How to find DB2 tables that do not exist

Question

I have a list of tables, and I want to check which ones do not currently exist in the target database, I can't figure out a query to return only the tables from the list that do not exist? I am running DB2 9.7.

Answer 1

If the list of tables you want to check against is in a form that you can query it would be something like this. The query below will return all tables NOT in the select table query (that you'll have to provide):

select * from sysibm.systables
where owner = 'SCHEMA'
and type = 'T'
and name not in ( /* select query to return your list of tables */ );

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Update post comment:

If the tables are listed in a flat file (.txt, .csv) and the number is manageable. You should be able to list them out in a coma seperated form like this (at least you can with other sql languages I'm more familiar with).

select * from sysibm.systables
where owner = 'SCHEMA'
and type = 'T'
and name not in ( 'table1', 'table2', 'table3', 'table4', 'tableA', 'tableB' );

Otherwise you might have to build a quick temp table to import all the table names into and go with the first example still.

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Update post post comment:

And finally, after your most recent comment, I realize I was mis-understanding your question and had it backwards. To flip it and find the tables from the list that aren't in the SCHEMA you'd do something like this. (after importing the list into a temporary table).

select mytablename from templistoftables
where mytablename not in 
(select name from sysibm.systables
where owner = 'SCHEMA'
and type = 'T');