Search ALL tables and ALL fields, query?

[Mikael Lindqvist]

Hi,

I have imported a huge database and most of the tables contain a lot of
fields but no values. Right now I'm only looking for ways to search for
certain (unique) data in the database, and since it contains a LOT of tables
(appr 1000) I wonder if it's possible to run a query that uses wild card for
everything?

Like: Search ALL tables ALL fields <search string>

Cheers,
Mikael
Sweden
Access 2007

 

[scubadiver]

You would have a massive task. Why 1000 tables?

 

[Mikael Lindqvist]

Yes, well... in excel i just hit CTRL+F and look for values, seems Access it
not as "flexible"

Anyhow, I have no idea why the database is so big, it just is

//Mikael

 

[scubadiver]

If you have no idea then I think you ought to find out ! You could have
serious normalisation issues.

 

[scubadiver]

Sorry about that. I wasn't being helpful at all.

To answer your question, I did have a look at some similar threads and it
mentioned "normalisation" issues and union queries. I personally haven't come
across any way of searching every table with a query. For a query to work you
need to have at least one data source to base it on.

If your DB is properly normalised then every table will contain its own
information and will NOT be duplicated in any other table. So there is no
point in searching every table for information that will only be contained
within a single table.

My 2pence / 2cents!

 

[Mikael Lindqvist]

I see your point, and I know enough about databases and normalisation to know
that you are absolutely right. However, in my case I have a huge database and
I need to find "in which tables & fields" that I can find certain
information...

After I "decoded" the database I'll start making a report models that can be
used from Excel / Access (querying the real database).

Cheers,
Mikael

 

[Mikael Lindqvist]

I don't want to be rude, but for me it would be a lot more helpful if you
could help me with my question instead of "telling me I got a normalization
problem".

In fact, I noticed when I searched for a solution (before I posted my
question) that 9 out of 10 "answers" are just unhelpful remarks about "why"...

Whatever my reasons and the "why" -- can it be done?

But I was expecting this, so I took my time and wrote that "I imported this
database" (hence, it's not anything I built, and in its present form it's
perfectly normalized, but I just imported the darn tables, not the
relations... which I doubt is doable at this point).

Anyhow, you probably mean well, but I was looking for answers, not
irrelavant "judgements" hence my tiny frustration!

Cheers,
Mikael

 

[Mary S]

In case anyone else is searching for the answer on how to search all tables or database objects at once to see where a field is used, I found it on Allen Browne's site and it works great.

http://allenbrowne.com/ser-73.html

 

[Allen Browne]

In case anyone else is searching for the answer on how to search
all tables or database objects at once to see where a field is used,
I found it on Allen Browne's site and it works great.

http://allenbrowne.com/ser-73.html

Thanks, Mary.

Good to know it met your needs.