How to find column names for all tables in all databases in SQL Server

Question

I want to find all column names in all tables in all databases. Is there a query that can do that for me?

Answer 1

Try this:

select 
    o.name,c.name 
    from sys.columns            c
        inner join sys.objects  o on c.object_id=o.object_id
    order by o.name,c.column_id

With resulting column names this would be:

select 
     o.name as [Table], c.name as [Column]
     from sys.columns            c
         inner join sys.objects  o on c.object_id=o.object_id
     --where c.name = 'column you want to find'
     order by o.name,c.name

Or for more detail:

SELECT
    s.name as ColumnName
        ,sh.name+'.'+o.name AS ObjectName
        ,o.type_desc AS ObjectType
        ,CASE
             WHEN t.name IN ('char','varchar') THEN t.name+'('+CASE WHEN s.max_length<0 then 'MAX' ELSE CONVERT(varchar(10),s.max_length) END+')'
             WHEN t.name IN ('nvarchar','nchar') THEN t.name+'('+CASE WHEN s.max_length<0 then 'MAX' ELSE CONVERT(varchar(10),s.max_length/2) END+')'
            WHEN t.name IN ('numeric') THEN t.name+'('+CONVERT(varchar(10),s.precision)+','+CONVERT(varchar(10),s.scale)+')'
             ELSE t.name
         END AS DataType

        ,CASE
             WHEN s.is_nullable=1 THEN 'NULL'
            ELSE 'NOT NULL'
        END AS Nullable
        ,CASE
             WHEN ic.column_id IS NULL THEN ''
             ELSE ' identity('+ISNULL(CONVERT(varchar(10),ic.seed_value),'')+','+ISNULL(CONVERT(varchar(10),ic.increment_value),'')+')='+ISNULL(CONVERT(varchar(10),ic.last_value),'null')
         END
        +CASE
             WHEN sc.column_id IS NULL THEN ''
             ELSE ' computed('+ISNULL(sc.definition,'')+')'
         END
        +CASE
             WHEN cc.object_id IS NULL THEN ''
             ELSE ' check('+ISNULL(cc.definition,'')+')'
         END
            AS MiscInfo
    FROM sys.columns                           s
        INNER JOIN sys.types                   t ON s.system_type_id=t.user_type_id and t.is_user_defined=0
        INNER JOIN sys.objects                 o ON s.object_id=o.object_id
        INNER JOIN sys.schemas                sh on o.schema_id=sh.schema_id
        LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.identity_columns  ic ON s.object_id=ic.object_id AND s.column_id=ic.column_id
        LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.computed_columns  sc ON s.object_id=sc.object_id AND s.column_id=sc.column_id
        LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.check_constraints cc ON s.object_id=cc.parent_object_id AND s.column_id=cc.parent_column_id
    ORDER BY sh.name+'.'+o.name,s.column_id

EDIT
Here is a basic example to get all columns in all databases:

DECLARE @SQL varchar(max)
SET @SQL=''
SELECT @SQL=@SQL+'UNION
select 
'''+d.name+'.''+sh.name+''.''+o.name,c.name,c.column_id
from '+d.name+'.sys.columns            c
    inner join '+d.name+'.sys.objects  o on c.object_id=o.object_id
    INNER JOIN '+d.name+'.sys.schemas  sh on o.schema_id=sh.schema_id
'
FROM sys.databases d
SELECT @SQL=RIGHT(@SQL,LEN(@SQL)-5)+'order by 1,3'
--print @SQL
EXEC (@SQL)

EDIT SQL Server 2000 version

DECLARE @SQL varchar(8000)
SET @SQL=''
SELECT @SQL=@SQL+'UNION
select 
'''+d.name+'.''+sh.name+''.''+o.name,c.name,c.colid
from '+d.name+'..syscolumns            c
    inner join sysobjects  o on c.id=o.id
    INNER JOIN sysusers  sh on o.uid=sh.uid
'
FROM master.dbo.sysdatabases d
SELECT @SQL=RIGHT(@SQL,LEN(@SQL)-5)+'order by 1,3'
--print @SQL
EXEC (@SQL)

