Add column to a table if not exist - sqlite

I have a problem to add a new column to a SQLITE table if this column is not already exist.
I have try with this code but i don’t know why it wont execute:
IF NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS
WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'mytable' AND COLUMN_NAME = 'mynewcolumn')
BEGIN
ALTER TABLE mytable ADD COLUMN mynewcolumn TEXT
END
I get an Exception error :
error: near "IF": syntax error

This is the solution i select :
1- I do PRAGMA table_info :
pragma table_info(MyTable)
This command gives all the informations about all the columns of the table. each row correspand to the information of a column.
This commande return an output table with 4 columns : cid, name, type, notnull, dft value, pk
2- I read all the rows from "PRAGMA table_info (MyTable)", and i compare the column "name" with the name of the column i want to check if exist.
3- If Column exist then i dont do anything
4- but if the column doen't exist then, here i add the column to my table using this commade :
ALTER TABLE MyTable ADD COLUMN NewColumn TEXT;
this is work for me, and do the job correctly.

To test whether a column exists, execute PRAGMA table_info and check if the column name appears in the result.

Related

In SQLite , How to SELECT a column only if it exists in the table

I am trying to write a query where the table will be generated dynamically for each job . And the columns will either exist or not based on input. In SQLite , i need to fetch the value of a column only if it exists otherwise null.
I tried with if & case statements using Pragma_table_info , but for negative scenario it is not working.
'''select
case when (select name from pragma_table_info('table_name') where name = col_name )is null
then error_message
else col_name'''
end
from table_name
This query is running if the mentioned col_name exists . But if not exists then it is throwing syntax error in else part.
Only in select query it should be done
Your code should work if the table's name, the column's name and the error message are properly quoted:
SELECT CASE
WHEN (SELECT name FROM pragma_table_info('table_name') WHERE name = 'col_name')
IS NULL THEN 'error_message'
ELSE 'col_name'
END
But you can do the same simpler with aggregation and COALESCE():
SELECT COALESCE(MAX(name), 'error_message')
FROM pragma_table_info('table_name')
WHERE name = 'col_name'
See the demo.

"Insert if not exists" statement in SQLite

I have an SQLite database. I am trying to insert values (users_id, lessoninfo_id) in table bookmarks, only if both do not exist before in a row.
INSERT INTO bookmarks(users_id,lessoninfo_id)
VALUES(
(SELECT _id FROM Users WHERE User='"+$('#user_lesson').html()+"'),
(SELECT _id FROM lessoninfo
WHERE Lesson="+lesson_no+" AND cast(starttime AS int)="+Math.floor(result_set.rows.item(markerCount-1).starttime)+")
WHERE NOT EXISTS (
SELECT users_id,lessoninfo_id from bookmarks
WHERE users_id=(SELECT _id FROM Users
WHERE User='"+$('#user_lesson').html()+"') AND lessoninfo_id=(
SELECT _id FROM lessoninfo
WHERE Lesson="+lesson_no+")))
This gives an error saying:
db error near where syntax.
If you never want to have duplicates, you should declare this as a table constraint:
CREATE TABLE bookmarks(
users_id INTEGER,
lessoninfo_id INTEGER,
UNIQUE(users_id, lessoninfo_id)
);
(A primary key over both columns would have the same effect.)
It is then possible to tell the database that you want to silently ignore records that would violate such a constraint:
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO bookmarks(users_id, lessoninfo_id) VALUES(123, 456)
If you have a table called memos that has two columns id and text you should be able to do like this:
INSERT INTO memos(id,text)
SELECT 5, 'text to insert'
WHERE NOT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM memos WHERE id = 5 AND text = 'text to insert');
If a record already contains a row where text is equal to 'text to insert' and id is equal to 5, then the insert operation will be ignored.
I don't know if this will work for your particular query, but perhaps it give you a hint on how to proceed.
I would advice that you instead design your table so that no duplicates are allowed as explained in #CLs answer below.
For a unique column, use this:
INSERT OR REPLACE INTO tableName (...) values(...);
For more information, see: sqlite.org/lang_insert
insert into bookmarks (users_id, lessoninfo_id)
select 1, 167
EXCEPT
select user_id, lessoninfo_id
from bookmarks
where user_id=1
and lessoninfo_id=167;
This is the fastest way.
For some other SQL engines, you can use a Dummy table containing 1 record.
e.g:
select 1, 167 from ONE_RECORD_DUMMY_TABLE

