How to drop multiple tables with common prefix in one query?

Question

I'm using Microsoft SQL Server 2008.My question is:How to drop multiple tables with common prefix in one query?

something like that table names:

LG_001_01_STLINE, 
LG_001_02_STFICHE

Answer 1

You can build up a string using the catalog views, e.g.:

DECLARE @sql NVARCHAR(MAX) = N'';

SELECT @sql += '
DROP TABLE ' 
    + QUOTENAME(OBJECT_SCHEMA_NAME([object_id]))
    + '.' + QUOTENAME(name) + ';'
    FROM sys.tables 
    WHERE name LIKE 'LG_001%';

PRINT @sql;
-- EXEC sp_executesql @sql;

Of course there are potential gotchas, for example if these tables have foreign key relationships you'll either need to drop them first or drop the tables in a certain order.

Answer 2

I like this one that I wrote:

  DECLARE @chv_LG001_TableName nvarchar (100)
  DECLARE @chv_DROP_LG001_Tables nvarchar(100)
  DECLARE @chv_LG001_Table_Count int

  SET @chv_LG001_Table_Count = (SELECT count(OBJECT_NAME(id))
        FROM SYSINDEXES
        WHERE OBJECTPROPERTY(id,'isUserTable')=1 AND indid < 2
            and OBJECT_NAME(id) like 'LG_001%')

 IF @chv_LG001_Table_Count > 0
    BEGIN

    DECLARE  Drop_LG001_Tables_Cursor CURSOR FOR
      -- This query will give you the table list you are wanting
        SELECT OBJECT_NAME(id)
        FROM SYSINDEXES
        WHERE OBJECTPROPERTY(id,'isUserTable')=1 AND indid < 2
            and OBJECT_NAME(id) like 'LG_001%'

    OPEN Drop_LG001_Tables_Cursor
    FETCH NEXT FROM Drop_LG001_Tables_Cursor INTO @chv_LG001_TableName 
    WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0 

    BEGIN           

    SET @chv_DROP_LG001_Tables = 'DROP TABLE ' + '[' + @chv_LG001_TableName + ']'

    --Print @chv_DROP_LG001_Tables 
-- Uncomment the next line when you are ready because it WILL clear out these tables. 
    --EXEC sp_executesql @chv_DROP_LG001_Tables

    FETCH NEXT FROM Drop_LG001_Tables_Cursor
    INTO @chv_LG001_TableName

    END

    CLOSE Drop_LG001_Tables_Cursor
    DEALLOCATE Drop_LG001_Tables_Cursor

END

Answer 3

This allows you to delete a much greater number of tables.

declare 
@cursor as cursor, 
@FTABLE as varchar(500) 
set @cursor = CURSOR FOR 
select 'drop table ' + NAME + ';' 
from sys.tables 
where not SUBSTRING(NAME,10,3) in 
( 
'310', 
'311', 
'312', 
'313', 
'314', 
'320', 
'321', 
'322' 
) 
open @cursor 
fetch next from @cursor into @FTABLE 
while (@@FETCH_STATUS =0) 
begin 
        exec(@FTABLE) 
        print @FTABLE 
fetch next from @cursor into @FTABLE 
end 
close @cursor 
deallocate @cursor