SQL Server dynamic SQL to query on sys tables - sql-server

I'm using SQL Server 2012 and have written a stored procedure that calculates table statistics using the sys tables. I realize there are reports in SSMS that do this for you, however, I'm wanting additional information. It seems like I'm forced to use dynamic SQL to make this happen, but it seems slow and clunky. My stored procedure works, but I was curious there a more efficient way to write the query, maybe even without dynamic SQL?
DECLARE #my_cursor CURSOR,
#sql nvarchar(250), #table_name nvarchar(100),
#days_loaded int, #row_count int, #row_count_per_day int,
#used_mb numeric(36,2), #used_mb_per_day numeric(36,2),
#first_date_loaded date, #last_date_loaded date,
#expected_first_date date, #gaps_exist nvarchar(1)
-- Delete temp table #tables in case the stored procedure is ran twice in the same session
IF OBJECT_ID('tempdb.dbo.#tables', 'U') IS NOT NULL
DROP TABLE #tables
-- Select all the tables and stats from the dallas schema into a temp table
SELECT
s.name + '.' + t.name AS table_name,
p.rows AS row_count,
CAST(ROUND(SUM(a.used_pages) / 128.00, 2) AS NUMERIC(36, 2)) AS used_mb
INTO
#tables
FROM
sys.tables AS t
INNER JOIN
sys.indexes AS i ON t.object_id = i.object_id
INNER JOIN
sys.partitions AS p ON i.object_id = p.object_id AND i.index_id = p.index_id
INNER JOIN
sys.allocation_units AS a ON p.partition_id = a.container_id
INNER JOIN
sys.schemas AS s ON t.schema_id = s.schema_id
WHERE
s.name = 'dallas'
GROUP BY
t.name, s.name, p.rows
-- Add some additional fields in the temp table to be used for population in loop below
ALTER TABLE #tables ADD days_loaded INT NULL
ALTER TABLE #tables ADD used_mb_per_day numeric(36,2) NULL
ALTER TABLE #tables ADD row_count_per_day INT NULL
ALTER TABLE #tables ADD first_date_loaded DATE NULL
ALTER TABLE #tables ADD expected_first_date DATE NULL
ALTER TABLE #tables ADD gaps_exist nvarchar(1) NULL
-- Loop through each table in dallas schema
BEGIN
SET #my_cursor = CURSOR FOR SELECT table_name, row_count, used_mb FROM #tables
OPEN #my_cursor
FETCH NEXT FROM #my_cursor INTO #table_name, #row_count, #used_mb
WHILE ##FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
-- Calculate first date that was loaded to see history of how far back table goes
SET #sql = N'SELECT TOP 1 #first_date_loaded = CONVERT(date,Min(data_load_timestamp)) FROM ' + #table_name
EXECUTE sp_executesql #sql, N'#first_date_loaded date OUTPUT', #first_date_loaded=#first_date_loaded OUTPUT
-- Calculate last date that was loaded to offset expected first date if needed (data that is loaded day of instead of day before)
SET #sql = N'SELECT TOP 1 #last_date_loaded = CONVERT(date,Max(data_load_timestamp)) FROM ' + #table_name
EXECUTE sp_executesql #sql, N'#last_date_loaded date OUTPUT', #last_date_loaded=#last_date_loaded OUTPUT
-- Calculate days loaded by retrieving count of distinct dates in table
SET #sql = N'SELECT #days_loaded=COUNT(*) FROM (SELECT DISTINCT CONVERT(date, data_load_timestamp) AS data_load_date FROM ' + #table_name + ') tt'
EXECUTE sp_executesql #sql, N'#days_loaded int OUTPUT', #days_loaded=#days_loaded OUTPUT
IF #days_loaded <> 0
BEGIN
SET #row_count_per_day = #row_count / #days_loaded
SET #used_mb_per_day = #used_mb / #days_loaded
SET #expected_first_date = DATEADD(d,#days_loaded * -1,GETDATE())
IF #last_date_loaded = CONVERT(date,GETDATE()) SET #expected_first_date = DATEADD(d,1,#expected_first_date)
IF #first_date_loaded = #expected_first_date
SET #gaps_exist = 'N'
ELSE
SET #gaps_exist = 'Y'
END
-- Update temp table with additional fields that were calculated
SET #sql = N'UPDATE #tables SET days_loaded=' + CONVERT(nvarchar,#days_loaded) +
', row_count_per_day=' + CONVERT(nvarchar, #row_count_per_day) +
', used_mb_per_day=' + CONVERT(nvarchar,#used_mb_per_day) + ', first_date_loaded=''' +
CONVERT(nvarchar,#first_date_loaded) + ''', expected_first_date=''' +
CONVERT(nvarchar,#expected_first_date) + ''', gaps_exist=''' + #gaps_exist + ''' WHERE table_name=''' + #table_name + ''''
EXECUTE sp_executesql #sql
FETCH NEXT FROM #my_cursor INTO #table_name, #row_count, #used_mb
END
CLOSE #my_cursor
DEALLOCATE #my_cursor
END
-- Final return showing results from temp table sorted by largest utilization first
SELECT * FROM #tables ORDER BY used_mb DESC

Related

T-SQL trigger - delete updated record if condition is met

I need to write a trigger for all tables in a Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Enterprise database that if column is_deleted = 1 and change_user = 'purge', then delete the updated row instead of updating it.
This needs to be a dynamic trigger so that each table trigger does not need to have the table explicitly defined. The environment has over 1200 tables.
