Create table if it doesn't exist

[heldenbrau]

I want to check if a table exists and if it doesn't then create it.  I have tried this code:

 

$sql = "SELECT * FROM mythreads$username";
    if ($mysqli->query($sql)===TRUE){
       }
       else{
         $sql = "CREATE TABLE mythreads$username (heading VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL, casenum INT(20) NOT NULL, lastpost INT(20) NOT NULL, replies INT(10) NOT NULL, type INT(1) NOT NULL)";
         if ($mysqli->query($sql))===TRUE{

         }else
         die("could not create database" . $mysqli->error);
       }

 

But I get Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_IS_IDENTICAL

[waynew]

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS tablename(

    id INT(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,

 

 

etc

[heldenbrau]

That looks like a better way, but still getting the same error message.  What does the error message mean?

[waynew]

Show your code.