Improving the amazing answer from #Brandon, I added type to ntext and xml using castings:
BEGIN TRAN
DECLARE #SearchStr nvarchar(100) = 'SEARCH_TEXT'
DECLARE #Results TABLE (ColumnName nvarchar(370), ColumnValue nvarchar(3630))
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #TableName nvarchar(256), #ColumnName nvarchar(128), #SearchStr2 nvarchar(110)
SET #TableName = ''
SET #SearchStr2 = QUOTENAME('%' + #SearchStr + '%','''')
WHILE #TableName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName = ''
SET #TableName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
AND QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) > #TableName
AND OBJECTPROPERTY(
OBJECT_ID(
QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME)
), 'IsMSShipped'
) = 0
)
WHILE (#TableName IS NOT NULL) AND (#ColumnName IS NOT NULL)
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar', 'int', 'decimal', 'ntext', 'xml')
AND QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME) > #ColumnName
)
IF #ColumnName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Results
EXEC
(
'SELECT ''' + #TableName + '.' + #ColumnName + ''', LEFT((cast(' + #ColumnName + ' as nvarchar(max))), 3630)
FROM ' + #TableName + ' (NOLOCK) ' +
' WHERE (cast(' + #ColumnName + ' as nvarchar(max))) LIKE ' + #SearchStr2
)
END
END
END
SELECT ColumnName, ColumnValue FROM #Results
ROLLBACK

Answer 9

Not to take away from the excellent answer by #Brandon but the OP requested "The result should show the tables and their respective row". I created a record-level solution based on the original answer from #Brandon that also avoids the use of CURSORs used by others here by simply concatenating all the appropriate columns into one string. (I have the feeling this would perform better but I honestly haven't compared results - feel free to do so and provide feedback here.)
NB I have used the STRING_AGG function to concatenate the columns. If you have an older version of SQL Server you may need to use one of the alternate methods that can be found online.
CREATE PROC [dbo].[SearchAllTablesByRecord]
(
#SearchStr NVARCHAR(100)
)
AS
BEGIN
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #TableName NVARCHAR(256), #SearchStr2 NVARCHAR(110)
DECLARE #ColumnList NVARCHAR(2048), #ColumnJoin NVARCHAR(2048)
SET #TableName = ''
SET #SearchStr2 = QUOTENAME('%' + #SearchStr + '%','''')
WHILE #TableName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SET #TableName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
AND QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) > #TableName
AND OBJECTPROPERTY(
OBJECT_ID(
QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME)
), 'IsMSShipped'
) = 0
)
PRINT #TableName -- For progress monitoring
SET #ColumnList =
(
SELECT STRING_AGG(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME),',')
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar')
)
SET #ColumnJoin = REPLACE(#ColumnList,',','+')
IF #ColumnList <> ''
EXEC
(
'SELECT ''' + #TableName + ''' AS [Table],' + #ColumnList + '
INTO #Results
FROM ' + #TableName + ' (NOLOCK) ' +
' WHERE ' + #ColumnJoin + ' LIKE ' + #SearchStr2 + '
IF ##ROWCOUNT > 0 SELECT * FROM #Results'
)
END
END

Answer 10

This was very helpful. I wanted to import this function to a Postgre SQL database. Thought i would share it with anyone who is interested. Will have them a few hours. Note: this function creates a list of SQL statements that can be copied and executed on the Postgre database. Maybe someone smarter then me can get Postgre to create and execute the statements all in one function.
CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION SearchAllTables(_search text) RETURNS TABLE( txt text ) as $funct$
DECLARE __COUNT int;
__SQL text;
BEGIN
EXECUTE 'SELECT COUNT(0) FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE DATA_TYPE = ''text''
AND table_schema = ''public'' ' INTO __COUNT;
RETURN QUERY
SELECT CASE WHEN ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY table_name) < __COUNT THEN
'SELECT ''' || table_name ||'.'|| column_name || ''' AS tbl, "' || column_name || '" AS col FROM "public"."' || "table_name" || '" WHERE "'|| "column_name" || '" ILIKE ''%' || _search || '%'' UNION ALL'
ELSE
'SELECT ''' || table_name ||'.'|| column_name || ''' AS tbl, "' || column_name || '" AS col FROM "public"."' || "table_name" || '" WHERE "'|| "column_name" || '" ILIKE ''%' || _search || '%'''
END AS txt
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE DATA_TYPE = 'text'
AND table_schema = 'public';
END
$funct$ LANGUAGE plpgsql;