However, I only want the delete statement to delete the inserted record and not go through the entire table which I believe the below trigger would do. The environment has tables with 100+ million records and a delete statement that would run through the whole table would create a lot of overhead and would likely not keep up with 2 million transactions per hour.
CREATE OR ALTER TRIGGER [PurgeDelete]
ON [TriggerTest]
AFTER UPDATE
AS
DECLARE #SQL NVARCHAR(1000)
DECLARE #SchemaName NVARCHAR(100) = (SELECT OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME( parent_id ) FROM sys.triggers WHERE object_id = ##PROCID)
DECLARE #TableName NVARCHAR(100) = (SELECT OBJECT_NAME( parent_id ) tableName FROM sys.triggers WHERE object_id = ##PROCID)
IF (ROWCOUNT_BIG() = 0)
RETURN;
IF EXISTS (SELECT 1
FROM Inserted AS i
WHERE is_deleted = 1
AND change_user = 'purge')
BEGIN
SET #SQL = 'DELETE FROM ' + #SchemaName + '.' + #TableName + ' WHERE is_deleted = 1 AND change_user = ''purge'''
EXECUTE sp_executesql #SQL
END
GO
UPDATE [TriggerTest]
SET [Description] = 'Test 1a', [is_deleted] = 1, [change_user] = 'Purge'
WHERE [TriggerTestId] = 1
SELECT * FROM [TriggerTest];
GO
Your trigger code needs to access the inserted and deleted tables. You cannot do this with dynamic SQL, as you are then in a different scope.
In any case, if you want a dynamic trigger, I would advise instead to make a script to generate the triggers dynamically, but the triggers would be static once generated.
So the basic template would be like this:
CREATE OR ALTER TRIGGER TriggerTest_PurgeDelete
ON dbo.TriggerTest
AFTER UPDATE
AS
SET NOCOUNT ON;
IF EXISTS (SELECT 1
FROM inserted AS i
WHERE is_deleted = 1
AND change_user = 'purge')
BEGIN
DELETE FROM t
FROM dbo.TriggerTest t
JOIN inserted i ON i.YourPrimaryKey = t.YourPrimaryKey
WHERE i.is_deleted = 1
AND i.change_user = 'purge';
END;
Now you just need a script that can generate this dynamically
-- user provided table/schema name here
DECLARE #schema sysname = 'dbo';
DECLARE #table sysname = 'TriggerTest';
DECLARE #quoted nvarchar(1000) = QUOTENAME(#schema) + '.' + QUOTENAME(#table);
DECLARE #primaryKeys nvarchar(max);
SELECT #primaryKeys = STRING_AGG(
'i.' + QUOTENAME(c.name) + ' = t.' + QUOTENAME(c.name),
' AND '
)
FROM sys.tables t
JOIN sys.schemas s ON s.schema_id = t.schema_id
JOIN sys.indexes i ON t.object_id = i.object_id
AND i.is_primary_key = 1
JOIN sys.index_columns ic ON ic.object_id = i.object_id
AND ic.index_id = i.index_id
JOIN sys.columns c ON c.object_id = t.object_id
AND c.column_id = i.column_id
WHERE s.name = #schema
AND t.name = #table
AND pk.type = 'P';
DECLARE #sql nvarchar(max) = '
CREATE OR ALTER TRIGGER ' + QUOTENAME(#schema + '_' + #table + '_PD') + '
ON ' + #quoted + '
AFTER UPDATE
AS
SET NOCOUNT ON;
IF EXISTS (SELECT 1
FROM inserted AS i
WHERE is_deleted = 1
AND change_user = ''purge'')
BEGIN
DELETE FROM t
FROM ' + #quoted + ' t
JOIN inserted i ON ' + #primaryKeys + '
WHERE i.is_deleted = 1
AND i.change_user = ''purge'';
END;
';
EXEC sp_executesql #sql;
You can in theory use an INSTEAD OF trigger, which may possibly be more efficient if the delete will happen often, but it's also more difficult to manage, as it needs updating every time you ALTER any of the columns in the table.
You could use,
DECLARE #IsDeleted INT
DECLARE #ChangeUser VARCHAR(10)
SELECT
#IsDeleted = I.is_deleted
,#ChangeUser = I.change_user
FROM INSERTED I
IF (UPDATE (is_deleted) OR UPDATE (change_user))
BEGIN
IF (#IsDeleted = 1 AND #ChangeUser = 'purge')
BEGIN
-- Execute the delete
END
END

create a table with table and database statistics

There are around 200+ tables in our SQL DB and every table has 1 common field [updated_timestamp]
Is there a way to query the DB itself and list all tables, with the MAX value of [updated_timestamp] and the row count of each table?
i'm sorry if i've not explained that the best
are there secret/system tables that hold such info?
my desired output would be
table
updated_timestamp
row_count
Table A
2022-08-22
89,854
Table B
2022-08-18
103,55,166
if there is a table like this i could intergate that would be great, but i'm assuming not that simple.
