Delete tables

  • How can I delete some database tables without risk of ruining anything I want to keep?
    In a WP install I have some left-over tables made by a plugin I no longer use. An overeview of the database (using WP-DBManager – a must!) tells me there’s an “overhead” – unused, but occupied data space, I believe – of 141MB for one single table. With WP-DBManager its also possible to drop tables (deleting the whole table). But,
    is there ANY risk of doing that? I know which tables that are made by that outdated plugin.
    Thanks,
    Kjetil

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  • If a plugin created an entire database table. And you don’t need to keep any of the data created by that plugin (say, for future use), you can safely drop (delete) that table.

    If you’re at all hesitant about if you’ll need to be able to re-use the table in the future, you can always reclaim that overhead. The Optimize DB plugin will allow you to do that very simply, but you can also do it within phpMyAdmin.

    Thread Starter Kjetil

    (@kjetilgf)

    Thanks, that was quick!
    I know I don’t need thes tables anymore.
    (At least in the WP-DBManager overview they’re labelled as “tables” – with names like wp_firestats_excluded_ips – wp_firestats_hits etc.)
    What also scared me a bit, was the warning I got after selecting those tables and clicking Drop/delete (still in the WP-DBManager panel):
    “You Are About To Empty Or Drop The Selected Databases.”
    I guess the author has just mistyped that message…(?)

    Yep, those are tables (wp_) is your table prefix.

    As for the warning that the plugin gives, yes, that scares me too. It is possible to drop an entire database, so I’d be a bit leery. Make a backup first!. I’d be much more comfortable doing this from phpMyAdmin. Also, I’d contact the plugin author so that if it’s a typo it can get fixed.

    Thread Starter Kjetil

    (@kjetilgf)

    OK – I’ll check it out – and then be back
    Thanks a lot, Taylor

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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