Unable to get Table Name using variable string MYSQL Error - php

Question

if ($_GET['category'] == "ebooks")
{ $tableName = $smallsubcodewithoutspace.'_ebooks';
$sectionTitle = "Ebook";
}
elseif ($_GET['category'] == "syllabus")
{ $tableName = $smallsubcodewithoutspace.'_syllabus';
$sectionTitle = "Syllabus";
}
elseif ($_GET['category'] == "pnotes")
{ $tableName = $smallsubcodewithoutspace.'_pnotes';
$sectionTitle = "Practical Note";
}
elseif ($_GET['category'] == "assignments")
{ $tableName = $smallsubcodewithoutspace.'_assignments';
$sectionTitle = "Assignment";
}
elseif ($_GET['category'] == "tnotes")
{ $tableName = $smallsubcodewithoutspace.'_tnotes';
$sectionTitle = "Theory Notes";
}
//if form has been submitted process it
if(isset($_POST['submit'])){
$_POST = array_map( 'stripslashes', $_POST );
//collect form data
extract($_POST);
//very basic validation
if($contentTitle ==''){
$error[] = 'Please enter the Content Title !';
}
if($contentLink ==''){
$error[] = "Please enter the Content Link !";
}
if(!isset($error)){
try {
//insert into database
$stmt = $db->prepare("INSERT INTO `$tableName` (contentTitle,contentLink,contentAuthor) VALUES (:contentTitle, :contentLink, :contentAuthor)") ;
$stmt->execute(array(
':contentTitle' => $contentTitle,
':contentLink' => $contentLink,
':contentAuthor' => $contentAuthor
));
//redirect to index page
header('Location: add-content.php?notallowed=true');
exit;
} catch(PDOException $e) {
echo $e->getMessage();
}
}
}
//check for any errors
if(isset($error)){
foreach($error as $error){
echo '<div align="center" class="alertpk"><div class="alert alert-warning" role="alert">'.$error.'</div></div>';
}
}
Actually, problem started when I tried inserting Table name with variable. Tables exist in database. total 5 databases are there in which I will insert data according to users selection, but when form executed, a error is thrown saying:
SQLstate[42000]: SYNTAX ERROR OR ACCESS VIOLATION 1103, INCORRECT TABLE NAME ' '

Answer 1

The error INCORRECT TABLE NAME '' error means you don't have a value in $tableName. Your $_GET['category'] is not picking up a recognized value or the extract($_POST) is changing $tableName to an empty value.

Answer 2

I got the solution, I shifted tableVariables section inside try and its now working.

Answer 3

var dump your variable, post to see what value comes up.