Question

I have multiple table names like g_str_a , g_str_ab , g_str_abc . I would like to drop all those tables that start with g_str on SQL Server 2008.

Will DROP Tables like 'g_str' help?

Please help me with the script.

Answer 1

Following query will delete tables automatically:

    BEGIN TRANSACTION

    DECLARE @tmpTablesToDelete TABLE ( 
                                        RowNumber INT PRIMARY KEY
                                       ,Query NVARCHAR(MAX)
                                     )

    INSERT INTO
            @tmpTablesToDelete 
    SELECT 
         RowNumber = ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY (SELECT (0)))
        ,'DROP TABLE '+schemas.name+'.'+objects.name AS Query
    FROM 
        sys.objects 
    INNER JOIN
        sys.schemas
    ON
        schemas.schema_id = objects.schema_id
    WHERE 
        type = 'U' AND objects.name like 'g_str%'

    DECLARE @Counter INT
    SELECT @Counter = MAX(RowNumber) FROM @tmpTablesToDelete

    WHILE(@Counter > 0) BEGIN

        DECLARE @Query NVARCHAR(MAX)

        SELECT @Query = Query FROM @tmpTablesToDelete WHERE RowNumber = @Counter

        PRINT @Query

        EXEC sp_executesql @statement = @Query

        SET @Counter = @Counter - 1

    END

    COMMIT TRANSACTION