Question Re: Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database in Technology Q&A

Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database

Former Member — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:55:31 GMT

I created a Sybase database emp_details using SQL Anywhere and Sybase Central. I had given emp/emp as dba username/password while creating.

The db got created and the files were generated in the given folder.

When I tried running the below script using Ineractive SQL:

use master
go

if exists (select 1 from master..sysdatabases where name='emp_details')
    checkpoint emp_details
go

It threw the following exception

Could not execute statement.
Syntax error near 'checkpoint' on line 2
SQLCODE=-131, ODBC 3 State="42000"
Line 4, column 1

Haven't been able to figure out what exactly the syntax issue is and have been stuck up with this for a while.

Any ideas?

Edit: Issue got resolved by installing Sybase ASE. Was able to run the script as it is.

Re: Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database

MarkCulp — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:57:37 GMT

I think you are mixing dialect ... try doing this:

if exists (select 1 from master..sysdatabases where name='emp_details') then
    checkpoint;
end if;

Hmmm, but looking at what you are trying to do it looks like you may NOT be connected to a SQL Anywhere database because 'sysdatabases' table does not exist in a typical SQL Anywhere database. Are you connecting to ASE?

Re: Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database

Former Member — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:11:35 GMT

@Mark Culp. I am trying to connect to an SQL Anywhere database, which now i think is wrong. All we have is the script and info that it should be a Sybase DB. So should we create a Sybase ASE DB? do they have the sysdatabases. If yes, can it be done using Sybase Central?

Re: Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database

MarkCulp — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:51:07 GMT

Where or from whom did you get the script? I would go back to where-ever you got the script and ask the owner what type of database should be used.

If the database should be ASE then you should ask the ASE forum (see FAQ for details on newsgroups ... but do it quick because I believe all of the newsgroups are getting set to read-only on Dec. 1st). Note: I am not an ASE expert. You should likely use some ASE tool (isql) to run the script against an ASE database.

Re: Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database

VolkerBarth — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 03:27:45 GMT

FWIW, ASE (as MS SQL Server) uses an architecure where each database server instance has one particular master database and as many "attached" databases as one likes, and one can list any database via the master's sysdatabases table. - That's what the script seems to try to, and so I would conclude you're using ASE.

In contrast, a SQL Anywhere database server can run several databases, too, but does not use a particular master database, so each database is managed on its own, and there is no general sysdatabases table. Of course, there are other means to list all databases running on a SQL Anywhere server.

Re: Syntax error on executing a script in Sybase database

Former Member — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:47:21 GMT

looks like checkpoint is not allowed inside if..go block, try directly running it.