[SOLVED] Checking to see if field name exists within a table?

[blackcell]

Is there a way to determine whether a field in a table exists or not? I can figure out how to determine whether the table exists by checking the mysql directory on xampp but not the fields within. 

[effigy]

Visually or code-wise? There's SELECT * FROM table and[tt] DESC table.

[blackcell]

I want to check without error reporting and without modifying the php.ini

Code-Wise by the way

[effigy]

The only way I know of is to try a SELECT field FROM table LIMIT 1 and catch any errors.

[blackcell]

Any way to suppress the errors onscreen without modifying php.ini?

[effigy]

http://www.php.net/try

[fenway]

If you're using 5.0, you can query the information_schema table.

[blackcell]

Does it return errors if it does not exist??

[cedre]

You should take a look at PHP Manual's page about Exceptions as effigy also suggested. (http://www.php.net/try)

 

Does it return errors if it does not exist??

 

If you catch them properly it won't return any error.

[fenway]

Errors? You simply query to see if there is a table with that name... no different than any other "count".

[blackcell]

Errors? You simply query to see if there is a table with that name... no different than any other "count".

So I am assuming now that there is a command to execute a 'check for existence' query.  That is what I meant in the first place.  I will try to look around but I am so buried in home work that I have a hard time find the time to dig deeper into this issue for work.  I also need to study on the php try.  It sounds like it will do something I want to implement in a few programs but I don't understand it from a quick glance.  At any rate thank you for your input.

[PFMaBiSmAd]

I think this is a case where if you describe what you are trying to accomplish, rather than describing what you are trying to do (sometimes what you are doing doesn't have anything to do with the overall goal), someone can provide the best way of accomplishing it. In this case, why do you need to find if a field exists?

 

A query referencing a column that does not exist will fail and return a FALSE value. As long as your code contains proper logic to test the value returned by the mysql_query() function call and does not blindly reference the nonexistent result set, no php error will be generated, which seems to be what is happening now.

 

[blackcell]

OK, I am building a setup/diagnostic routine that will ensure that the required database is setup correctly, and properly named. I do not want to return mysql errors so that the user sees them.  Therefore that is what I am trying to accomplish and DO. I don't want lame mysql errors to appear, because it doesn't seem like good design.  I just want a field to be highlighted in red saying

"`database` doesn't exist.  Attempt to repair? <---then they click on this to try to correct the problem.  Does that properly define what I am trying to accomplish rather than what I am trying to DO?

Plus, I want the general knowledge and best method of approach to this for future reference.

[trq]

mysql_list_fields() should help you out.