Create a Union query that automatically adds/contains new tables with a similar name

Question

Dear All, 
For a research project i am upscaling from an Access database to SQL server/ SQL azure since the database got far too large. Now i am quite well known with Access, but to be quite honest, I am a SQL rookey. So a lot to learn for me here. 
what I need is a union query that automatically adds new research dumps to the query. All research dumps have a table name starting with TD_EXP (Table Dump _ Export). In Access VBA I simply made a loop that builds up the SQL statement, but i have no clue
how to do this within SQL Server...
So, I need the UNION Query to select * from TD_Exp_2012_06_06_15_48 UNON all the  TD_Exp_XXXX_XX_XX_XX_XX that are added in the database,
Who could help me out please with a dynamic SQL statement. 
Best regards  Jurjen

Answer 1

you can use INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES view for that
do like below
DECLARE @Query varchar(max)
SELECT @Query = STUFF((SELECT ' UNION ALL ' + 'SELECT * FROM ' + TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME LIKE 'TD_EXP%' FOR XML PATH('')),1,11,'')
SELECT @Query
Add one more condition as below if you want to exclude views from above 
DECLARE @Query varchar(max)
SELECT @Query = STUFF((SELECT ' UNION ALL ' + 'SELECT * FROM ' + TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME LIKE 'TD_EXP%' AND TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE' FOR XML PATH('')),1,11,'')
SELECT @Query
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