# SHOW CREATE TABLE
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Analyzes an existing table named `table_name` to generate the query that created it.

## Synopsis
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```
SHOW CREATE TABLE [db_name.]table_name
```

## Parameters
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**TABLE [db\_name.]table\_name**  
The `db_name` parameter is optional. If omitted, the context defaults to the current database.   
The table name is required.

## Examples
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```
SHOW CREATE TABLE orderclickstoday;
```

```
SHOW CREATE TABLE `salesdata.orderclickstoday`;
```

## Troubleshooting
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If you use the AWS Glue [CreateTable](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/glue/latest/webapi/API_CreateTable.html) API operation or the CloudFormation [https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/aws-resource-glue-table.html](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/aws-resource-glue-table.html) template to create a table for use in Athena without specifying the `TableType` property and then run a DDL query like `SHOW CREATE TABLE` or `MSCK REPAIR TABLE`, you can receive the error message FAILED: NullPointerException Name is null. 

To resolve the error, specify a value for the [TableInput](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/glue/latest/webapi/API_TableInput.html) `TableType` attribute as part of the AWS Glue `CreateTable` API call or [CloudFormation template](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/aws-properties-glue-table-tableinput.html). Possible values for `TableType` include `EXTERNAL_TABLE` or `VIRTUAL_VIEW`.

This requirement applies only when you create a table using the AWS Glue `CreateTable` API operation or the `AWS::Glue::Table` template. If you create a table for Athena by using a DDL statement or an AWS Glue crawler, the `TableType` property is defined for you automatically.