# Mysql command line

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [March 12, 2006, 12:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675 "2006-03-12T12:21:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 12:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/1 "2006-03-12T12:21:03Z")

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does anyone know how to delete databases/tables in mysql command line?

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**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 12:33pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/2 "2006-03-12T12:33:14Z")

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if you’re referring to the mysql client program,

drop table table\_name;  
drop database db\_name;

[http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/drop-database.html](http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/drop-database.html)

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**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/3 "2006-03-12T14:04:57Z")

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so does that actually DELETE it?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/4 "2006-03-12T14:29:19Z")

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so then,  
what does drop table if exists do?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/5 "2006-03-12T14:05:00Z")

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don’t worry about that last one!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/6 "2006-03-12T22:03:56Z")

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It seems a ligit question to me especially since Ruby interfaces so  
easily with mysql.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@casper\_the\_ghost](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/casper_the_ghost)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 2:32pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/mysql-command-line/54675/7 "2006-03-12T14:32:23Z")

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Hi –

On Sun, 12 Mar 2006, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote:

> so then,  
> what does drop table if exists do?

It drops the table if the table exists, without raising an error if it  
doesn’t.

I’m not sure how this topic ended up on this mailing list, which is  
about Ruby. Can you try to find an SQL or MySQL list to discuss this  
on?

David

–  
David A. Black (removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid)  
Ruby Power and Light, LLC ([http://www.rubypowerandlight.com](http://www.rubypowerandlight.com))

“Ruby for Rails” chapters now available  
from Manning Early Access Program! [Ruby for Rails](http://www.manning.com/books/black)