mysql, connecting to the table

[ted_chou12]

what do I have to include if i only want to connect to the table in mysql, no entry or updates, just simply connection to see if it works or not?
mysql_connect("localhost", "admin", "1admin") or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("test") or die(mysql_error());
this is the previous (connect to mysql, and the database, but i wish i can connect to the table as well)
THanks, ted.

[ToonMariner]

a connection is a connection - no matter if you are just reading from a table or making changes - you will use the same code to connect. You select a database to work with NOT a table and then simply query the relevant table within teh database.

[ted_chou12]

sorry, i dont quite understand... ??? could you explain please?

[ToonMariner]

you will always use

mysql_connect("localhost", "admin", "1admin") or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("test") or die(mysql_error());

(or similar - pconnect, mysqli etc etc). TEST is the name of the database NOT the table.

The localhost, admin and 1admin are your connection details host, username, password - these will more than likely change on a  per site basis.

thats it. That makes a connection.

After that you will query each table(s) for what ever info you need.
[code]<?php
$qry = "SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE `password`= '" . sha1($_POST['password'] . "'";
$qry = mysql_query($qry);

...

?>
[/code]

Hows that?

[ted_chou12]

i dont need any information, this is a test for if the table exists or not... if not then the inserting fails...
oh yeah. so the keyword is exist, how to you code so that it gives you whether the table exists or not?

[ted_chou12]

here, i think this is what i want, but i dont quite understand it...(found it on google)
$res = mysql_query("show table status like '$tablename'")
or die(mysql_error());
$table_exists = mysql_num_rows($res) == 1;