How to find a specific string in Entire database?

Question

Well i know this question is posted numerous times here but i m complete noob understanding the solution given on the net.
Let me introduce the entire scenario .
We have an application, which keeps on sending emails from an X employees account.
We are using Oracle 11g as database .But the problem is we don't know which table to search for the value.
All we have is Database credentials and x employee's name.
Is there any way we can find out which table contains the name so that we can change it accordingly.
I m using plsql developer to connect to the database.
One solution that we got from internet goes as below.
Ref:
[http://www.club-oracle.com/articles/oracle-find-all-tables-with-column-value-154/ |http://www.club-oracle.com/articles/oracle-find-all-tables-with-column-value-154/ ]
As per the solution i had to create a procedure as below .
create or replace
procedure find_string( p_str in varchar2 )
authid current_user
as
l_query long;
l_case long;
l_runquery boolean;
l_tname varchar2(30);
l_cname varchar2(30);
type rc is ref cursor;
l_cursor rc;
begin
dbms_application_info.set_client_info( '%' || upper(p_str) || '%' );
for x in (select * from user_tables )
loop
l_query := 'select distinct ''' || x.table_name || ''', $$
from ' || x.table_name || '
where ( 1=0 ';
l_runquery := FALSE;
l_case := NULL;
for y in ( select *
from user_tab_columns
where table_name = x.table_name
and data_type in ( 'VARCHAR2', 'CHAR' )
loop
l_runquery := TRUE;
l_query := l_query || ' or upper(' || y.column_name ||
') like userenv(''client_info'') ';
l_case := l_case || '||'' ''|| case when upper(' || y.column_name ||
') like userenv(''client_info'') then ''' ||
y.column_name || ''' else NULL end';
end loop;
if ( l_runquery )
then
l_query := replace( l_query, '$$', substr(l_case,8) ) || ')';
begin
open l_cursor for l_query;
loop
fetch l_cursor into l_tname, l_cname;
exit when l_cursor%notfound;
dbms_output.put_line
( 'Found in ' || l_tname || '.' || l_cname );
end loop;
close l_cursor;
end;
end if;
end loop;
end;
Well i have copied the code to sql window in plsql and executed .But whenever i compile the procedure it says there is an error .
Not sure what kind of error hidden in the procedure.
If any 1 has any better idea please share.
Edited by: Milind on Apr 12, 2012 8:45 PM

Answer 1

Girish Sharma wrote:
Milind,
I am not sure what / which error about your talking, but there is no error/issue at my end when I ran your procedure code :
1.I just pasted the code in sqlplus window, it showed me Procedure created. message.
2.I just checked with show errors command, it showed me No errors.
3.I just tried to run it with :
SQL> SET SERVEROUTPUT ON;
SQL> exec find_string('SCOTT');
Found in EMP.ENAMENo issue error.
But whenever i compile the procedure it says there is an error .
SQL> alter procedure find_string compile;
Procedure altered.
SQL> exec find_string('SCOTT');
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL> set serveroutput on;
SQL> exec find_string('SCOTT');
Found in EMP.ENAME
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>So, there is no error at my end 11.2.0.1 windows box.
Regards
Girish Sharma
Edited by: Girish Sharma on Apr 13, 2012 11:20 AMThanks it worked for me.