[cfgeeks] OK calling in the cavalry

[Gilbert Young]

Ruby Q.  I am trying to compare two variables that are strings, one  
taken from a SQL command, one taken from user input earlier (ticker):

snippet:
------------------
sth = dbh.execute("SHOW TABLES LIKE '#{ticker}'")
tr = sth.fetch
puts tr
if tr == ticker
puts "table #{ticker} exists"
else
puts "table #{ticker} does not exist"
end
puts tr
sth.finish
------------------
end snippet

seems like the "if tr == ticker" line isn't doing like I wish it to,  
and is doing exactly like I am telling it to, which i'm not sure what  
that is.  I have tested this and tr and ticker do appear to print out  
exactly the same.  no matter what I type, either a table I know to  
exist or one that I know not to exist, it consistently prints out  
"table XYZ does not exist"


Below is the output of two test runs:

-----------------
gilbert-youngs-powerbook-g4-12:~/projects/stock gjy$ ruby testthedb.rb
Enter ticker symbol: sdgf

nil
table sdgf does not exist
nil
gilbert-youngs-powerbook-g4-12:~/projects/stock gjy$ ruby testthedb.rb
Enter ticker symbol: testtable

testtable
table testtable does not exist
testtable
gilbert-youngs-powerbook-g4-12:~/projects/stock gjy$
-----------------

Eventually I will have other logic in there that will either create  
or append any needed data to a table.  But right now i'd just like to  
see the logic work :).

OBTW this is the most graceful way I have found in ruby to determine  
whether a table exists or not, and, to (attempt to) execute logic  
based on if it exists or not.

The above has the gems mysql and dbi in use, fwiw.

TIA,

Gil