MySql Workbench SQL queries syntax errors

Question

I'm testing some simple scripts to get the feel of MySQL in Workbench. I've created a database called 'myschema' and am trying to execute the following script in the scripting shell

ALTER TABLE 'myschema'.'employee' DROP COLUMN 'date_of_birth' ;

However, I always get the following error:

Uncaught exception while executing C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Roaming\MySQL\Workbench\scripts\deletion.py: File "c:\users\owner\appdata\roaming\mysql\workbench\scripts\deletion.py", line 9

ALTER TABLE 'myschema'.'employee' DROP COLUMN 'date_of_birth' ;

SyntaxError: invalid syntax

This is a very basic command, so I'm confused as to why it's not working. I've tried getting rid of the quotes and the 'myschema' part, but I keep getting the same error. What am I doing wrong?

In fact, I've found that no SQL queries at all work in the scripting shell. They all return syntax errors

SOLVED: I was using the wrong editor. Was solved by using the SQL Query Editor instead of the Scripting Shell

If you are in the database 'myschema' don't use myschema.employee,just use employee.Don't use quotes.Just give it as it is — bigbounty
– bigbounty, Commented May 7, 2017 at 20:18
As I said in my post, I've tried both of those changes and get the same error — Bob
– Bob, Commented May 7, 2017 at 20:24

Gurwinder Singh · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-07 20:30:17Z

1

Simply use:

ALTER TABLE myschema.employee DROP COLUMN date_of_birth;

or if you had non standard identifiers or reserved keywords to escape, you could use backticks:

ALTER TABLE `myschema`.`employee` DROP COLUMN `date_of_birth`;

edited May 7, 2017 at 20:30

answered May 7, 2017 at 20:24

Gurwinder Singh

39.7k6 gold badges62 silver badges87 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

9 Comments

tadman Over a year ago

The only reason you "must" escape is a conflict with a reserved keyword and even then it's often contextual.

Bob Over a year ago

Like I said in my post, I've tried that (getting rid of the quotes). Still getting the same error.

Gurwinder Singh Over a year ago

@Bob can you post the describe for the employee table here?

Gurwinder Singh Over a year ago

@tadman - Agreed. I just mentioned it here for reference. Nothing more. :)

tadman Over a year ago

Yep! Just trying to add a bit more context. I see people escape all sorts of things out of unfounded paranoia, it borders on superstition, so a rational explanation helps defray that.

|

dani herrera · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-07 20:33:03Z

1

Remember than you should to use back quote for identifiers:

ALTER TABLE `myschema`.`employee` DROP COLUMN `date_of_birth` ;

edited May 7, 2017 at 20:33

answered May 7, 2017 at 20:19

dani herrera

52k11 gold badges133 silver badges188 bronze badges

3 Comments

Bob Over a year ago

I just made that change, but I'm still getting the same error

tadman Over a year ago

MySQL is not Postgres. MySQL is not even normal when it comes to escaping identifiers.

tadman Over a year ago

Much better! Yeah, some days it's easy to cross the streams.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

MySql Workbench SQL queries syntax errors

2 Answers 2

9 Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

9 Comments

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related