Can you DROP TABLE IF EXISTS by specifying database name with table?

Question

I am trying to drop a table in a database with the following query statement:

mysql_query('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS "dbName.tableName"') or die(mysql_error());

But I keep getting an error. Does anyone know if specifying the dbName.tableName is invalid?

What is the error? Do u have permissiong to drop that table? — Sachin Shanbhag, May 18 '11 at 14:37
I assume you need to switch the double and single quotes. But I'd like to see the error. — Wesley van Opdorp, May 18 '11 at 14:39
You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '"dbName.tableName"' at line 1 — H. Ferrence, May 18 '11 at 14:39

score 21 · Accepted Answer · answered May 18 '11 at 14:40

21

mysql_query('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `dbName`.`tableName`') or die(mysql_error());

answered May 18 '11 at 14:40

Emmerman

2,371
15
9

ok...I'l try -- so essentially you are stating the double-quotes will not work...I'll pots back in a moment – H. Ferrence May 18 '11 at 14:41
Wow..did not know that in certain mysql_queries -- double-quotes are not liked. Thanks @Emmerman! – H. Ferrence May 18 '11 at 14:44
It's not only about double quotes - you should quote db name _separapely_ from table name. – Emmerman May 18 '11 at 14:48
Yea, I saw that -- and again, did not know that as well. – H. Ferrence May 18 '11 at 14:49
Voted here and marked as answer because @Emmerman posted first – H. Ferrence May 18 '11 at 14:50

score 6 · Answer 2 · answered May 18 '11 at 14:41

6

You should use backticks instead of double quotes like this:

mysql_query('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `dbName`.`tableName`');

answered May 18 '11 at 14:41

Kris

2,108
18
19

1

There where two problems with your original code. First, you should quote the dbName and tableName separately. Second, you only use single- or double quotes for strings. For identifiers, like table and column names, you use the backtick: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/identifiers.html – Kris May 18 '11 at 14:52

John Cartwright · Answer 3 · 2011-05-18T20:10:24.957

3

You can't use double quotes to quote db/table names, instead you either leave them unquoted or use backticks. But to answer your question, yes it is perfectly valid to specify the database name.

DROP TABLE `dbName`.`tableName`

edited May 18 '11 at 20:10

answered May 18 '11 at 14:41

John Cartwright

5,109
22
25

Can you DROP TABLE IF EXISTS by specifying database name with table?

3 Answers3

Linked