Answer 11

The answer that was mentioned in this post already several times I have adopted a little bit because I needed to search in only one table too:
(and also made input for the table name a bit more simpler)
ALTER PROC dbo.db_compare_SearchAllTables_sp
(
#SearchStr nvarchar(100),
#TableName nvarchar(256) = ''
)
AS
BEGIN
if PARSENAME(#TableName, 2) is null
set #TableName = 'dbo.' + QUOTENAME(#TableName, '"')
declare #results TABLE(ColumnName nvarchar(370), ColumnValue nvarchar(3630))
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #ColumnName nvarchar(128) = '', #SearchStr2 nvarchar(110)
SET #SearchStr2 = QUOTENAME('%' + #SearchStr + '%','''')
IF #TableName <> ''
WHILE (#TableName IS NOT NULL) AND (#ColumnName IS NOT NULL)
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar')
AND QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME) > #ColumnName
)
IF #ColumnName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #results
EXEC
(
'SELECT ''' + #TableName + '.' + #ColumnName + ''', LEFT(' + #ColumnName + ', 3630)
FROM ' + #TableName + ' WITH (NOLOCK) ' +
' WHERE ' + #ColumnName + ' LIKE ' + #SearchStr2
)
END
END
ELSE
WHILE #TableName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName = ''
SET #TableName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
AND QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) > #TableName
AND OBJECTPROPERTY(
OBJECT_ID(
QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME)
), 'IsMSShipped'
) = 0
)
WHILE (#TableName IS NOT NULL) AND (#ColumnName IS NOT NULL)
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName =
(
SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar')
AND QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME) > #ColumnName
)
IF #ColumnName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #results
EXEC
(
'SELECT ''' + #TableName + '.' + #ColumnName + ''', LEFT(' + #ColumnName + ', 3630)
FROM ' + #TableName + ' WITH (NOLOCK) ' +
' WHERE ' + #ColumnName + ' LIKE ' + #SearchStr2
)
END
END
END
SELECT ColumnName, ColumnValue FROM #results
END

Answer 12

[CREATE PROC SearchAllTables ( #SearchStr nvarchar(100) ) AS
BEGIN
CREATE TABLE #Results (ColumnName nvarchar(370), ColumnValue nvarchar(3630))
SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE #TableName nvarchar(256),
#ColumnName nvarchar(128),
#SearchStr2 nvarchar(110)
SET #TableName = ''
SET #SearchStr2 = QUOTENAME('%' + #SearchStr + '%','''')
WHILE #TableName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName = ''
SET #TableName = ( SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
WHERE TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
AND QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) > #TableName
AND OBJECTPROPERTY( OBJECT_ID( QUOTENAME(TABLE_SCHEMA) + '.' + QUOTENAME(TABLE_NAME) ), 'IsMSShipped' ) = 0
)
WHILE (#TableName IS NOT NULL) AND (#ColumnName IS NOT NULL)
BEGIN
SET #ColumnName = ( SELECT MIN(QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME))
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = PARSENAME(#TableName, 2)
AND TABLE_NAME = PARSENAME(#TableName, 1)
AND DATA_TYPE IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nchar', 'nvarchar')
AND QUOTENAME(COLUMN_NAME) > #ColumnName )
IF #ColumnName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
INSERT INTO #Results
EXEC ( 'SELECT ''' + #TableName + '.' + #ColumnName + ''', LEFT(' + #ColumnName + ', 3630) FROM ' + #TableName + ' (NOLOCK) ' + ' WHERE ' + #ColumnName + ' LIKE ' + #SearchStr2 )
END
END
END
SELECT ColumnName, ColumnValue FROM #Results
END
EXEC SearchAllTables 'Computer'][1]
[1]: https://koukia.ca/search-for-a-string-in-all-tables-and-all-fields-of-a-database-with-tsql-b6f8a1bfda37