CodeIgniter User Guide Version 1.6.1


Database Forge Class

The Database Forge Class contains functions that help you manage your database.

Table of Contents

Initializing the Forge Class

Important:  In order to initialize the Forge class, your database driver must already be running, since the forge class relies on it.

Load the Forge Class as follows:

$this->load->dbforge()

Once initialized you will access the functions using the $this->dbforge object:

$this->dbforge->some_function()

$this->dbforge->create_database('db_name')

Permits you to create the database specified in the first parameter. Returns TRUE/FALSE based on success or failure:

if ($this->dbforge->create_database('my_db'))
{
    echo 'Database created!';
}

$this->dbforge->drop_database('db_name')

Permits you to drop the database specified in the first parameter. Returns TRUE/FALSE based on success or failure:

if ($this->dbforge->drop_database('my_db'))
{
    echo 'Database deleted!';
}

Creating and Dropping Tables

There are several things you may wish to do when creating tables. Add fields, add keys to the table, alter columns. CodeIgniter provides a mechanism for this.

Adding fields

Fields are created via an associative array. Within the array you must include a 'type' key that relates to the datatype of the field. For example, INT, VARCHAR, TEXT, etc. Many datatypes (for example VARCHAR) also require a 'constraint' key.

$fields = array(
                        'users' => array(
                                                 'type' => 'varchar',
                                                 'constraint' => '100',
                                          ),
                );

// will translate to "users VARCHAR(100)" when the field is added.

Additionally, the following key/values can be used:

$fields = array(
                        'blog_id' => array(
                                                 'type' => 'INT',
                                                 'constraint' => 5,
                                                 'unsigned' => TRUE,
                                                 'auto_increment' => TRUE
                                          ),
                        'blog_title' => array(
                                                 'type' => 'VARCHAR',
                                                 'constraint' => '100',
                                          ),
                        'blog_author' => array(
                                                 'type' =>'VARCHAR',
                                                 'constraint' => '100',
                                                 'default' => 'King of Town',
                                          ),
                        'blog_description' => array(
                                                 'type' => 'TEXT',
                                                 'null' => TRUE,
                                          ),
                )
);

After the fields have been defined, they can be added using $this->dbforge->add_field($fields); followed by a call to the create_table() function.

$this->dbforge->add_field()

The add fields function will accept the above array.

Passing strings as fields

If you know exactly how you want a field to be created, you can pass the string into the field definitions with add_field()

$this->dbforge->add_field("label varchar(100) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'default label'");

Note: Multiple calls to add_field() are cumulative.

Creating an id field

There is a special exception for creating id fields. A field with type id will automatically be assinged as an INT(9) auto_incrementing Primary Key.

$this->dbforge->add_field('id');
// gives id INT(9) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT

Adding Keys

Generally speaking, you'll want your table to have Keys. This is accomplished with $this->dbforge->add_key('field'). An optional second parameter set to TRUE will make it a primary key. Note that add_key() must be followed by a call to create_table().

$this->dbforge->add_key('blog_id', TRUE);
// gives PRIMARY KEY (blog_id)

$this->dbforge->add_key('blog_name');
// gives KEY (blog_name)

Creating a table

After fields and keys have been declared, you can create a new table with

$this->dbforge->create_table('table_name');
// gives CREATE TABLE table_name

An optional second parameter set to TRUE adds an "IF NOT EXISTS" clause into the definition

$this->dbforge->create_table('table_name', TRUE);
// gives CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS table_name

Dropping a table

Executes a DROP TABLE sql

$this->dbforge->drop_table('table_name');
// gives DROP TABLE IF EXISTS table_name

Modifying Tables

$this->dbforge->add_column()

The add_column() function is used to modify an existing table. It accepts the same field array as above, and can be used for an unlimited number of additional fields.

$fields = array(
                        'preferences' => array('type' => 'TEXT')
);
$this->dbforge->add_column('table_name', $fields);

// gives ALTER TABLE table_name ADD preferences TEXT

$this->dbforge->drop_column()

Used to remove a column from a table.

$this->dbforge->drop_column('table_name', 'column_to_drop');

$this->dbforge->modify_column()

The usage of this function is identical to add_column(), except it alters an existing column rather than adding a new one. In order to use it you must add a "name" key into the field defining array.

$fields = array(
                        'old_name' => array(
                                                         'name' => 'new_name',
                                                         'type' => 'TEXT',
                                                ),
);
$this->dbforge->modify_column('sites', $fields);

// gives ALTER TABLE sites CHANGE old_name new_name TEXT