EDIT
Based on some comments, here is a version using sp_MSforeachdb:

sp_MSforeachdb 'select 
    ''?'' AS DatabaseName, o.name AS TableName,c.name AS ColumnName
    from sys.columns            c
        inner join ?.sys.objects  o on c.object_id=o.object_id
    --WHERE ''?'' NOT IN (''master'',''msdb'',''tempdb'',''model'')
    order by o.name,c.column_id'

Answer 2

Why not use

Select * From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS

You can make it DB specific with

Select * From DBNAME.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS

Answer 3

SELECT * 
FROM information_schema.columns 
WHERE column_name = 'My_Column'

You must set your current database name with USE [db_name] before this query.

Answer 4

Better way for you

sp_MSForEachDB @command1='USE ?;
SELECT 
    Table_Catalog 
    ,Table_Schema
    ,Table_Name
    ,Column_Name
    ,Data_Type
    ,Character_Maximum_Length
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE COLUMN_NAME like ''%ColumnNameHere%'''

Answer 5

Some minor improvements

->previous answers weren't showing all results

->possible to filter on column name by setting the column name variable

DECLARE @columnname nvarchar(150)
SET @columnname=''

DECLARE @SQL varchar(max)
SET @SQL=''
SELECT @SQL=@SQL+'UNION
SELECT 
'''+d.name+'.''+sh.name+''.''+o.name COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS as name,c.name COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS as columnname,c.column_id
FROM '+d.name+'.sys.columns            c
    INNER JOIN '+d.name+'.sys.objects  o on c.object_id=o.object_id
    INNER JOIN '+d.name+'.sys.schemas  sh on o.schema_id=sh.schema_id
    WHERE c.name like ''%'+@columnname+'%'' AND sh.name<>''sys'' 
'
FROM sys.databases d
SELECT @SQL=RIGHT(@SQL,LEN(@SQL)-5)+'order by 1,3'
--print @SQL
EXEC (@SQL)

Answer 6

Normally I try to do whatever I can to avoid the use of cursors, but the following query will get you everything you need:

--Declare/Set required variables
DECLARE @vchDynamicDatabaseName AS VARCHAR(MAX),
        @vchDynamicQuery As VARCHAR(MAX),
        @DatabasesCursor CURSOR

SET @DatabasesCursor = Cursor FOR

--Select * useful databases on the server
SELECT name 
FROM sys.databases 
WHERE database_id > 4 
ORDER by name

--Open the Cursor based on the previous select
OPEN @DatabasesCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM @DatabasesCursor INTO @vchDynamicDatabaseName
WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
   BEGIN

   --Insert the select statement into @DynamicQuery 
   --This query will select the Database name, all tables/views and their columns (in a comma delimited field)
   SET @vchDynamicQuery =
   ('SELECT ''' + @vchDynamicDatabaseName + ''' AS ''Database_Name'',
          B.table_name AS ''Table Name'',
         STUFF((SELECT '', '' + A.column_name
               FROM ' + @vchDynamicDatabaseName + '.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS A
               WHERE A.Table_name = B.Table_Name
               FOR XML PATH(''''),TYPE).value(''(./text())[1]'',''NVARCHAR(MAX)'')
               , 1, 2, '''') AS ''Columns''
   FROM ' + @vchDynamicDatabaseName + '.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS B
   WHERE B.TABLE_NAME LIKE ''%%''
         AND B.COLUMN_NAME LIKE ''%%''
   GROUP BY B.Table_Name
   Order BY 1 ASC')

   --Print @vchDynamicQuery
   EXEC(@vchDynamicQuery)

   FETCH NEXT FROM @DatabasesCursor INTO @vchDynamicDatabaseName
END
CLOSE @DatabasesCursor
DEALLOCATE @DatabasesCursor
GO

I added a where clause in the main query (ex: B.TABLE_NAME LIKE ''%%'' AND B.COLUMN_NAME LIKE ''%%'') so that you can search for specific tables and/or columns if you want to.

Answer 7

To all: Thanks for all the post and comments some are good, but some are better.

