Find all tables containing column with specified name - MS SQL Server

Answer 1

I wanted something for tables and views that didn't make my eyes bleed.

Query

SELECT
    t.TABLE_TYPE AS [Type],
    c.TABLE_NAME AS [Object],
    c.COLUMN_NAME AS [Column]
FROM
    INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS AS c
    LEFT JOIN INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES AS t ON
        t.TABLE_CATALOG = c.TABLE_CATALOG AND 
        t.TABLE_SCHEMA = c.TABLE_SCHEMA AND
        t.TABLE_NAME = c.TABLE_NAME
WHERE
    c.COLUMN_NAME LIKE '%myName%'
ORDER BY
    [Type],
    [Object],
    [Column]

Result

Type        Object   Column
----------------------------
BASE TABLE  Table1   myName1
BASE TABLE  Table2   myName2
VIEW        View1    myName1
VIEW        View2    myName2

Answer 2

DECLARE @columnName as varchar(100)
SET @columnName = 'ColumnName'

SELECT t.name AS Table, c.name AS Column,
ty.name AS Type, c.max_length AS Length
FROM sys.tables AS t
INNER JOIN sys.columns c ON t.OBJECT_ID = c.OBJECT_ID
INNER JOIN sys.types ty ON c.system_type_id = ty.system_type_id
WHERE c.name LIKE @columnName
ORDER BY t.name, c.name

Answer 3

I don't know why so many of you suggesting Joining with sys.table with sys.columns you can simply use below code:

Select object_name(object_id) as TableName,* from SYS.columns where name LIKE '%MyName%'

or

If you want schema name as well:

Select * from  INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
where COLUMN_NAME LIKE '%MyName%'

Answer 4

In MS SQL Server Database, use this query to get the tables and respective column names that contains the input text:

SELECT t.name AS tableName, c.name AS columnName 
FROM sys.tables as t 
INNER JOIN sys.columns AS c ON t.object_id=c.object_id 
WHERE c.name LIKE '%<your_search_string>%'

Answer 5

Like oracle you can find tables and columns with this:

select table_name, column_name
from user_tab_columns 
where column_name 
like '%myname%';

Answer 6

Hopefully this isn't a duplicate answer, but what I like to do is generate a sql statement within a sql statement that will allow me to search for the values I am looking for (not just the tables with those field names ( as it's usually necessary for me to then delete any info related to the id of the column name I am looking for):

  SELECT  'Select * from ' + t.name + ' where ' + c.name + ' = 148' AS SQLToRun
  FROM sys.columns c, c.name as ColName, t.name as TableName
  JOIN sys.tables t 
     ON c.object_id = t.object_id
  WHERE c.name LIKE '%ProjectID%'

Then I can copy and paste run my 1st column "SQLToRun"... then I replace the "Select * from ' with 'Delete from ' and it allows me to delete any references to that given ID! Write these results to file so you have them just in case.

NOTE**** Make sure you eliminate any bakup tables prior to running your your delete statement...

  SELECT  'Delete from ' + t.name + ' where ' + c.name + ' = 148' AS SQLToRun
  FROM sys.columns c, c.name as ColName, t.name as TableName
  JOIN sys.tables t 
     ON c.object_id = t.object_id
  WHERE c.name LIKE '%ProjectID%'