i picked up some code from another stored procedure and was hoping this would be of use for the row count at least
SELECT
QUOTENAME(SCHEMA_NAME(sOBJ.schema_id)) AS [DB_Schema],
QUOTENAME(sOBJ.name) AS [TableName],
SUM(sPTN.Rows) AS [Row_Count]
INTO ##tmpRowCount2
FROM
sys.objects AS sOBJ
INNER JOIN sys.partitions AS sPTN
ON sOBJ.object_id = sPTN.object_id
WHERE
sOBJ.type = 'U'
AND sOBJ.is_ms_shipped = 0x0
AND index_id < 2
GROUP BY
sOBJ.schema_id
, sOBJ.name
ORDER BY [Row_Count]
GO
ALTER TABLE ##tmpRowCount2 ADD updated_timestamp datetime NULL;
-- keep only API rows
DELETE FROM ##tmpRowCount2
WHERE [DB_Schema] != '[api]'
DECLARE #Row_Count int
DECLARE #sql nvarchar(max)
DECLARE #TableName as VARCHAR(256)
DECLARE #DB_Schema as VARCHAR(256)
DECLARE #updated_timestamp as DATETIME
DECLARE tablenamefromcursor CURSOR FOR
SELECT TableName,
Row_Count,
DB_Schema
FROM ##tmpRowCount2
OPEN tablenamefromcursor
FETCH NEXT FROM tablenamefromcursor INTO #TableName, #Row_Count, #DB_Schema
WHILE ##FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
SET #sql = 'UPDATE ##tmpRowCount2 SET updated_timestamp = ' +
'(SELECT MAX([updated_timestamp]) FROM ' + #DB_Schema + '.' + #TableName +
') WHERE TableName = ''' + #TableName + ''''
EXEC(#sql)
FETCH NEXT FROM tablenamefromcursor INTO #TableName, #Row_Count, #DB_Schema
END
CLOSE tablenamefromcursor
DEALLOCATE tablenamefromcursor
Code editied above and i can confirm it works, by debugging with select #sql iwas able to parse the statement and edit the syntax unitl it worked by getting the parethesis and quotes in the right order

How to insert with table creation

I am looking for a more appropriate way to execute several inserts into a nonexistent table.
To create the table beforehand is not easily possible, as I don't know the data type of the selected column.
An "insert with create" would do, but I don't think there is anything like that.
Is there any better way to do so than to select into and then to insert?
Here is the "bad" way I do it, in an example very much stripped down to demonstrate the problem.
set nocount on
declare
#name sysname = '',
#i int = 0,
#sql nvarchar(4000) = ''
declare test cursor for
select top 10 a.name from sys.tables a inner join sys.columns b on a.object_id = b.object_id --and b.name = 'description'
open test
fetch next from test into #name
while (##FETCH_STATUS <> -1)
begin
if #i = 0 begin
set #sql = 'select distinct top 10 description into #t1 from ' + #name + ''
select #sql
-- exec sp_executesql #sql
end
else begin
set #sql = 'insert #t1 select distinct top 10 description into #t1 from ' + #name + ''
select #sql
-- exec sp_executesql #sql
end
set #i = #i + 1
fetch next from test into #name
end
close test
deallocate test
if object_id ('tempdb..#t1') is not null select * from #t1
This solution is "bad" as you need the statement at two positions. In the case shown here this is trivial, but when the statement gets more complex this can become an issue.
You can simplify your query into this one:
set nocount on
declare
#name sysname = '',
#i int = 0,
#sql nvarchar(4000) = N''
if object_id ('tempdb..#t1') is not null DROP TABLE #t1
;WITH cte AS (
select top 10 a.[name]
from sys.tables a
inner join sys.columns b
on a.object_id = b.object_id --and b.name = 'description'
)
SELECT #sql = #sql + N'UNION ALL
select distinct top 10 description
from ' + QUOTENAME([name]) + CHAR(13)
FROM cte
SELECT #sql = N';WITH cte AS (' + STUFF(#sql,1,10,') SELECT * INTO #t1 FROM cte')
PRINT #sql
--EXEC (#sql)
select * from #t1
No cursor or while loop;
Temporary table is dropped (if exists) before query execution;
You got a weird query, as for now it takes the first table from sys.tables and SELECT TOP 10 Descriptions from this table as many times as there are columns in this table.
The SELECT INTO statement copies data from one table into a new table, this might help you.
Example:-
SELECT *
INTO newtable
FROM oldtable
WHERE condition
The above also supports joins.

Wipe out all data in a scheme, leave structure intact

We're going to be going through a period of testing on a product soon. This product is a web application with a SQL Server 2008R2 backend.
Our database has several schemas within it (Customer, DataEntry, and a few others).
I have found ways to wipe all data in a database without breaking referential integrity or the data structures, which is close to what we're looking to do. The problem I'm finding is that we actually need a bunch of the data from some of the tables. Essentially, we only want to wipe the Customers schema.
We have a script written which will load in the test data for customers, but is there a way to change the techniques in my linked article to target only a specific schema? Is there a better way to clear all data in a schema?
A common scenario for me as well. I usually write what I call a reset script, deleting all data form the target tables in the order necessary to prevent referential errors, and then reseed the primary keys.
DELETE FROM < table 1 >
DELETE FROM < table 2 >
... etc ...
DBCC CHECKIDENT (< table 1 >, RESEED, 0)
DBCC CHECKIDENT (< table 2 >, RESEED, 0)
... etc ...
EDIT
To more fully answer the original question. to leave data in specific tables you would need to modify the block of code that does the deleting / truncating, and also modify the code that reseeds the idents in a similar way.
EXEC sp_MSForEachTable '
IF object_id(''?'') != < table name > AND object_id(''?'') != < table name > AND ... etc ...
BEGIN
IF OBJECTPROPERTY(object_id(''?''), ''TableHasForeignRef'') = 1
DELETE FROM ?