The first big script is good because it is delivers just what is needed. The fastest and most detailed is the one suggestion for selecting from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS..

My need was to find all the errant columns of approximately the same name and Several databases.. Sooo, I made my versions of both (see below) ...Either of these two below script work and deliver the goods in seconds.

The assumption in other posts on this link, is that the first code example can be used successfully with for-each-database, is to me, not desirable. This is because the information is within the specific database and the simple use of the "fedb" doesn't produce the correct results, it simply doesn't give access. SOOO to that is why I use a CURSOR to collect the databases and ignore those that are Off-line, which in this case, a utility script, it is a good use of same.

Bottom Line, I read everyone's post, incorporated all the correction from the posts and made what are two very eloquent scripts from others good works. I listed both below and have also placed the script file on my public folder at OneDrive.com which you can access with this link: http://1drv.ms/1vr8yNX

Enjoy ! Hank Freeman

Senior Level - SQL Server DBA - Data Architect

Try them separately...

---------------------------
--- 1st example (works) ---
---------------------------
Declare 
 @DBName sysname
,@SQL_String1 nvarchar(4000)
,@SQL_String2 nvarchar(4000)
,@ColumnName nvarchar(200) 
--set @ColumnName = 'Course_ID' 
-------- Like Trick --------
-- IF you want to add more the @ColumnName so it looks like Course_ID,CourseID
-- then add an additional pairing of +''','''+'NewColumnSearchIDValue'
----------------------------
set @ColumnName = 'Course_ID' +''','''+'CourseID'
--select @ColumnName
-----
Declare @Column_Info table
(
[DatabaseName] nvarchar(128) NULL,
[ColumnName] sysname NULL,
[ObjectName] nvarchar(257) NOT NULL,
[ObjectType] nvarchar(60) NULL,
[DataType] nvarchar(151) NULL,
[Nullable] varchar(8) NOT NULL,
[MiscInfo] nvarchar(MAX) NOT NULL
)
--------------
Begin
    set @SQL_String2 = 'SELECT
     DB_NAME() as ''DatabaseName'',
    s.name as ColumnName
        ,sh.name+''.''+o.name AS ObjectName
        ,o.type_desc AS ObjectType
        ,CASE
             WHEN t.name IN (''char'',''varchar'') THEN t.name+''(''+CASE WHEN s.max_length<0 then ''MAX'' ELSE CONVERT(varchar(10),s.max_length) END+'')''
             WHEN t.name IN (''nvarchar'',''nchar'') THEN t.name+''(''+CASE WHEN s.max_length<0 then ''MAX'' ELSE CONVERT(varchar(10),s.max_length/2) END+'')''
            WHEN t.name IN (''numeric'') THEN t.name+''(''+CONVERT(varchar(10),s.precision)+'',''+CONVERT(varchar(10),s.scale)+'')''
             ELSE t.name
         END AS DataType
        ,CASE
             WHEN s.is_nullable=1 THEN ''NULL''
            ELSE ''NOT NULL''
        END AS Nullable
        ,CASE
             WHEN ic.column_id IS NULL THEN ''''
             ELSE '' identity(''+ISNULL(CONVERT(varchar(10),ic.seed_value),'''')+'',''+ISNULL(CONVERT(varchar(10),ic.increment_value),'''')+'')=''+ISNULL(CONVERT(varchar(10),ic.last_value),''null'')
         END
        +CASE
             WHEN sc.column_id IS NULL THEN ''''
             ELSE '' computed(''+ISNULL(sc.definition,'''')+'')''
         END
        +CASE
             WHEN cc.object_id IS NULL THEN ''''
             ELSE '' check(''+ISNULL(cc.definition,'''')+'')''
         END
            AS MiscInfo
    into ##Temp_Column_Info
    FROM sys.columns                           s
        INNER JOIN sys.types                   t ON s.system_type_id=t.user_type_id and t.is_user_defined=0
        INNER JOIN sys.objects                 o ON s.object_id=o.object_id
        INNER JOIN sys.schemas                sh on o.schema_id=sh.schema_id
        LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.identity_columns  ic ON s.object_id=ic.object_id AND s.column_id=ic.column_id
        LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.computed_columns  sc ON s.object_id=sc.object_id AND s.column_id=sc.column_id
        LEFT OUTER JOIN sys.check_constraints cc ON s.object_id=cc.parent_object_id AND s.column_id=cc.parent_column_id
    --------------------------------------------
    --- DBA - Hank 12-Feb-2015 added this specific where statement
    --     where Upper(s.name) like ''COURSE%''
    --   where Upper(s.name) in (''' + @ColumnName + ''')
    --  where Upper(s.name) in (''cycle_Code'')
    -- ORDER BY sh.name+''.''+o.name,s.column_id
    order by 1,2'
--------------------
    Declare DB_cursor CURSOR
    FOR 
         SELECT  name  FROM sys.databases 
        --select * from sys.databases 
        WHERE STATE = 0  
      --  and Name not IN ('master','msdb','tempdb','model','DocxPress')
        and Name not IN ('msdb','tempdb','model','DocxPress')
    Open DB_cursor
    Fetch next from DB_cursor into @DBName
    While @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
    begin 
        --select @DBName as '@DBName';
          Set @SQL_String1 = 'USE [' + @DBName + ']'
          set @SQL_String1 = @SQL_String1 + @SQL_String2
          EXEC sp_executesql @SQL_String1;
        --
        insert into @Column_Info
        select * from ##Temp_Column_Info;
        drop table ##Temp_Column_Info;
        Fetch next From DB_cursor into @DBName
    end
    CLOSE DB_cursor;
    Deallocate DB_cursor;
    ---
    select * from @Column_Info order by 2,3

