Member Avatar for kevin wood

i am trying to set up this db and i am getting a parse error which it says it is on line 24 i cannot see the error. help need

$sql="CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `merc_users` (
			
			`****` int not null,
			`******` varchar (250) not null,
			`*****` varchar(250) not null,
			`******` varchar(250) not null,
			`*****` varchar(250) not null,
			`******` varchar (250) not null,
			`*******` varchar(250) not null,
			`****` varchar(250) not null,
			`****` varchar(250) not null,
			`******` varchar (250) not null,
			`********` varchar(250) not null,
			`******` int not null
		)";	
		mysql_query($sql) or die (mysql_error() mysql_errno()); (line 24)
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  • Latest Post Latest Post by nav33n

Dani AI

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Brief diagnosis and context: a PHP "Parse error: unexpected T_STRING" is a PHP syntax problem, not a MySQL error. In this thread correctly identified a missing concatenation between two expressions as the immediate cause. Because a parse error prevents the interpreter from building a correct token stream, fixing that syntax issue can change which line the runtime later reports as the SQL error — which explains seeing a different line number when the die() call was altered.

Practical debugging checklist:

  • Run PHP’s syntax check (lint) or enable full error reporting so the exact parse error is shown (this quickly isolates missing operators, quotes, or braces).
  • Look for invisible characters (UTF‑8 BOM) or accidental short tags; these often shift line numbers.
  • Reduce the SQL statement to a minimal string or output it to a log to confirm balanced quotes, commas and parentheses before executing.
  • Watch for reserved words used as column names — wrap identifiers in backticks if needed.

Notes on account/db creation and safety: creating users or databases from a script requires administrative (root) privileges; many shared hosts disallow this, which is why control panels are commonly used. Never embed root credentials in web‑accessible code; if administrative SQL must run, restrict it to a secure administrative environment and remove credentials afterward.

Modern recommendations: avoid the old mysql_* extension in new projects — use mysqli or PDO with prepared statements and structured error/exception handling. Credit to for spotting the concatenation issue, and to for confirming that the control‑panel route can be an effective fallback when host permissions are limited.

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Member Avatar for nav33n

mysql_query($sql) or die (mysql_error() mysql_errno());

Try this.

mysql_query($sql) or die (mysql_error(). mysql_errno());

Notice the concatenation operator .
Cheers,
Naveen

Member Avatar for kevin wood

when i didint have the mysql_errno in and just the mysql_error it was saying that the error was on line 15 which was the fourth one down in the table create syntax. i got the tables set up in the end but i had to log on to the control panel to set it up.

Member Avatar for nav33n

There is nothing wrong with your create table query. The only thing that I found missing was the dot operator. Do you still have the error ? If yes, you need to post your complete code as I don't see any other errors!

Member Avatar for kevin wood

i am just trying to replicate the error now i will get post my results back in a minute.

Member Avatar for kevin wood

is it possible to create a new db on the server with a new user name and password without having to login to the phpmyadmin section on the control panel on the server?

i have had a look around but all the information i have found is already using a user name and passwrod to make the connection. I want to be able to create everything from the beginning. could you point me in the right direction of a good tutorial on this.

Member Avatar for nav33n

is it possible to create a new db on the server with a new user name and password without having to login to the phpmyadmin section on the control panel on the server?

You have to create a new user (and grant required permissions) using 'root' credentials.
Eg.

<?php
$con = mysql_connect("localhost","root");
mysql_select_db("test");

$query = "Create user 'naveen'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password1'";
mysql_query($query);
$query2 = "GRANT SELECT,INSERT,UPDATE,DELETE ON *.* TO 'naveen'@'localhost'";
mysql_query($query2);

mysql_close($con);
echo mysql_connect("localhost","naveen","password1");
?>

I am sorry! I don't have a link to any good tutorial.

Member Avatar for kevin wood

thanks for the reply. sorry i took so long to get back i am in the middle of creating a user guide for the email system. so if i run that code and where it says local host could i change that to the host name and it would run as intended.

Member Avatar for nav33n

Yep. It will create a user called "naveen" with password "password1" and grant SELECT,INSERT,UPDATE,DELETE permissions for that user.

commented: one of the most helpfull people i have come across +1
Member Avatar for kevin wood

thanks for the reply you are also a great help

Member Avatar for nav33n

You are welcome!

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