How do I list all tables in all databases in SQL Server in a single result set?

Question

I am looking for T-SQL code to list all tables in all databases in SQL Server (at least in SS2005 and SS2008; would be nice to also apply to SS2000). The catch, however, is

Answer 1

I realize this is a very old thread, but it was very helpful when I had to put together some system documentation for several different servers that were hosting different versions of Sql Server. I ended up creating 4 stored procedures which I am posting here for the benefit of the community. We use Dynamics NAV so the two stored procedures with NAV in the name split the Nav company out of the table name. Enjoy...

4 of 4 - ListServerDatabaseNavTables - for Dynamics NAV

USE [YourDatabase]
GO

SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO

ALTER proc [dbo].[ListServerDatabaseNavTables]
(
    @SearchDatabases varchar(max) = NULL,  
    @SearchSchema sysname = NULL,
    @SearchCompanies varchar(max) = NULL,
    @SearchTables varchar(max) = NULL,
    @ExcludeSystemDatabases bit = 1,
    @Sql varchar(max) OUTPUT
)
AS BEGIN

/**************************************************************************************************************************************
* Lists all of the database tables for a given server.
*   Parameters
*       SearchDatabases - Comma delimited list of database names for which to search - converted into series of Like statements
*                         Defaults to null  
*       SearchSchema - Schema name for which to search
*                      Defaults to null 
*       SearchCompanies - Comma delimited list of company names for which to search - converted into series of Like statements
*                         Defaults to null  
*       SearchTables - Comma delimited list of table names for which to search - converted into series of Like statements
*                      Defaults to null 
*       ExcludeSystemDatabases - 1 to exclude system databases, otherwise 0
*                          Defaults to 1
*       Sql - Output - the stored proc generated sql
*
*   Adapted from answer by KM answered May 21 '10 at 13:33
*   From: How do I list all tables in all databases in SQL Server in a single result set?
*   Link: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2875768/how-do-i-list-all-tables-in-all-databases-in-sql-server-in-a-single-result-set
*
**************************************************************************************************************************************/

    SET NOCOUNT ON

    DECLARE @l_CompoundLikeStatement varchar(max) = ''
    DECLARE @l_TableName sysname
    DECLARE @l_CompanyName sysname
    DECLARE @l_DatabaseName sysname

    DECLARE @l_Index int

    DECLARE @l_UseAndText bit = 0

    DECLARE @AllTables table (ServerName sysname, DbName sysname, SchemaName sysname, CompanyName sysname, TableName sysname, NavTableName sysname)

    SET @Sql = 
        'select @@ServerName as ''ServerName'', ''?'' as ''DbName'', s.name as ''SchemaName'', ' + char(13) +
        '       case when charindex(''$'', t.name) = 0 then '''' else left(t.name, charindex(''$'', t.name) - 1) end as ''CompanyName'', ' + char(13) +
        '       case when charindex(''$'', t.name) = 0 then t.name else substring(t.name, charindex(''$'', t.name) + 1, 1000) end as ''TableName'', ' + char(13) +
        '       t.name as ''NavTableName'' ' + char(13) +
        'from [?].sys.tables t inner join ' + char(13) + 
        '     sys.schemas s on t.schema_id = s.schema_id '

    -- Comma delimited list of database names for which to search
    IF @SearchDatabases IS NOT NULL BEGIN
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = char(13) + 'where (' + char(13)
        WHILE LEN(LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchDatabases))) > 0 BEGIN
            SET @l_Index = CHARINDEX(',', @SearchDatabases)
            IF @l_Index = 0 BEGIN
                SET @l_DatabaseName = LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchDatabases))
            END ELSE BEGIN
                SET @l_DatabaseName = LTRIM(RTRIM(LEFT(@SearchDatabases, @l_Index - 1)))
            END

            SET @SearchDatabases = LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(@SearchDatabases, @l_DatabaseName, ''))), ',', '')))
            SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = @l_CompoundLikeStatement + char(13) + ' ''?'' like ''' + @l_DatabaseName + '%'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS or '
        END

        -- Trim trailing Or and add closing right parenthesis )
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LTRIM(RTRIM(@l_CompoundLikeStatement))
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LEFT(@l_CompoundLikeStatement, LEN(@l_CompoundLikeStatement) - 2) + ')'

        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13) +
            @l_CompoundLikeStatement

        SET @l_UseAndText = 1
    END

    -- Search schema
    IF @SearchSchema IS NOT NULL BEGIN
        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13)
        SET @Sql = @Sql + CASE WHEN @l_UseAndText = 1 THEN '  and ' ELSE 'where ' END +
            's.name LIKE ''' + @SearchSchema + ''' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS'
        SET @l_UseAndText = 1
    END

