Question

I’m using PostgreSQL with pgadmin.
I need to replace multiple characters in all fields of type string, and in all tables in my database.

Answer 1

Use the below with caution – adjust as necessary, and make sure you review each and every resultant query (yes – this generates a resultset of queries) before copying the results and executing – as this may include queries that would attempt to modify views, calculated fields, system tables etc. etc.

I’m a T-SQL’er – but I believe the below should be valid in PostgresSQL.

SELECT 'UPDATE ' || TABLE_SCHEMA || '.' || TABLE_NAME ||
       ' SET ' || COLUMN_NAME || ' = REPLACE(' || 
       COLUMN_NAME || ', ''FROM'', ''TO'')'
FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE DATA_TYPE LIKE '%char%'

For additional information, which may provide ideas on how to adjust this query, check out INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS.