Undocumented sp_MSforeachdb: Iterate through each database

The stored procedure sp_MSforeachdb is used to iterate through each database that exists in SQL Server, including the system databases.

The stored procedure is undocumented and can be removed at any time, so use it carefully.

It is used to run a command over a set of databases in a server.
The stored procedure receives a parameter with the command to execute. The ? is used as a placeholder to identify the current database name listed by the stored procedure.

Some common scenarios where it can be used are:

1. Print all the database names, excluding the master,tempdb, model and msdb:

EXEC sp_msforeachdb 
"IF '?' NOT IN ('master','tempdb', 'model', 'msdb')   
BEGIN
        PRINT '?'
END"

2. Show the size of all the database

EXEC sp_MSforeachdb 'USE ?; EXEC sp_spaceused'

3. Check the integrity of all objects in the database

sp_MSforeachdb 'DBCC CHECKDB(?)' 

4. Retrieve database physical files information excluding the master,tempdb, model and msdb:

EXEC sp_msforeachdb 
'IF ''?'' NOT IN (''master'',''tempdb'', ''model'', ''msdb'')   
BEGIN
        SELECT name,physical_name,state,size FROM [?].sys.database_files
END'

5. Retrieve database physical files information excluding the master,tempdb, model and msdb to a table:

DECLARE @DbSize TABLE
    (
      mame NVARCHAR(50),
      physical_name NVARCHAR(500),
      size INT,
      growth INT,
   is_percent_growth BIT,
   type_desc NVARCHAR(10)
    )

INSERT  INTO @DbSize
EXEC sp_MSforeachdb 'IF ''?''  NOT IN (''master'', ''tempDB'',''model'',''msdb'')
BEGIN
       SELECT name,physical_name,size, growth, is_percent_growth, type_desc
       FROM ?.sys.database_files
END'

SELECT * FROM @DbSize

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