ELSE
TRUNCATE TABLE ?
END
'
GO
Just set the #schemaID to the name of the schema you wish to blow away and it should do the rest. If you end up with a FK dependency loop it will break and tell you what to do...
Declare #schemaID Nvarchar(256)
Set #schemaID = 'Schema' -- Set this to the name of the schema you wish to blow away
If Object_ID('tempdb..#tables') Is Not Null Drop Table #tables
Create Table #tables (tID Int, SchemaName Nvarchar(256), TableName Nvarchar(256))
Insert #tables
Select Row_Number() Over (Order By s.name, so.name), s.name, so.name
From sysobjects so
Join sys.schemas s
On so.uid = s.schema_id
Where so.xtype = 'u'
And s.name = #schemaID
Declare #SQL Nvarchar(Max),
#schema Nvarchar(256),
#table Nvarchar(256),
#iter Int = 1,
#loopCatch Int = 0
While Exists (Select 1
From #tables)
Begin
Select #schema = SchemaName,
#table = TableName
From #tables
Where tID = #iter
If Exists (Select 1
From sysobjects o
Join sys.schemas s1
On o.uid = s1.schema_id
Join sysforeignkeys fk
On o.id = fk.rkeyid
Join sysobjects o2
On fk.fkeyid = o2.id
Join sys.schemas s2
On o2.uid = s2.schema_id
Join #tables t
On o2.name = t.TableName Collate Database_Default
And s2.name = t.SchemaName Collate Database_Default
Where o.name = #table
And s1.name = #schema)
Begin
Update t
Set tID = (Select Max(tID) From #tables) + 1
From #tables t
Where tableName = #table
And schemaName = #schema
Set #iter = #iter + 1
End
Else
Begin
Set #Sql = 'Truncate Table [' + #schema + '].[' + #table + ']'
Begin Try
Exec sp_executeSQL #SQL;
Delete t
From #tables t
Where tableName = #table
And schemaName = #schema
Set #iter = #iter + 1
End Try
Begin Catch
Print #SQL
Update t
Set tID = (Select Max(tID) From #tables) + 1
From #tables t
Where tableName = #table
And schemaName = #schema
Set #iter = #iter + 1
Set #loopCatch = #loopCatch + 1;
If #loopCatch > 5
Begin
Select 'WARNING: Endless FK redundancy loop. Drop the constraints and these tables, truncate and reapply constraints manually'
Union All
Select '[' + SchemaName + '].[' + TableName + ']'
From #tables;
Break;
End
End Catch
End
End
This is parameterized on database and schema. If no schema is supplied, it will clear all data in the specified database.
Handles tables with foreign key references appropriately by disabling constraints. If the procedure fails, which it shouldn't normally do, ensure that you run it successfully after fixing the cause of the problem, which should ensure constraint checking goes back to normal.
This will not handle foreign key references correctly if you have foreign keys between schemas, however, it could be fairly easily amended to handle this.
create procedure [removeData] (#database_name sysname, #schema_name sysname = null)
as
set nocount on
create table #tables (
TableName varchar(900) not null primary key,
HasFKRef bit not null
);
declare #sql nvarchar(4000),
#table_name varchar(900);
if (db_id(#database_name) is null)
raiserror ('You must at least specify the database name', 16, 1);
set #sql = 'select ''['' + TABLE_CATALOG + ''].['' + TABLE_SCHEMA + ''].['' + TABLE_NAME + '']'' as TableName, (case when exists(select * from [' + #database_name + '].INFORMATION_SCHEMA.REFERENTIAL_CONSTRAINTS rc inner join [' + #database_name + '].INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLE_CONSTRAINTS tc on rc.UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_CATALOG = tc.CONSTRAINT_CATALOG and rc.UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA = tc.CONSTRAINT_SCHEMA and rc.UNIQUE_CONSTRAINT_NAME = tc.CONSTRAINT_NAME where tc.TABLE_NAME = t.TABLE_NAME) then 1 else 0 end) as HasFKRef
from [' + #database_name + '].INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES t
where TABLE_TYPE = ''BASE TABLE'' and TABLE_SCHEMA = isnull(#schema_name, TABLE_SCHEMA)';
insert into #tables
exec sp_executesql #sql, N'#schema_name sysname', #schema_name;
declare #curse cursor
set #curse = cursor fast_forward for
select sql from (
select 'alter table ' + TableName + ' nocheck constraint all' as sql, 1 as sort
from #tables
union all
select 'truncate table ' + TableName, 2 as sort
from #tables
where HasFKRef = 0
union all
select 'delete from ' + TableName, 3 as sort
from #tables
where HasFKRef = 1
union all
select 'alter table ' + TableName + ' with check check constraint all', 4 as sort
from #tables
) t
order by sort, sql
open #curse
fetch next from #curse into #sql
while (##fetch_status = 0)
begin
exec (#sql)
fetch next from #curse into #sql
end
close #curse
GO

In SQL Server 2005, can I do a cascade delete without setting the property on my tables?

I have a database full of customer data. It's so big that it's really cumbersome to operate on, and I'd rather just slim it down to 10% of the customers, which is plenty for development. I have an awful lot of tables and I don't want to alter them all with "ON DELETE CASCADE", especially because this is a one-time deal.
Can I do a delete operation that cascades through all my tables without setting them up first? If not, what is my best option?
