SQL command to remove prefix from a set of tables I am no DBA. I have a situation with a MySQL database (5.0.51a) where I want to remove a 'dr_' prefix to all tables having this prefix (about 110 tables). I could rename them one by one of course, but I was wondering whether there was an SQL command to perform this in one shoot?

To make it clear, a table called dr_hjkd would have to be renamed hjkd. A table called rfefd would keep the same name. Thanks.
Wow I answered a similar question a year ago.

Nevertheless, your question is unique.

Here it goes:

If you are renaming all tables in the database mydb, here is the query you need:

SELECT 
CONCAT('ALTER TABLE ',db,'.',old_tblname,' RENAME ',db,'.',new_tblname,';')
FROM
(
    SELECT
        table_schema db,
        table_name old_tblname,
        substr(table_name,4) new_tblname
    FROM
        information_schema.tables
    WHERE
        SUBSTR(table_name,1,3)='dr_'
        AND table_schema = 'mydb'
) A;


Run this in the OS and capture it to a SQL file. Then, execute the SQL file.

mysql -u... -p... -AN -e"SELECT CONCAT('ALTER TABLE ',db,'.',old_tblname,' RENAME ',db,'.',new_tblname,';') FROM (SELECT table_schema db,table_name old_tblname,substr(table_name,4) FROM information_schema.tables WHERE SUBSTR(table_name,1,3)='dr_' AND table_schema = 'mydb') A" &gt; BigRename.sql
mysql -u... -p... &lt; BigRename.sql


If you are renaming all tables in all databases, here is the query you need:

SELECT 
CONCAT('ALTER TABLE ',db,'.',old_tblname,' RENAME ',db,'.',new_tblname,';')
FROM
(
    SELECT
        table_schema db,
        table_name old_tblname,
        substr(table_name,4) new_tblname
    FROM
        information_schema.tables
    WHERE
        SUBSTR(table_name,1,3)='dr_'
) A;


Run this in the OS and capture it to a SQL file. Then, execute the SQL file.

mysql -u... -p... -AN -e"SELECT CONCAT('ALTER TABLE ',db,'.',old_tblname,' RENAME ',db,'.',new_tblname,';') FROM (SELECT table_schema db,table_name old_tblname,substr(table_name,4) FROM information_schema.tables WHERE SUBSTR(table_name,1,3)='dr_') A" &gt; BigRename.sql
mysql -u... -p... &lt; BigRename.sql