Why do I get the error "Error: no such column: main.<tablename>.<columname>" although it exists?

This works:
sqlite> .databases
seq name file
--- --------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
0 main /path/to/db
2 uni /path/to/db
also this:
sqlite> pragma main.table_info(tsv_storage);
0|id|int|0||0
1|seqid|text|0||0
...
and this:
sqlite> select count(*) from main.tsv_storage;
198159
and also the attached database works:
sqlite> select * from uni.fasta_storage where uni.fasta_storage.id = 1;
1 MASNTVSAQ... Q197F8.1 002R_IIV3 Uncharacterized protein 002R Q197F8
but this not:
sqlite> select main.tsv_storage.seqid where main.tsv_storage.id=8;
Error: no such column: main.tsv_storage.seqid
EDIT:
and I have also problems with this, do I have to join the tables?
insert into main.tsv_storage(seqlength) select length(fasta) from
uni.fasta_storage where uni.fasta_storage.title = main.tsv_storage.seqid;
Error: no such column: main.tsv_storage.seqid
It happens for all columns, not only seqid. I think I did everything that is explained here: http://sqlite.awardspace.info/syntax/sqlitepg12.htm
What am I missing?
sqlite> select * from main.tsv_storage.seqid where main.tsv_storage.id=8;
You have not defined where to look for the selection. You need to tell the query what fields to search within the table, then define which table you are searching. The select * portion tells the query to look in all fields within the table. The from portion of the query tells the processes what table to look in. And lastly the where portion tells the query what to match when looking.
When using INSERT ... SELECT ..., the SELECT part must be valid query.
You cannot access a column like main.tsv_storage without having the table in the FROM clause:
INSERT INTO main.tsv_storage(seqlength)
SELECT length(fasta)
FROM uni.fasta_storage, main.tsv_storage
WHERE uni.fasta_storage.title = main.tsv_storage.seqid;
And the entire commands looks suspicious.
Are you sure you don't want to update the values in the seqlength column for existing records?
In that case, you would use something like this:
UPDATE main.tsv_storage
SET seqlength = (SELECT length(fasta)
FROM uni.fasta_storage
WHERE uni.fasta_storage.title = main.tsv_storage.seqid);