Combining your advice and a script I found online, I made a procedure that will produce SQL you can run to perform a cascaded delete regardless of ON DELETE CASCADE. It was probably a big waste of time, but I had a good time writing it. An advantage of doing it this way is, you can put a GO statement between each line, and it doesn't have to be one big transaction. The original was a recursive procedure; this one unrolls the recursion into a stack table.
create procedure usp_delete_cascade (
#base_table_name varchar(200), #base_criteria nvarchar(1000)
)
as begin
-- Adapted from http://www.sqlteam.com/article/performing-a-cascade-delete-in-sql-server-7
-- Expects the name of a table, and a conditional for selecting rows
-- within that table that you want deleted.
-- Produces SQL that, when run, deletes all table rows referencing the ones
-- you initially selected, cascading into any number of tables,
-- without the need for "ON DELETE CASCADE".
-- Does not appear to work with self-referencing tables, but it will
-- delete everything beneath them.
-- To make it easy on the server, put a "GO" statement between each line.
declare #to_delete table (
id int identity(1, 1) primary key not null,
criteria nvarchar(1000) not null,
table_name varchar(200) not null,
processed bit not null,
delete_sql varchar(1000)
)
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_name, processed) values (#base_criteria, #base_table_name, 0)
declare #id int, #criteria nvarchar(1000), #table_name varchar(200)
while exists(select 1 from #to_delete where processed = 0) begin
select top 1 #id = id, #criteria = criteria, #table_name = table_name from #to_delete where processed = 0 order by id desc
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_name, processed)
select referencing_column.name + ' in (select [' + referenced_column.name + '] from [' + #table_name +'] where ' + #criteria + ')',
referencing_table.name,
0
from sys.foreign_key_columns fk
inner join sys.columns referencing_column on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_column.object_id
and fk.parent_column_id = referencing_column.column_id
inner join sys.columns referenced_column on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_column.object_id
and fk.referenced_column_id = referenced_column.column_id
inner join sys.objects referencing_table on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects referenced_table on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects constraint_object on fk.constraint_object_id = constraint_object.object_id
where referenced_table.name = #table_name
and referencing_table.name != referenced_table.name
update #to_delete set
processed = 1
where id = #id
end
select 'print ''deleting from ' + table_name + '...''; delete from [' + table_name + '] where ' + criteria from #to_delete order by id desc
end
exec usp_delete_cascade 'root_table_name', 'id = 123'
Here's a version of the accepted answer optimised for sparsely populated data models. It checks for the existence of data in a FK chain before adding it to the deletion list. I use it to clean up test data.
Don't use it in an active transactional db- it will hold locks way too long.
/*
-- ============================================================================
-- Purpose: Performs a cascading hard-delete.
-- Not for use on an active transactional database- it holds locks for too long.
-- (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/116968/in-sql-server-2005-can-i-do-a-cascade-delete-without-setting-the-property-on-my)
-- eg:
exec dbo.hp_Common_Delete 'tblConsumer', 'Surname = ''TestDxOverdueOneReviewWm''', 1
-- ============================================================================
*/
create proc [dbo].[hp_Common_Delete]
(
#TableName sysname,
#Where nvarchar(4000), -- Shouldn't include 'where' keyword, e.g. Surname = 'smith', NOT where Surname = 'smith'
#IsDebug bit = 0
)
as
set nocount on
begin try
-- Prepare tables to store deletion criteria.
-- #tmp_to_delete stores criteria that is tested for results before being added to #to_delete
create table #to_delete
(
id int identity(1, 1) primary key not null,
criteria nvarchar(4000) not null,
table_name sysname not null,
processed bit not null default(0)
)
create table #tmp_to_delete
(
id int primary key identity(1,1),
criteria nvarchar(4000) not null,
table_name sysname not null
)
-- Open a transaction (it'll be a long one- don't use this on production!)
-- We need a transaction around criteria generation because we only
-- retain criteria that has rows in the db, and we don't want that to change under us.
begin tran
-- If the top-level table meets the deletion criteria, add it
declare #Sql nvarchar(4000)
set #Sql = 'if exists(select top(1) * from ' + #TableName + ' where ' + #Where + ')
insert #to_delete (criteria, table_name) values (''' + replace(#Where, '''', '''''') + ''', ''' + #TableName + ''')'
exec (#Sql)
-- Loop over deletion table, walking foreign keys to generate delete targets
declare #id int, #tmp_id int, #criteria nvarchar(4000), #new_criteria nvarchar(4000), #table_name sysname, #new_table_name sysname
while exists(select 1 from #to_delete where processed = 0)
begin
-- Grab table/criteria to work on
select top(1) #id = id,
#criteria = criteria,
#table_name = table_name
from #to_delete
where processed = 0
order by id desc
-- Insert all immediate child tables into a temp table for processing
insert #tmp_to_delete
select referencing_column.name + ' in (select [' + referenced_column.name + '] from [' + #table_name +'] where ' + #criteria + ')',
referencing_table.name
from sys.foreign_key_columns fk
inner join sys.columns referencing_column on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_column.object_id
and fk.parent_column_id = referencing_column.column_id
inner join sys.columns referenced_column on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_column.object_id
and fk.referenced_column_id = referenced_column.column_id
inner join sys.objects referencing_table on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects referenced_table on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects constraint_object on fk.constraint_object_id = constraint_object.object_id
where referenced_table.name = #table_name
and referencing_table.name != referenced_table.name
-- Loop on child table criteria, and insert them into delete table if they have records in the db
select #tmp_id = max(id) from #tmp_to_delete
while (#tmp_id >= 1)
begin
select #new_criteria = criteria, #new_table_name = table_name from #tmp_to_delete where id = #tmp_id
set #Sql = 'if exists(select top(1) * from ' + #new_table_name + ' where ' + #new_criteria + ')
insert #to_delete (criteria, table_name) values (''' + replace(#new_criteria, '''', '''''') + ''', ''' + #new_table_name + ''')'
exec (#Sql)
set #tmp_id = #tmp_id - 1
end
truncate table #tmp_to_delete
-- Move to next record
update #to_delete
set processed = 1
where id = #id
end
-- We have a list of all tables requiring deletion. Actually delete now.
