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Development Tools Database Foundations Installing MySQL Server and MySQL Workbench Running a Script and Using MySQL Workbench

Posted by taylor rosen
taylor rosen
1,258 Points

when I type in "SELECT * FROM movies;" it gives me "error: error formatting sql query: empty string given as argument...

...for ! character..." I typed the same thing as the instructor and clicked the lightning. I tried actors and got the same error

7 Answers

taylor rosen
taylor rosen
1,258 Points

nevermind, I was supposed to set the movie_db to default

Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

MOD edit: changed to Answer and marked as Best Answer as this has solved other students' issues with this part (including my own.).

Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hi Greg,

Whichever database is bold, that is the one that is 'set to default.

If you need to set one to default, you can: 1. double-click on it in the list. OR 2. right-click and choose 'set as default.' OR in the work-area, execute the command USE movie_db;

Hope this helps you.

Greg Robinson
Greg Robinson
10,798 Points
Greg Robinson
Greg Robinson
10,798 Points

Yes it does thank you ... found that out about 30 seconds ago lol,,,I'll just keep plodding on now ...thank you again for the response

Athoug Alsoughayer
Athoug Alsoughayer
7,949 Points
Athoug Alsoughayer
Athoug Alsoughayer
7,949 Points

Thank you for this answer. It really helped figure out the problem :)

Greg Robinson
Greg Robinson
10,798 Points
Greg Robinson
Greg Robinson
10,798 Points

Andrew Chalkley explains how to set a database as the default in the video following this one ...

richardhemmings
richardhemmings
1,613 Points
richardhemmings
richardhemmings
1,613 Points

I have exactly the same problem but now it works a treat.... only took me an hour how to set the mysql workbench up! I realised I had to set the credentials up in MAMP lol

Not done much with SQL before so this should really help me out.... hopefully

Happy SQL'ing lol

Michael O'Kane
Michael O'Kane
5,896 Points
Michael O'Kane
Michael O'Kane
5,896 Points

for anyone having a problem with this on my workbench (lastest?) it seems to only accept the full path

SELECT * FROM treehouse_movie_db.movies;

Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Do you have treehouse_movie_db set as your default database?

Michael O'Kane
Michael O'Kane
5,896 Points
Michael O'Kane
Michael O'Kane
5,896 Points

Think I got a bit ahead of myself. if you default the database you dont need to use the extended syntax. My problem was that I hadn't got to that part of the video yet.