----------------------------
end
---------------------------

Below is the Second script.. 
---------------------------
--- 2nd example (works) ---
---------------------------
-- This is by far the best/fastes of the lot for what it delivers.
--Select * into dbo.hanktst From Master.INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
--FileID: SCRIPT_Get_Column_info_(INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS).sql
----------------------------------------
--FileID: SCRIPT_Get_Column_info_(INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS).sql
-- Utility to find all columns in all databases or find specific with a like statement
-- Look at this line to find a: --> set @SQL_String2 = ' select * into ##Temp_Column_Info....
----------------------------------------
---
SET NOCOUNT ON
begin 
 Declare @hanktst TABLE (
    [TABLE_CATALOG]              NVARCHAR(128) NULL
   ,[TABLE_SCHEMA]               NVARCHAR(128) NULL
   ,[TABLE_NAME]                 sysname NOT NULL
   ,[COLUMN_NAME]                sysname NULL
   ,[ORDINAL_POSITION]           INT NULL
   ,[COLUMN_DEFAULT]             NVARCHAR(4000) NULL
   ,[IS_NULLABLE]                VARCHAR(3) NULL
   ,[DATA_TYPE]                  NVARCHAR(128) NULL
   ,[CHARACTER_MAXIMUM_LENGTH]   INT NULL
   ,[CHARACTER_OCTET_LENGTH]     INT NULL
   ,[NUMERIC_PRECISION]          TINYINT NULL
   ,[NUMERIC_PRECISION_RADIX]    SMALLINT NULL
   ,[NUMERIC_SCALE]              INT NULL
   ,[DATETIME_PRECISION]         SMALLINT NULL
   ,[CHARACTER_SET_CATALOG]      sysname NULL
   ,[CHARACTER_SET_SCHEMA]       sysname NULL
   ,[CHARACTER_SET_NAME]         sysname NULL
   ,[COLLATION_CATALOG]          sysname NULL
   ,[COLLATION_SCHEMA]           sysname NULL
   ,[COLLATION_NAME]             sysname NULL
   ,[DOMAIN_CATALOG]             sysname NULL
   ,[DOMAIN_SCHEMA]              sysname NULL
   ,[DOMAIN_NAME]                sysname NULL
   )
       Declare 
      @DBName sysname
      ,@SQL_String2 nvarchar(4000)
      ,@TempRowCnt varchar(20)
      ,@Dbug bit = 0
      Declare DB_cursor CURSOR
      FOR 
           SELECT  name  FROM sys.databases 
          WHERE STATE = 0  
        --  and Name not IN ('master','msdb','tempdb','model','DocxPress')
          and Name not IN ('msdb','tempdb','model','DocxPress')
      Open DB_cursor
      Fetch next from DB_cursor into @DBName
      While @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
        begin 
        set @SQL_String2 = ' select * into ##Temp_Column_Info from [' + @DBName + '].INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS 
        where UPPER(Column_Name) like ''COURSE%''
        ;'
          if @Dbug = 1  Select @SQL_String2 as '@SQL_String2';
          EXEC sp_executesql @SQL_String2;
          insert into @hanktst
          select * from ##Temp_Column_Info;
          drop table ##Temp_Column_Info;
         Fetch next From DB_cursor into @DBName
        end
        select * from @hanktst order by 4,2,3
      CLOSE DB_cursor;
      Deallocate DB_cursor;
      set @TempRowCnt = (select cast(count(1) as varchar(10)) from @hanktst )
       Print ('Rows found: '+ @TempRowCnt +'  end ...') 
end   
--------