Modify a column to NULL - Oracle

I have a table named CUSTOMER, with few columns. One of them is Customer_ID.
Initially Customer_ID column WILL NOT accept NULL values.
I've made some changes from code level, so that Customer_ID column will accept NULL values by default.
Now my requirement is that, I need to again make this column to accept NULL values.
For this I've added executing the below query:
ALTER TABLE Customer MODIFY Customer_ID nvarchar2(20) NULL
I'm getting the following error:
ORA-01451 error, the column already allows null entries so
therefore cannot be modified
This is because already I've made the Customer_ID column to accept NULL values.
Is there a way to check if the column will accept NULL values before executing the above query...??
You can use the column NULLABLE in USER_TAB_COLUMNS. This tells you whether the column allows nulls using a binary Y/N flag.
If you wanted to put this in a script you could do something like:
declare
l_null user_tab_columns.nullable%type;
begin
select nullable into l_null
from user_tab_columns
where table_name = 'CUSTOMER'
and column_name = 'CUSTOMER_ID';
if l_null = 'N' then
execute immediate 'ALTER TABLE Customer
MODIFY (Customer_ID nvarchar2(20) NULL)';
end if;
end;
It's best not to use dynamic SQL in order to alter tables. Do it manually and be sure to double check everything first.
Or you can just ignore the error:
declare
already_null exception;
pragma exception_init (already_null , -01451);
begin
execute immediate 'alter table <TABLE> modify(<COLUMN> null)';
exception when already_null then null;
end;
/
You might encounter this error when you have previously provided a DEFAULT ON NULL value for the NOT NULL column.
If this is the case, to make the column nullable, you must also reset its default value to NULL when you modify its nullability constraint.
eg:
DEFINE table_name = your_table_name_here
DEFINE column_name = your_column_name_here;
ALTER TABLE &table_name
MODIFY (
&column_name
DEFAULT NULL
NULL
);
I did something like this, it worked fine.
Try to execute query, if any error occurs, catch SQLException.
try {
stmt.execute("ALTER TABLE Customer MODIFY Customer_ID nvarchar2(20) NULL");
} catch (SQLException sqe) {
Logger("Column to be modified to NULL is already NULL : " + sqe);
}
Is this correct way of doing?
To modify the constraints of an existing table
for example... add not null constraint to a column.
Then follow the given steps:
1) Select the table in which you want to modify changes.
2) Click on Actions.. ---> select column ----> add.
3) Now give the column name, datatype, size, etc. and click ok.
4) You will see that the column is added to the table.
5) Now click on Edit button lying on the left side of Actions button.
6) Then you will get various table modifying options.
7) Select the column from the list.
8) Select the particular column in which you want to give not null.
9) Select Cannot be null from column properties.
10) That's it.

INSERT IF NOT EXISTS ELSE UPDATE?

