How to check if table exists(SQL-Server)

[Anon]

Hi list!

My problem is, how to check if a table exists in MS SQL-Server.
Creating the same table forces a sql error message. I only can catch the FALSE
at the odbc_exec function, when executing the SQL-command "SELECT * INTO table-name ....".

Any better ideas?

Andreas

[Anon]

select * from INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES where TABLE_NAME = <your table name>

If it exists, you'll get one row back, if not, none.

[Anon]

Oh, that's in 7.0 by the way; I don't have access to earlier versions, so it may not work in those...

[Anon]

Thanks, but it doesn't work in my version 6.0.
I get the message: Msg 208, Level 16, State 1
Invalid object name 'INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES'.

[Anon]

Okay, just been looking through tho oh so well written backwards compatibility docs; try:

exec sp_tables <your table name>

Again, returns one row if it exists, none if it doesn't.

[Anon]

Rob,

it works in the query analyzer of the enterprise manager, but it doesn't in the php script.

I get this message:
Warning: SQL error: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL
Server]Cannot open a cursor on a stored procedure that has anything
other than a single select statement in it , SQL state 37000 in
SQLExecDirect in ./DP_get_SN_4_boardtype.php on line 123

I think I work with my first solution, it's not so comfortable, but it's working and I
can't spent a lot of time for debuging.

Thanks again

Andreas from Bavaria