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

Dan Badertscher
Dan Badertscher
5,327 Points
Posted by Dan Badertscher
Dan Badertscher
5,327 Points

(MySQL) Error: Error formatting SQL query: empty string given as argument for ! char

I am getting the following error message:

" 19:11:32 SELECT * FROM movies LIMIT 0, 1000 Error: Error formatting SQL query: empty string given as argument for ! character "

after running this command:

SELECT * FROM movies ;

How can I get this command to work properly?

2 Answers

Shawn Flanigan
PLUS
Shawn Flanigan
Courses Plus Student 15,815 Points
Shawn Flanigan
Shawn Flanigan
Courses Plus Student 15,815 Points

Hi Dan,

According to this post on Stack Overflow, you may not have your database selected. In the left panel, try double-clicking the database you want to use (it will be bold when selected), then run your query again.

Hope that helps!

Stephen Moss
Stephen Moss
2,285 Points
Stephen Moss
Stephen Moss
2,285 Points

Thanks! Had the same problem

Tammy Burke
Tammy Burke
9,720 Points

Woohoo! Love a simple answer.

anthony crowell
PLUS
anthony crowell
Courses Plus Student 10,953 Points
anthony crowell
anthony crowell
Courses Plus Student 10,953 Points

Hi I'm not sure how many records are in that table but you might try upping your LIMIT and using the schema name: SELECT * FROM treehouse.movies LIMIT 0, 2000;

Matt Krey
Matt Krey
5,333 Points

Thank you, Shawn. This worked for me as well... Lots of interesting little challenges here with the differences between the videos and what we see with the latest version of MySQL.