    -- Comma delimited list of company names for which to search
    IF @SearchCompanies IS NOT NULL BEGIN
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = char(13) + CASE WHEN @l_UseAndText = 1 THEN '  and (' ELSE 'where (' END + char(13) 
        WHILE LEN(LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchCompanies))) > 0 BEGIN
            SET @l_Index = CHARINDEX(',', @SearchCompanies)
            IF @l_Index = 0 BEGIN
                SET @l_CompanyName = LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchCompanies))
            END ELSE BEGIN
                SET @l_CompanyName = LTRIM(RTRIM(LEFT(@SearchCompanies, @l_Index - 1)))
            END

            SET @SearchCompanies = LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(@SearchCompanies, @l_CompanyName, ''))), ',', '')))
            SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = @l_CompoundLikeStatement + char(13) + ' t.name like ''' + @l_CompanyName + '%'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS or '
        END

        -- Trim trailing Or and add closing right parenthesis )
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LTRIM(RTRIM(@l_CompoundLikeStatement))
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LEFT(@l_CompoundLikeStatement, LEN(@l_CompoundLikeStatement) - 2) + ' )'

        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13) +
            @l_CompoundLikeStatement

        SET @l_UseAndText = 1
    END

    -- Comma delimited list of table names for which to search
    IF @SearchTables IS NOT NULL BEGIN
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = char(13) + CASE WHEN @l_UseAndText = 1 THEN '  and (' ELSE 'where (' END + char(13) 
        WHILE LEN(LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchTables))) > 0 BEGIN
            SET @l_Index = CHARINDEX(',', @SearchTables)
            IF @l_Index = 0 BEGIN
                SET @l_TableName = LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchTables))
            END ELSE BEGIN
                SET @l_TableName = LTRIM(RTRIM(LEFT(@SearchTables, @l_Index - 1)))
            END

            SET @SearchTables = LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(@SearchTables, @l_TableName, ''))), ',', '')))
            SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = @l_CompoundLikeStatement + char(13) + ' t.name like ''$' + @l_TableName + ''' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS or '
        END

        -- Trim trailing Or and add closing right parenthesis )
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LTRIM(RTRIM(@l_CompoundLikeStatement))
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LEFT(@l_CompoundLikeStatement, LEN(@l_CompoundLikeStatement) - 2) + ' )'

        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13) +
            @l_CompoundLikeStatement

        SET @l_UseAndText = 1
    END

    IF @ExcludeSystemDatabases = 1 BEGIN
        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13)
        SET @Sql = @Sql + case when @l_UseAndText = 1 THEN '  and ' ELSE 'where ' END +
            '''?'' not in (''master'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, ''model'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, ''msdb'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, ''tempdb'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS)' 
    END

/*  PRINT @Sql  */

    INSERT INTO @AllTables 
    EXEC sp_msforeachdb @Sql

    SELECT * FROM @AllTables ORDER BY DbName COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, CompanyName COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, TableName COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS
END

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure you'll have to loop through the list of databases and then list each table. You should be able to union them together.

Answer 3

I realize this is a very old thread, but it was very helpful when I had to put together some system documentation for several different servers that were hosting different versions of Sql Server. I ended up creating 4 stored procedures which I am posting here for the benefit of the community. We use Dynamics NAV so the two stored procedures with NAV in the name split the Nav company out of the table name. Enjoy...

1 of 4 - ListServerDatabases

USE [YourDatabase]
GO

/****** Object:  StoredProcedure [pssi].[ListServerDatabases]    Script Date: 10/3/2017 8:56:45 AM ******/
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO

ALTER PROC [dbo].[ListServerDatabases]
(
    @SearchDatabases varchar(max) = NULL,  
    @ExcludeSystemDatabases bit = 1,
    @Sql varchar(max) OUTPUT
)
AS BEGIN

/**************************************************************************************************************************************
* Lists all of the databases for a given server.
*   Parameters
*       SearchDatabases - Comma delimited list of database names for which to search - converted into series of Like statements
*                         Defaults to null  
*       ExcludeSystemDatabases - 1 to exclude system databases, otherwise 0
*                                Defaults to 1
*       Sql - Output - the stored proc generated sql
*
*   Adapted from answer by 
*   From: How do I list all tables in all databases in SQL Server in a single result set?
*   Link: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2875768/how-do-i-list-all-tables-in-all-databases-in-sql-server-in-a-single-result-set
*
**************************************************************************************************************************************/

    SET NOCOUNT ON

    DECLARE @l_CompoundLikeStatement varchar(max) = ''
    DECLARE @l_DatabaseName sysname

    DECLARE @l_Index int

    DECLARE @lUseAndText bit = 0

    DECLARE @l_AllDatabases table (ServerName sysname, DbName sysname)

    SET @Sql = 
        'select @@ServerName as ''ServerName'', ''?'' as ''DbName'''

    IF @SearchDatabases IS NOT NULL BEGIN
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = char(13) + 'where (' + char(13)
        WHILE LEN(LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchDatabases))) > 0 BEGIN
            SET @l_Index = CHARINDEX(',', @SearchDatabases)
            IF @l_Index = 0 BEGIN
                SET @l_DatabaseName = LTRIM(RTRIM(@SearchDatabases))
            END ELSE BEGIN
                SET @l_DatabaseName = LTRIM(RTRIM(LEFT(@SearchDatabases, @l_Index - 1)))
            END

