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Author My Head Hurts - or, why MySQL needs clearer errors
Karl Groves

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

OK, this was obviously partially my fault, but I've been banging my head
against my computer for over an hour trying to track down an error in a SQL
query, only to find out that my problem was a reserved word that didn't
exist until mysql 5. MySQL's lame error messages were completely
unhelpful and, in fact, innacurate. fsckers!

--
Karl Groves
www.karlcore.com
William Tasso

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Fleeing from the madness of the jungle
Karl Groves <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> stumbled into news:alt.www.webmaster
and said:

> OK, this was obviously partially my fault, but I've been banging my head
> against my computer for over an hour trying to track down an error in a
> SQL
> query, only to find out that my problem was a reserved word that didn't
> exist until mysql 5. MySQL's lame error messages were completely
> unhelpful and, in fact, innacurate. fsckers!


I feel your pain - but one hour is less than typical for that particular
can of maggots :)

the b*st*rds[1] always save the best words for themselves

[1] the writers of SQL engines
--
William Tasso

http://williamtasso.com/words/what-is-usenet.asp
John Bokma

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Karl Groves <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:

> OK, this was obviously partially my fault, but I've been banging my
> head against my computer for over an hour trying to track down an
> error in a SQL query, only to find out that my problem was a reserved
> word that didn't exist until mysql 5. MySQL's lame error messages
> were completely unhelpful and, in fact, innacurate. fsckers!


just curious, what was the error message, and what was the word?

--
John Need help with SEO? Get started with a SEO report of your site:

--> http://johnbokma.com/websitedesign/seo-expert-help.html
Karl Groves

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

John Bokma <john@castleamber.com> wrote in
news:Xns987BA56EBF57Ccastleamber@130.133.1.4:

> Karl Groves <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:
>
>
> just curious, what was the error message, and what was the word?
>


Error message was the standard "There was an error in your SQL syntax,
please check the manual for...."

The word was "connection".

Error messages like that are completely unhelpful. Obviously the system
detected the reserved word, so what's so hard about saying that the error
was a reserved word, rather than just a generic error? Even PHP's errors
are clearer than that.

--
Karl Groves
www.karlcore.com
John Bokma

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Karl Groves <karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> wrote:

> John Bokma <john@castleamber.com> wrote in
> news:Xns987BA56EBF57Ccastleamber@130.133.1.4:
>
>
> Error message was the standard "There was an error in your SQL syntax,
> please check the manual for...."


Ah, yeah that one :-)

> The word was "connection".
>
> Error messages like that are completely unhelpful. Obviously the
> system detected the reserved word, so what's so hard about saying that
> the error was a reserved word, rather than just a generic error? Even
> PHP's errors are clearer than that.


Yup, I agree 100% with you.

--
John Need help with SEO? Get started with a SEO report of your site:

--> http://johnbokma.com/websitedesign/seo-expert-help.html
Beauregard T. Shagnasty

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Karl Groves wrote:

> OK, this was obviously partially my fault, but I've been banging my
> head against my computer for over an hour trying to track down an
> error in a SQL query, only to find out that my problem was a reserved
> word that didn't exist until mysql 5. MySQL's lame error messages
> were completely unhelpful and, in fact, innacurate. fsckers!


Now you know why I stopped using English words as variables 25 years
ago. <g>

"glblconnection" ...

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck
Toby Inkster

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

William Tasso wrote:

> the b*st*rds[1] always save the best words for themselves
> [1] the writers of SQL engines


Don't blame the bastards -- it's not their fault. CONNECTION is a reserved
word in the SQL-92 standard.

Of course, most databases will allow you to use most reserved words as
identifiers most of the time. Mostly.

--
Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS
Contact Me ~ http://tobyinkster.co.uk/contact

Karl Groves

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Toby Inkster <usenet200611@tobyinkster.co.uk> wrote in
news:851q24-n6e.ln1@ophelia.g5n.co.uk:

> William Tasso wrote:
>
>
> Don't blame the bastards -- it's not their fault. CONNECTION is a
> reserved word in the SQL-92 standard.
>


Yeah, the error really was my own dumb fault, but there's no need for such
uninformative error messages.

--
Karl Groves
www.karlcore.com
MGW

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:55:44 -0600, Karl Groves
<karl@NOSPAMkarlcore.com> scrawled:

> Toby Inkster <usenet200611@tobyinkster.co.uk> wrote in
> news:851q24-n6e.ln1@ophelia.g5n.co.uk:
>
>
> Yeah, the error really was my own dumb fault, but there's no need for such
> uninformative error messages.


I sympathize - I was just trying to use online enrollment to sign my
son up for a course. The error message said to press the Prompt
button, but there was nothing that could even remotely fit that
description.

--
MGW
Statistics means never having to say you're certain.

(Note: my Hotmail address is seldom checked)
John Hosking

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

MGW wrote:
> I sympathize - I was just trying to use online enrollment to sign my
> son up for a course. The error message said to press the Prompt
> button, but there was nothing that could even remotely fit that
> description.
>

What do you wanna bet that "Prompt" was a variable that never got
replaced in the message text (only on the button)?

--
Poster
MGW

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

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On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 03:35:35 +0100, John Hosking
<John@Hosking.name.DROPTHE.invalid> scrawled:

> MGW wrote:
> What do you wanna bet that "Prompt" was a variable that never got
> replaced in the message text (only on the button)?


Probably, but there wasn't any button that it could have refered to!

This, btw, is one of the worst websites I've had the misfortune to
have to deal with. The Search function is broken (there's a Search
box, but it takes you to an error page) and it's virtually impossible
to find any useful information, such as faculty and staff email
addresses.

--
MGW
Statistics means never having to say you're certain.

(Note: my Hotmail address is seldom checked)
Charles Sweeney

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Karl Groves wrote

> The word was "connection".
>
> Error messages like that are completely unhelpful. Obviously the
> system detected the reserved word, so what's so hard about saying that
> the error was a reserved word, rather than just a generic error? Even
> PHP's errors are clearer than that.


Aye. Sometimes an error message can be more of a hindrance than a help!
I'm very conscious of reserved names, and try to avoid anything that might
be remotely like one. I once printed them off...they're around somewhere!

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com
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