Detect if a table exists

I am writing an application that uses JDBC to connect to a database. I want to create the necessary tables when the application starts, but only if the tables dont' exists already. Is there a generic way to use JDBC to detect if a certain table exists? I think there is a way using the database's metadata tables and select statements, but I'm not sure if this will be available across all platforms. I really want to create the tables programmatically so the user doesn't have to worry about it.

Layne

You should probably do this in SQL and not in your java code per say. I don't know what all DB's support this syntax but I know in mysql you can do:

create table if not exists table_name....

I'm developing with MySQL, but I think the target platform will use an Access database (at least initially). I'll see if this syntax works with Access as well.

I would guess that I need to do it with SQL, but I want to be able to execute the SQL statement in my Java program via JDBC. I'll have to see if this will work for multiple platforms.

Layne

Layne,
Have you tried the "getTables()" method of the "java.sql.DatabaseMetaData" interface? Of-course, it is not guaranteed to be supported by every JDBC driver.

Good Luck,
Avi.

Originally posted by Avi Abrami:
Layne,
Have you tried the "getTables()" method of the "java.sql.DatabaseMetaData" interface? Of-course, it is not guaranteed to be supported by every JDBC driver.

Good Luck,
Avi.

Nope, I haven't come across that method yet. Thanks for the suggestion. Now that you mention it, I remember seeing a reference to the DatabseMetaData class, but I haven't looked at it further. It sounds like I should look at that class more closely. It might provide some solutions to other problems I hope to solve soon.

Layne