            SET @SearchDatabases = LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(LTRIM(RTRIM(REPLACE(@SearchDatabases, @l_DatabaseName, ''))), ',', '')))
            SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = @l_CompoundLikeStatement + char(13) + ' ''?'' like ''' + @l_DatabaseName + '%'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS or '
        END

        -- Trim trailing Or and add closing right parenthesis )
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LTRIM(RTRIM(@l_CompoundLikeStatement))
        SET @l_CompoundLikeStatement = LEFT(@l_CompoundLikeStatement, LEN(@l_CompoundLikeStatement) - 2) + ' )'

        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13) +
            @l_CompoundLikeStatement

        SET @lUseAndText = 1
    END

    IF @ExcludeSystemDatabases = 1 BEGIN
        SET @Sql = @Sql + char(13)
        SET @Sql = @Sql + case when @lUseAndText = 1 THEN '  and ' ELSE 'where ' END +
            '''?'' not in (''master'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, ''model'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, ''msdb'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS, ''tempdb'' COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS)' 
    END

/*  PRINT @Sql  */

    INSERT INTO @l_AllDatabases 
    EXEC sp_msforeachdb @Sql

    SELECT * FROM @l_AllDatabases ORDER BY DbName
END

Answer 4

I think the common approach is to SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES for each database using sp_MSforeachdb

I created a snippet in VS Code that I think it might be helpful.

Query

IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#alltables', 'U') IS NOT NULL DROP TABLE #alltables;
SELECT * INTO #alltables FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES;
TRUNCATE TABLE #alltables;
EXEC sp_MSforeachdb 'USE [?];INSERT INTO #alltables SELECT * from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES';
SELECT * FROM #alltables WHERE TABLE_NAME LIKE '%<TABLE_NAME_TO_SEARCH>%';
GO 

Snippet

{
    "List all tables": {
        "prefix": "sqlListTable",
        "body": [
            "IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb..#alltables', 'U') IS NOT NULL DROP TABLE #alltables;",
            "SELECT * INTO #alltables FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES;",
            "TRUNCATE TABLE #alltables;",
            "EXEC sp_MSforeachdb 'USE [?];INSERT INTO #alltables SELECT * from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES';",
            "SELECT * FROM #alltables WHERE TABLE_NAME LIKE '%$0%';",
            "GO"
        ]
    }
}

Answer 5

for a simple way to get all tables on the server, try this:

SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE @AllTables table (CompleteTableName nvarchar(4000))
INSERT INTO @AllTables (CompleteTableName)
    EXEC sp_msforeachdb 'select @@SERVERNAME+''.''+''?''+''.''+s.name+''.''+t.name from [?].sys.tables t inner join sys.schemas s on t.schema_id=s.schema_id'
SET NOCOUNT OFF
SELECT * FROM @AllTables ORDER BY 1

it will return a single column that contains the server+database+schema+table name: sample output:

CompleteTableName
--------------------------------------------
YourServer.YourDatabase1.YourSchema1.YourTable1
YourServer.YourDatabase1.YourSchema1.YourTable2
YourServer.YourDatabase1.YourSchema2.YourTable1
YourServer.YourDatabase1.YourSchema2.YourTable2
YourServer.YourDatabase2.YourSchema1.YourTable1

if you are not on SQL Server 2005 or up, replace the DECLARE @AllTables table with CREATE TABLE #AllTables and then every @AllTables with #AllTables and it will work.

EDIT
here is a version that will allow a search parameter to be used on any part or parts of the server+database+schema+table names:

SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE @AllTables table (CompleteTableName nvarchar(4000))
DECLARE @Search nvarchar(4000)
       ,@SQL   nvarchar(4000)
SET @Search=null --all rows
SET @SQL='select @@SERVERNAME+''.''+''?''+''.''+s.name+''.''+t.name from [?].sys.tables t inner join sys.schemas s on t.schema_id=s.schema_id WHERE @@SERVERNAME+''.''+''?''+''.''+s.name+''.''+t.name LIKE ''%'+ISNULL(@SEARCH,'')+'%'''

INSERT INTO @AllTables (CompleteTableName)
    EXEC sp_msforeachdb @SQL
SET NOCOUNT OFF
SELECT * FROM @AllTables ORDER BY 1

set @Search to NULL for all tables, set it to things like 'dbo.users' or 'users' or '.master.dbo' or even include wildcards like '.master.%.u', etc.

Answer 6

I quite like using INFORMATION_SCHEMA for this as I get the DB name for free. That and - realising from @KM post that multiple results sets insert nicely - I came up with:

select top 0 * 
    into #temp
    from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES

insert into #temp
    exec sp_msforeachdb 'select * from [?].INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES'

select * from #temp

drop table #temp