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phpmysqlsyntax-errormysql-error-1064

MySQL: Is it possible to shorten error messages?

I have heard a lot of people complain about this, and justifiably so. Many MySQL error messages are ridiculously long: 

You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near...

This gets especially annoying in environments that only show you the first half of that string. So the question is: Is it possible to get a shorter version of that string? Something like: Syntax error near... - which is really the juicy part of that message.

Solution

  • Note:The steps provided here are only for Linux, you might be using some other OS then use respective editor and commands

    MySQL stores error message file at /usr/share/mysql/english/errmsg.sys where english is the language you want to use.

    Note:You need to have super user privileges

    Step 1. Take backup of existing errmsg.sys (so that you can revert if some problem occured

      $sudo cp /usr/share/mysql/english/errmsg.sys ~/errmsg.sys.bkp

    Step 2. Open /usr/share/mysql/english/errmsg.sys in vi editor.

    $sudo vi /usr/share/mysql/english/errmsg.sys

    Step 3. Search for "You have an" in errmsg.sys

    in vi editor for searching try this way-->  /You have an [press enter]

    It will get you to the string "You have an error...." as show in screen-shot enter image description here

    Step 4. Edit that error message as per your need. I've deleted string You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the and kept just right syntax to use

    Check below screen-shot. enter image description here

    Step 5. Save and Exit.

    in vi editor to save and exit-->   :x! [press enter]     here ! is added to override read-only file

    Step 6. Restart mysql service.

    $sudo mysql restart

    step 7. check error message (I'm checking in phpMyAdmin)

    enter image description here

    In this answer I've updated error message You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near... similarly you can update other standard error message as well.

    Hope it helped ! :D