Answer 8

I just realized that the following query would give you all column names from the table in your database (SQL SERVER 2017)

SELECT DISTINCT NAME FROM SYSCOLUMNS 
ORDER BY Name 

OR SIMPLY

SELECT Name FROM SYSCOLUMNS

If you do not care about duplicated names.

Another option is SELECT Column names from INFORMATION_SCHEMA

SELECT DISTINCT column_name  FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
ORDER BY column_name

It is usually more interesting to have the TableName as well as the ColumnName ant the query below does just that.

SELECT 
   Object_Name(Id) As TableName,
   Name As ColumnName
FROM SysColumns

And the results would look like

  TableName    ColumnName
0    Table1    column11
1    Table1    Column12
2    Table2    Column21
3    Table2    Column22
4    Table3    Column23

Answer 9

I used:

EXEC sp_MSforeachdb 'Use ? Select * From INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS '

It seems to work for what I needed.

Answer 10

user @KM say best Answer.

I Use This :

Declare @Table_Name VarChar(100) ,@Column_Name VarChar(100)
Set @Table_Name = ''
Set @Column_Name = ''

Select 
  RowNumber = Row_Number() Over( PARTITION BY T.[Name] Order By T.[Name],C.column_id  ),
  SCHEMA_NAME( T.schema_id ) As SchemaName ,    
  T.[Name] As Table_Name ,
  C.[Name] As Field_Name , 
  sysType.name ,
  C.max_length , C.is_nullable , C.is_identity , C.scale , C.precision  
From Sys.Tables As T
Left Join Sys.Columns As C On ( T.[Object_Id] = C.[Object_Id] )
Left Join sys.types As sysType On ( C.user_type_id = sysType.user_type_id )
Where ( Type = 'U' )
    And ( C.Name Like '%' + @Column_Name + '%' )  
    And ( T.Name Like '%' + @Table_Name + '%' ) 

Answer 11

try the below query

DECLARE @Query VARCHAR(max) 
SELECT @Query = 'USE ? SELECT ''?'' AS DataBaseName,
                                sys.columns.name AS ColumnName  ,
                                sys.tables.name  AS TableName   ,
                                schema_name (sys.tables.schema_Id) AS schemaName
                         FROM sys.columns
                         JOIN sys.tables 
              ON sys.columns.object_id = sys.tables.object_id
              WHERE sys.columns.name = ''id'' '
EXEC SP_MSFOREACHDB @Query

gives list of tables containing ID column from all databases.

Answer 12

SELECT sys.columns.name AS ColumnName, tables.name AS TableName 
FROM sys.columns 
     JOIN sys.tables ON sys.columns.object_id = tables.object_id

Answer 13

Minor refinement on KM's solution for those like me who've got collation fun on their DB server....

