Phil

I think you need to specify the columns explicitly for something like this to work. Also you may want to be careful about the kind of quotes you're using (and you may not need any, if your columns and tables aren't named after keywords). So how about

"INSERT INTO $db.$table SELECT '',category,''.'' FROM $db.$oldtable"
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update: usually if "things don't work" there are error messages. Check your database log and the output of your perl program. This is part of a perl program, yes?

update2: please don't just erase your question and replace it with an answer that doesn't even do what you're asking.

my $sql = "INSERT INTO $db.$table (category) SELECT $oldtable.category
+ FROM $oldtable" ;
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Can you show your Perl code?

Your update made all other reply invalid and we need to guess your original question. Please revert the node and put your original questions back and add current comments as either a new node or under label "Update"

Your new comment is :

 
update table set column12 = column1
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However, I did notice something in the table..... My keywords column has a trailing ',' at the end of it. Is there any way to get rid of this? I know that it probably will not affect the column for searching or anything like that, it is just an aesthetic thing.

Thanks!
Jim

Update:
In this new comment you say that you have some prob with ','. How shall we answer without knowing the original question?

Cheers !

--VC