Re: ALTER TABLE - code not working.

Hello, "Martin E. Koss" wrote: > > I have been trying to get a new column added to a table (vips) via a PHP > script, but having exhausted all the things I can find, I'm still > struggling. I've referred t TFM for all those who just can't wait to tell me > to do so, and believe my SQL statement is correct: > > $NewCol = $Prod_Code; > $defaultvalue = "0.00"; > // make usual connection > $conID = mysql_pconnect ("localhost","admin","mek1233"); > mysql_select_db("FocusDynamics", $conID); > // set the query > $AddColQuery = "ALTER TABLE vips ADD COLUMN $NewCol"; > $result = mysql_query ($AddColQuery,$conID); > // now set the default value for all rows in vips table > $SetDefault = "UPDATE TABLE vips SET $NewCol=$defaultvalue"; > $result = mysql_query ($SetDefault,$conID); > > It is NOT adding the column, and obviously not setting the default. I presume that the $Prod_Code is just the name of the field. You also need to declare the type of the field. BTW, if you declare the default value too in the ALTER TABLE statement the existing rows will be filled with that value in that column. You may want to look at Metabase which is a PHP database abstraction package that is able to install and maintain database schema giving just a schema description file defined in a specific XML format. Metabase is able to parse the schema definitions and install any tables, fields, indexes and sequences described in the schema definition. When you want to change anything in your schema (adding, removing, altering tables, fields, indexes and sequences) Metabase manager will figure the changes you made in the schema definition and apply them to the installed database without disturbing any data already inserted after the first time the schema was installed or it was changed for the last time. No sweat, no risk mistake. Look at Metabase here: http://phpclasses.UpperDesign.com/browse.html/package/20 Manuel Lemos