select #id = max(id) from #to_delete
while (#id >= 1)
begin
select #criteria = criteria, #table_name = table_name from #to_delete where id = #id
set #Sql = 'delete from [' + #table_name + '] where ' + #criteria
if (#IsDebug = 1) print #Sql
exec (#Sql)
-- Next record
set #id = #id - 1
end
commit
end try
begin catch
-- Any error results in a rollback of the entire job
if (##trancount > 0) rollback
declare #message nvarchar(2047), #errorProcedure nvarchar(126), #errorMessage nvarchar(2048), #errorNumber int, #errorSeverity int, #errorState int, #errorLine int
select #errorProcedure = isnull(error_procedure(), N'hp_Common_Delete'),
#errorMessage = isnull(error_message(), N'hp_Common_Delete unable to determine error message'),
#errorNumber = error_number(), #errorSeverity = error_severity(), #errorState = error_state(), #errorLine = error_line()
-- Prepare error information as it would be output in SQL Mgt Studio
declare #event nvarchar(2047)
select #event = 'Msg ' + isnull(cast(#errorNumber as varchar), 'null') +
', Level ' + isnull(cast(#errorSeverity as varchar), 'null') +
', State ' + isnull(cast(#errorState as varchar), 'null') +
', Procedure ' + isnull(#errorProcedure, 'null') +
', Line ' + isnull(cast(#errorLine as varchar), 'null') +
': ' + isnull(#errorMessage, '#ErrorMessage null')
print #event
-- Re-raise error to ensure admin/job runners understand there was a failure
raiserror(#errorMessage, #errorSeverity, #errorState)
end catch
Unless you want to maintain all related queries as proposed by Chris, the ON DELETE CASCADE is by far the quickest and the most direct solution. And if you don't want it to be permanent, why don't you have some T-SQL code that will switch this option on and off like here
remove the original Tbl_A_MyFK constraint (without the ON DELETE CASCADE)
ALTER TABLE Tbl_A DROP CONSTRAINT Tbl_A_MyFK
set the constraint Tbl_A_MyFK with the ON DELETE CASCADE
ALTER TABLE Tbl_A ADD CONSTRAINT Tbl_A_MyFK FOREIGN KEY (MyFK) REFERENCES Tbl_B(Column) ON DELETE CASCADE
Here you can do your delete
DELETE FROM Tbl_A WHERE ...
drop your constraint Tbl_A_MyFK
ALTER TABLE Tbl_A DROP CONSTRAINT Tbl_A_MyFK
set the constraint Tbl_A_MyFK without the ON DELETE CASCADE
ALTER TABLE Tbl_A ADD CONSTRAINT Tbl_A_MyFK FOREIGN KEY (MyFK) REFERENCES (Tbl_B)
Go into SQL Server Management Studio and right-click the database. Select Tasks->Generate Scripts. Click Next twice. On the Options window choose set it to generate CREATE statements only, and put everything to False except for the Foreign Keys. Click Next. Select Tables and Click Next again. Click the "Select All" button and click Next then Finish and send the script to your choice of a query window or file (don't use the clipboard, since it might be a big script). Now remove all of the script that adds the tables and you should be left with a script to create your foreign keys.
Make a copy of that script because it is how you'll restore your database to its current state. Use a search and replace to add the ON DELETE CASCADE to the end of each constraint. This might vary depending on how your FKs are currently set up and you might need to do some manual editing.
Repeat the script generation, but this time set it to generate DROP statements only. Be sure to manually remove the table drops that are generated. Run the drops, then run your edited creates to make them all cascade on delete. Do your deletes, run the drop script again and then run the script that you saved off at the start.
Also - MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR DB FIRST! Even if it's just a dev database, it will save you some headache if part of the script isn't quite right.
Hope this helps!
BTW - you should definitely do some testing with your full test data as another poster suggested, but I can see why you might not need that for initial development. Just don't forget to include that as part of QA at some point.
Kevin post is incomplete, his t-sql sp only prints the command, to execute these command, before last end add this
DECLARE #commandText VARCHAR(8000)
DECLARE curDeletes CURSOR FOR
select 'delete from [' + table_name + '] where ' + criteria from #to_delete order by id desc
OPEN curDeletes
FETCH NEXT FROM curDeletes
INTO
#commandText
WHILE(##FETCH_STATUS=0)
BEGIN
EXEC (#commandText)
FETCH NEXT FROM curDeletes INTO #commandText
END
CLOSE curDeletes
DEALLOCATE curDeletes
I usually just hand write the queries to delete the records I don't want and save that as a .sql file for future reference. The pseudocode is:
select id's of records from the main table that I want to delete into a temp table
write a delete query for each related table which joins to the temp table.
write a delete query for the main table joining to my temp table.
