sql select with column name like

Question

I have a table with column names a1,a2...,b1.b2....

How can I select all those with column names like a%?

Answer 1

Blorgbeard had a great answer for SQL server. If you have a MySQL server like mine then the following will allow you to select the information from columns where the name is like some key phrase. You just have to substitute the table name, database name, and keyword.

SET @columnnames = (SELECT concat("`",GROUP_CONCAT(`COLUMN_NAME` SEPARATOR "`, `"),"`") 
FROM `INFORMATION_SCHEMA`.`COLUMNS` 
WHERE `TABLE_SCHEMA`='your_database' 
    AND `TABLE_NAME`='your_table'
    AND COLUMN_NAME LIKE "%keyword%");

SET @burrito = CONCAT("SELECT ",@columnnames," FROM your_table");

PREPARE result FROM @burrito;
EXECUTE result;