Question

MySQL DECLARE syntax error

Asked by: DanielWilson

I can't see where I'm messing up the syntax.  Please see the code snippet.

I'm running MySQL 5.1 on Windows.  I think I'm following this: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/declare-local-variable.html

Thanks!

mysql> Begin
    -> Declare DBName Varchar(20);
ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that
corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'Decla
re DBName Varchar(20)' at line 2
mysql> End;
ERROR 1064 (42000): You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that
corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'End'
at line 1
mysql>

                                  
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Asked On
2009-08-25 at 20:09:30ID24682024
Topic

MySQL Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: prshntksnghPosted on 2009-08-25 at 21:02:07ID: 25184348

These commands are used within the procedures, I think the problem is you are trying to run it from MySQL command prompt.

 

by: prshntksnghPosted on 2009-08-25 at 21:12:17ID: 25184388

Begin ...... END is used to define compound statements.  ';' is the end of each statement. In your case Mysql gets two queries
Begin  Declare DBName Varchar(20);

and

End;

Both are invalid queries that is the reason you are getting error. And I think you may not be able to run compound statements from MySQL command prompt without creating procedure

 

by: nemws1Posted on 2009-08-25 at 22:17:28ID: 25184589

Yes, I don't think this works outside of procedures, either.

However, you can still use variables, if that's what you're after.  For example (a long way of doing an average) see the attached statements (working on a table of 50 random numbers from 0 to 1000).

Variables are defined as '@varname" and the assignment operator is ":="

These variables defined for the connection only (like temporary tables).

mysql> select @total:=sum(reading), @numcount:=count(*) from data_table;
 +----------------------+---------------------+
 | @total:=sum(reading) | @numcount:=count(*) |
 +----------------------+---------------------+
 | 25163                | 50                  |
 +----------------------+---------------------+
 
 1 rows in 0.0012 seconds
mysql> select @total/@numcount;
 +------------------------------------+
 |          @total/@numcount          |
 +------------------------------------+
 | 503.260000000000000000000000000000 |
 +------------------------------------+
 
 1 rows in 0.0007 seconds
mysql>

                                              
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by: DanielWilsonPosted on 2009-08-26 at 04:49:24ID: 25186494

OK, I cut this down from a script wherein I was trying to set a variable to my database name for use in
SELECT * from informationschema.tables where table_schema = MyVarName ...
queries.  If I can't use a variable name in a DDL script, that means that when I go from my dev environment to production, I have to do a search/replace.  It's just cleaner if I use a variable.

Can I use a variable like that?

It complained about the DECLARE statement with an @ in front of the variable name too, and then I found examples on the MySQL site (e.g. http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/local-variable-scope.html ) where the @ was omitted.

(increasing points, as I'm broadening the question)

 

by: prshntksnghPosted on 2009-08-26 at 06:01:09ID: 25187058

MySQL do not use '@' in variable names

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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