SQL query to select all rows from all tables where a wildcard column equals a value

Question

How can I use a query such as this SELECT * FROM * WHERE % = 'name' to scan through all the tables in my database for name?

Answer 1

your select statement is missing a column. so maybe like SELECT * FROM * WHERE $col = '%name';

the quick and dirty answer outside php (say bash) is to

• step one find the tables in the db. tables=mysql -uuser -psecret MYDB -B -e 'show tables'|sed -e '2,$p'
• step 2; iterate over tables with your select statement replacing FROM * with for loop using $tables var.
• • step 2.5 as you iterate collect your results in a variable as an array or map.
• step 3; examine that map.

this all said unless the $col is common across all tables, this question does not make sense.