My suggestion is to go ahead and write a script that will add the on delete cascade to each relationship in the database while exporting a list of modified relationships. Then you can reverse the process and remove the on delete cascade command on each table in the list.
Personally if you are going to leave the records in production, I would also leave them in development. Otherwise you may write code that works fine when the recordset is small but times out when faced with the real recordset.
But if you are determined to do this, I would copy the id field of the records you want to dete from the main table first to a work table. Then I would take each related table and write a delete joining to that worktable to only delete those records. Finish up with the parent table. Make sure this ia written in a script and saved so the next time you want to do a similar thing to your test data, you can easily run it without having to figure out what are the reated tables that need records deleted from them.
Taking the accepted answer a bit further, I had the need to do this across tables in different schemas. I have updated the script to include schema in the outputted delete scripts.
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_delete_cascade (
#base_table_schema varchar(100), #base_table_name varchar(200), #base_criteria nvarchar(1000)
)
as begin
-- Expects the name of a table, and a conditional for selecting rows
-- within that table that you want deleted.
-- Produces SQL that, when run, deletes all table rows referencing the ones
-- you initially selected, cascading into any number of tables,
-- without the need for "ON DELETE CASCADE".
-- Does not appear to work with self-referencing tables, but it will
-- delete everything beneath them.
-- To make it easy on the server, put a "GO" statement between each line.
declare #to_delete table (
id int identity(1, 1) primary key not null,
criteria nvarchar(1000) not null,
table_schema varchar(100),
table_name varchar(200) not null,
processed bit not null,
delete_sql varchar(1000)
)
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_schema, table_name, processed) values (#base_criteria, #base_table_schema, #base_table_name, 0)
declare #id int, #criteria nvarchar(1000), #table_name varchar(200), #table_schema varchar(100)
while exists(select 1 from #to_delete where processed = 0) begin
select top 1 #id = id, #criteria = criteria, #table_name = table_name, #table_schema = table_schema from #to_delete where processed = 0 order by id desc
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_schema, table_name, processed)
select referencing_column.name + ' in (select [' + referenced_column.name + '] from [' + #table_schema + '].[' + #table_name +'] where ' + #criteria + ')',
schematable.name,
referencing_table.name,
0
from sys.foreign_key_columns fk
inner join sys.columns referencing_column on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_column.object_id
and fk.parent_column_id = referencing_column.column_id
inner join sys.columns referenced_column on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_column.object_id
and fk.referenced_column_id = referenced_column.column_id
inner join sys.objects referencing_table on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_table.object_id
inner join sys.schemas schematable on referencing_table.schema_id = schematable.schema_id
inner join sys.objects referenced_table on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects constraint_object on fk.constraint_object_id = constraint_object.object_id
where referenced_table.name = #table_name
and referencing_table.name != referenced_table.name
update #to_delete set
processed = 1
where id = #id
end
select 'print ''deleting from ' + table_name + '...''; delete from [' + table_schema + '].[' + table_name + '] where ' + criteria from #to_delete order by id desc
end
exec usp_delete_cascade 'schema', 'RootTable', 'Id = 123'
exec usp_delete_cascade 'schema', 'RootTable', 'GuidId = ''A7202F84-FA57-4355-B499-1F8718E29058'''
Expansion of croisharp's answer to take triggers into consideration, i.e. schema-aware solution that disables all affecting triggers, deletes rows, and enables the triggers.
CREATE PROCEDURE usp_delete_cascade (
#base_table_schema varchar(100),
#base_table_name varchar(200),
#base_criteria nvarchar(1000)
)
as begin
-- Expects the name of a table, and a conditional for selecting rows
-- within that table that you want deleted.
-- Produces SQL that, when run, deletes all table rows referencing the ones
-- you initially selected, cascading into any number of tables,
-- without the need for "ON DELETE CASCADE".
-- Does not appear to work with self-referencing tables, but it will
-- delete everything beneath them.
-- To make it easy on the server, put a "GO" statement between each line.
