numeric table names

I want to create a table with numeric and partly numeric names such as '1' and '1-2'. Reading the mysql docs, tables can have numeric names as long as they are string literals. The table names are stored as a session array. I tried casting the values as string like this:
$Ref = (string)$_SESSSION['Ref'];
then creating the table like so
newTable = "create table ('$Ref') (column names)";
but this isn't working. Has anyone done this before? Am I going about this all wring? Any help guidance appreciated.

I created a table called '2' in mysql console using:
create table `2` (column1, column2,.....);
How can I do this using php if the table name is $var?

$sql = "CREATE TABLE `$var` ( column1 type1, column2 type2, ... )";

But it's almost always indicative of a problematic DB design when you find yourself creating tables dynamically in PHP (or ASP or JSP or...) code. 95% or more of the time it means you should have found another way to do this.

I tried your solution Old Pendant but it did't work got this errror
Incorrect Table name.

$sql = "CREATE TABLE `$var` ( column1 type1, column2 type2, ... )";

But it's almost always indicative of a problematic DB design when you find yourself creating tables dynamically in PHP (or ASP or JSP or...) code. 95% or more of the time it means you should have found another way to do this.
Totally agree. Not to mention giving a table a numeric name which will be very much not descriptive of the data it contains.

As for the OP, try echoing out your $sql variable after you've assigned it a value. That might help you figure out why the query is failing.

<shrug>well, I suppose it could be that the PHP mysql library does't allow it. I don't use PHP, so dunno.

Did you debug??

For example, did you do
echo "<hr>DEBUG SQL: " . $sql . "<hr>";

??

Great minds not only run in the same gutter, they run at the same speed. <grin/>

If it works in the mysql console, I can't see why it would work with php, possibly, probably different syntax. At least I hope!

PHP doesn't have a MySQL syntax. It acts as the console TO MySQL. So if it worked in the MySQL console, it should work with PHP. Like Old Pedant said, did you echo the query? Did it show as expected?

Got it working.
$sql = "create table `$var` (colum names(types))";

How is that different from what I gave you???

Oh, well...

Now can you explain *WHY* you are doing this? I still think it shows the likelihood of a bad DB design.