I've found a few "would be" solutions for the classic "How do I insert a new record or update one if it already exists" but I cannot get any of them to work in SQLite.
I have a table defined as follows:
CREATE TABLE Book
ID INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
Name VARCHAR(60) UNIQUE,
TypeID INTEGER,
Level INTEGER,
Seen INTEGER
What I want to do is add a record with a unique Name. If the Name already exists, I want to modify the fields.
Can somebody tell me how to do this please?
Have a look at http://sqlite.org/lang_conflict.html.
You want something like:
insert or replace into Book (ID, Name, TypeID, Level, Seen) values
((select ID from Book where Name = "SearchName"), "SearchName", ...);
Note that any field not in the insert list will be set to NULL if the row already exists in the table. This is why there's a subselect for the ID column: In the replacement case the statement would set it to NULL and then a fresh ID would be allocated.
This approach can also be used if you want to leave particular field values alone if the row in the replacement case but set the field to NULL in the insert case.
For example, assuming you want to leave Seen alone:
insert or replace into Book (ID, Name, TypeID, Level, Seen) values (
(select ID from Book where Name = "SearchName"),
"SearchName",
5,
6,
(select Seen from Book where Name = "SearchName"));
You should use the INSERT OR IGNORE command followed by an UPDATE command:
In the following example name is a primary key:
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO my_table (name, age) VALUES ('Karen', 34)
UPDATE my_table SET age = 34 WHERE name='Karen'
The first command will insert the record. If the record exists, it will ignore the error caused by the conflict with an existing primary key.
The second command will update the record (which now definitely exists)
You need to set a constraint on the table to trigger a "conflict" which you then resolve by doing a replace:
CREATE TABLE data (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, event_id INTEGER, track_id INTEGER, value REAL);
CREATE UNIQUE INDEX data_idx ON data(event_id, track_id);
Then you can issue:
INSERT OR REPLACE INTO data VALUES (NULL, 1, 2, 3);
INSERT OR REPLACE INTO data VALUES (NULL, 2, 2, 3);
INSERT OR REPLACE INTO data VALUES (NULL, 1, 2, 5);
The "SELECT * FROM data" will give you:
2|2|2|3.0
3|1|2|5.0
Note that the data.id is "3" and not "1" because REPLACE does a DELETE and INSERT, not an UPDATE. This also means that you must ensure that you define all necessary columns or you will get unexpected NULL values.
INSERT OR REPLACE will replace the other fields to default value.
sqlite> CREATE TABLE Book (
ID INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
Name TEXT,
TypeID INTEGER,
Level INTEGER,
Seen INTEGER
);
sqlite> INSERT INTO Book VALUES (1001, 'C++', 10, 10, 0);
sqlite> SELECT * FROM Book;
1001|C++|10|10|0
sqlite> INSERT OR REPLACE INTO Book(ID, Name) VALUES(1001, 'SQLite');
sqlite> SELECT * FROM Book;
1001|SQLite|||
If you want to preserve the other field
Method 1
sqlite> SELECT * FROM Book;
1001|C++|10|10|0
sqlite> INSERT OR IGNORE INTO Book(ID) VALUES(1001);
sqlite> UPDATE Book SET Name='SQLite' WHERE ID=1001;
sqlite> SELECT * FROM Book;
1001|SQLite|10|10|0
Method 2
Using UPSERT (syntax was added to SQLite with version 3.24.0 (2018-06-04))
INSERT INTO Book (ID, Name)
VALUES (1001, 'SQLite')
ON CONFLICT (ID) DO
UPDATE SET Name=excluded.Name;
The excluded. prefix equal to the value in VALUES ('SQLite').
Firstly update it. If affected row count = 0 then insert it. Its the easiest and suitable for all RDBMS.
Upsert is what you want. UPSERT syntax was added to SQLite with version 3.24.0 (2018-06-04).
CREATE TABLE phonebook2(
name TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
phonenumber TEXT,
validDate DATE
);
INSERT INTO phonebook2(name,phonenumber,validDate)
VALUES('Alice','704-555-1212','2018-05-08')
ON CONFLICT(name) DO UPDATE SET
phonenumber=excluded.phonenumber,
validDate=excluded.validDate
WHERE excluded.validDate>phonebook2.validDate;
Be warned that at this point the actual word "UPSERT" is not part of the upsert syntax.
The correct syntax is
INSERT INTO ... ON CONFLICT(...) DO UPDATE SET...
and if you are doing INSERT INTO SELECT ... your select needs at least WHERE true to solve parser ambiguity about the token ON with the join syntax.
Be warned that INSERT OR REPLACE... will delete the record before inserting a new one if it has to replace, which could be bad if you have foreign key cascades or other delete triggers.
If you have no primary key, You can insert if not exist, then do an update. The table must contain at least one entry before using this.
INSERT INTO Test
(id, name)
SELECT
101 as id,
'Bob' as name
FROM Test
WHERE NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM Test WHERE id = 101 and name = 'Bob') LIMIT 1;
Update Test SET id='101' WHERE name='Bob';
I believe you want UPSERT.
"INSERT OR REPLACE" without the additional trickery in that answer will reset any fields you don't specify to NULL or other default value. (This behavior of INSERT OR REPLACE is unlike UPDATE; it's exactly like INSERT, because it actually is INSERT; however if what you wanted is UPDATE-if-exists you probably want the UPDATE semantics and will be unpleasantly surprised by the actual result.)
The trickery from the suggested UPSERT implementation is basically to use INSERT OR REPLACE, but specify all fields, using embedded SELECT clauses to retrieve the current value for fields you don't want to change.
I think it's worth pointing out that there can be some unexpected behaviour here if you don't thoroughly understand how PRIMARY KEY and UNIQUE interact.
As an example, if you want to insert a record only if the NAME field isn't currently taken, and if it is, you want a constraint exception to fire to tell you, then INSERT OR REPLACE will not throw and exception and instead will resolve the UNIQUE constraint itself by replacing the conflicting record (the existing record with the same NAME). Gaspard's demonstrates this really well in his answer above.
If you want a constraint exception to fire, you have to use an INSERT statement, and rely on a separate UPDATE command to update the record once you know the name isn't taken.

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