DECLARE @SQL varchar(max)=''

SELECT @SQL=@SQL+'UNION
select 
'''+d.name +'.''+sh.name+''.''+o.name COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS,c.name COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS,c.column_id
from '+d.name +'.sys.columns            c
    inner join sys.objects  o on c.object_id=o.object_id
    INNER JOIN sys.schemas  sh on o.schema_id=sh.schema_id
'
FROM sys.databases d

SELECT @SQL=RIGHT(@SQL,LEN(@SQL)-5)+'order by 1,3'
--print @SQL

EXEC (@SQL)

(Still living in hope that we'll find a way to do this that can be wrapped into a view.)

Answer 14

My solution for similar task was:

    if object_id('tempdb..##temp_meta') is not null
        drop table ##temp_meta

    create table ##temp_meta(database_name sysname
                             , schema_name sysname
                             , table_name sysname
                             , column_name sysname
                             , column_id tinyint
                             , type_name sysname
                             , max_length int
                             , precision tinyint
                             , scale tinyint
                             , is_nullable bit
                             , is_identity bit)

    exec sp_MSforeachdb '

    if(''?'' not in (''master'', ''msdb'', ''model'', ''tempdb''))
    begin
        USE [?]
        insert into ##temp_meta
        SELECT 
           ''?'',
           s.[name] AS schema_name,
           t.name AS table_name,
           c.[name] as column_name,
           c.column_id,
           ty.name as type_name,
           c.max_length,
           c.precision,
           c.scale,
           c.is_nullable,
           c.is_identity
      FROM sys.columns c
      JOIN sys.types ty
        ON ty.system_type_id = c.system_type_id
      JOIN sys.tables t
        ON c.object_id = t.object_id
      JOIN sys.schemas s
        ON s.schema_id = t.schema_id
        
    end'

Answer 15

sp_MSForEachDB @command1='USE ?;

SELECT Table_Catalog ,Table_Schema ,Table_Name ,Column_Name ,Data_Type ,Character_Maximum_Length FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE --Data_Type = ''int'' --AND COLUMN_NAME like ''%ColumnName%'' And Table_name like ''%TableName%'' order by 1,2,3 '

Answer 16

Here, this is my code to search for a column name in all databases in the current instance:

SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO
SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO
-- =============================================
-- Author:      themah
-- Create date: 2022-10-09
-- Description: Looking for a column name in all databases in current instance, and list the db names
-- =============================================
CREATE OR ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[FindColumnNameInAllDatabases]
    @columnNameToFind NVARCHAR (100)
AS
BEGIN
    -- SET NOCOUNT ON added to prevent extra result sets from
    -- interfering with SELECT statements.
    SET NOCOUNT ON;

    DECLARE @dbName VARCHAR(100)
    DECLARE @queryEachDatabase NVARCHAR(MAX)

    DECLARE dbNamesCursor CURSOR FOR
        SELECT [Name]
        FROM sys.databases AS d
        WHERE d.name NOT IN ('master', 'tempdb', 'model', 'msdb')
    
    OPEN dbNamesCursor
    FETCH NEXT FROM dbNamesCursor INTO @dbName 

    WHILE (@@FETCH_STATUS = 0)
    BEGIN
    
        SET @queryEachDatabase = N'IF Exists 
                                        (SELECT 1 FROM [' + @dbName + '].[INFORMATION_SCHEMA].[Columns] WHERE [Column_Name] Like N''%' + @columnNameToFind + '%'')
                                        BEGIN 
                                            PRINT ''' + @dbName + '''
                                        END
                                        '
        --PRINT @queryEachDatabase
        EXEC(@queryEachDatabase) 
    
        FETCH NEXT FROM dbNamesCursor INTO @dbName 
    END

    CLOSE dbNamesCursor
    DEALLOCATE dbNamesCursor
    
END
GO

And a usage example : EXEC dbo.FindColumnNameInAllDb N'firstName'

Or another useful way to print the queries is this :

DECLARE @columnName NVARCHAR(100) = N'firstName'

SELECT 
'SELECT * FROM [' + NAME + '].[INFORMATION_SCHEMA].[Columns] WHERE [Column_Name] Like N''%' + @columnName + '%'''
FROM [sys].[databases]