declare #to_delete table (
id int identity(1, 1) primary key not null,
criteria nvarchar(1000) not null,
table_schema varchar(100),
table_name varchar(200) not null,
processed bit not null,
delete_sql varchar(1000)
)
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_schema, table_name, processed) values (#base_criteria, #base_table_schema, #base_table_name, 0)
declare #id int, #criteria nvarchar(1000), #table_name varchar(200), #table_schema varchar(100)
while exists(select 1 from #to_delete where processed = 0) begin
select top 1 #id = id, #criteria = criteria, #table_name = table_name, #table_schema = table_schema from #to_delete where processed = 0 order by id desc
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_schema, table_name, processed)
select referencing_column.name + ' in (select [' + referenced_column.name + '] from [' + #table_schema + '].[' + #table_name +'] where ' + #criteria + ')',
schematable.name,
referencing_table.name,
0
from sys.foreign_key_columns fk
inner join sys.columns referencing_column on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_column.object_id
and fk.parent_column_id = referencing_column.column_id
inner join sys.columns referenced_column on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_column.object_id
and fk.referenced_column_id = referenced_column.column_id
inner join sys.objects referencing_table on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_table.object_id
inner join sys.schemas schematable on referencing_table.schema_id = schematable.schema_id
inner join sys.objects referenced_table on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects constraint_object on fk.constraint_object_id = constraint_object.object_id
where referenced_table.name = #table_name
and referencing_table.name != referenced_table.name
update #to_delete set
processed = 1
where id = #id
end
select 'print ''deleting from ' + table_name + '...''; delete from [' + table_schema + '].[' + table_name + '] where ' + criteria from #to_delete order by id desc
DECLARE #commandText VARCHAR(8000), #triggerOn VARCHAR(8000), #triggerOff VARCHAR(8000)
DECLARE curDeletes CURSOR FOR
select
'DELETE FROM [' + table_schema + '].[' + table_name + '] WHERE ' + criteria,
'ALTER TABLE [' + table_schema + '].[' + table_name + '] DISABLE TRIGGER ALL',
'ALTER TABLE [' + table_schema + '].[' + table_name + '] ENABLE TRIGGER ALL'
from #to_delete order by id desc
OPEN curDeletes
FETCH NEXT FROM curDeletes INTO #commandText, #triggerOff, #triggerOn
WHILE(##FETCH_STATUS=0)
BEGIN
EXEC (#triggerOff)
EXEC (#commandText)
EXEC (#triggerOn)
FETCH NEXT FROM curDeletes INTO #commandText, #triggerOff, #triggerOn
END
CLOSE curDeletes
DEALLOCATE curDeletes
end
after select you have to build and execute the actual delete
declare #deleteSql nvarchar(1200)
declare delete_cursor cursor for
select table_name, criteria
from #to_delete
order by id desc
open delete_cursor
fetch next from delete_cursor
into #table_name, #criteria
while ##fetch_status = 0
begin
select #deleteSql = 'delete from ' + #table_name + ' where ' + #criteria
--print #deleteSql
-- exec sp_execute #deleteSql
EXEC SP_EXECUTESQL #deleteSql
fetch next from delete_cursor
into #table_name, #criteria
end
close delete_cursor
deallocate delete_cursor
Post here a script that will work with foreign keys contain more than one column.
create procedure usp_delete_cascade (
#TableName varchar(200), #Where nvarchar(1000)
) as begin
declare #to_delete table (
id int identity(1, 1) primary key not null,
criteria nvarchar(1000) not null,
table_name varchar(200) not null,
processed bit not null default(0),
delete_sql varchar(1000)
)
DECLARE #MyCursor CURSOR
declare #referencing_column_name varchar(1000)
declare #referencing_table_name varchar(1000)
declare #Sql nvarchar(4000)
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_name) values ('', #TableName)
declare #id int, #criteria nvarchar(1000), #table_name varchar(200)
while exists(select 1 from #to_delete where processed = 0) begin
select top 1 #id = id, #criteria = criteria, #table_name = table_name from #to_delete where processed = 0 order by id desc
SET #MyCursor = CURSOR FAST_FORWARD
FOR
select referencing_column.name as column_name,
referencing_table.name as table_name
from sys.foreign_key_columns fk
inner join sys.columns referencing_column on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_column.object_id
and fk.parent_column_id = referencing_column.column_id
inner join sys.columns referenced_column on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_column.object_id
and fk.referenced_column_id = referenced_column.column_id
inner join sys.objects referencing_table on fk.parent_object_id = referencing_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects referenced_table on fk.referenced_object_id = referenced_table.object_id
inner join sys.objects constraint_object on fk.constraint_object_id = constraint_object.object_id
where referenced_table.name = #table_name
and referencing_table.name != referenced_table.name
OPEN #MyCursor
FETCH NEXT FROM #MYCursor
INTO #referencing_column_name, #referencing_table_name
WHILE ##FETCH_STATUS = 0
BEGIN
PRINT #referencing_column_name
PRINT #referencing_table_name
update #to_delete set criteria = criteria + ' AND '+#table_name+'.'+#referencing_column_name+'='+ #referencing_table_name+'.'+#referencing_column_name
where table_name = #referencing_table_name
if(##ROWCOUNT = 0)
BEGIN
--if(#id <> 1)
--BEGIN
insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_name)
VALUES( ' LEFT JOIN '+#table_name+' ON '+#table_name+'.'+#referencing_column_name+'='+ #referencing_table_name+'.'+#referencing_column_name+ #criteria,
#referencing_table_name
)
--END
--ELSE
--BEGIN
--insert into #to_delete (criteria, table_name)
--VALUES( ' LEFT JOIN '+#table_name+' ON '+#table_name+'.'+#referencing_column_name+'='+ #referencing_table_name+'.'+#referencing_column_name,
--#referencing_table_name
--)
--END
END
FETCH NEXT FROM #MYCursor
INTO #referencing_column_name, #referencing_table_name
END
CLOSE #MyCursor
DEALLOCATE #MyCursor
update #to_delete set
processed = 1
where id = #id
end
--select 'print ''deleting from ' + table_name + '...''; delete from [' + table_name + '] where ' + criteria from #to_delete order by id desc
--select id, table_name, criteria, #Where from #to_delete order by id desc
select #id = max(id) from #to_delete
while (#id >= 1)
begin
select #criteria = criteria, #table_name = table_name from #to_delete where id = #id
set #Sql = 'delete [' + #table_name + '] from [' + #table_name + '] ' + #criteria+' WHERE '+#Where
exec (#Sql)
PRINT #Sql
-- Next record
set #id = #id - 1
end
end
This script has two issues:
1. You must indicate the condition 1=1 in order to delete all table base.
2. This creates the direct relations with the base table only. If the final table has another table parent relation, the the delete fail
DELETE FROM [dbo].[table2] WHERE TableID in (select [ID] from [dbo].[table3] where 1=1)
If table2 has a parent relation table1

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