How to fix 'Django: table doesn't exist' when migrating from someone else's project?

Question

I get the following error while trying to run the command python manage.py makemigrations invigilators:

django.db.utils.ProgrammingError: (1146, "Table 'mydatabase.invigilators_shift' doesn't exist")

class Shift(models.Model):
    shiftName = models.CharField(max_length=255,blank=False,unique=True)
    exam = models.ForeignKey(Exam,on_delete=models.CASCADE,related_name="shifts")
    startTime = models.TimeField()
    endTime = models.TimeField()

    def __str__(self):
        return self.shiftName

I have already cleared all previous migrations and an empty database is already created.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/27583744/django-table-doesnt-exist — Jagjeet Singh, Jan 11 '19 at 09:26
You have code that is trying to query the database before `makemigrations` runs. [Here is a similar question](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/45153674/programmingerror-relation-blah-blah-does-not-exist-trying-to-run-the-specifi). To help with your specific problem, you need to show the full traceback which will show where the query is occuring. — Alasdair, Jan 11 '19 at 10:32

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 09 '21 at 12:16

2

Try running these commands

python manage.py migrate <app_name> zero
delete all initial.py file under app migrations
python manage.py makemigrations
python manage.py migrate

answered Apr 09 '21 at 12:16

Anshu Pal

31
3

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 21 '22 at 18:48

0

In my case I get the table doesn't exist errors from forms.py. I then comment out the entries in forms.py that refer to a database table. Then I can run makemigrations and migrate. Then uncomment the lines and everything works. This has plagued me for multiple Django releases.

edited May 21 '22 at 18:48

obotezat

906
13
18

answered May 19 '22 at 19:02

A. Beckman

1
2
2

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 05 '21 at 05:39

First Step: Just "Cut" The all models from Models.py & paste that models to the any other text file or notepad.

Second Step: Just "Cut" the all forms from forms.py & paste at the the same text file at you pasted the Models.

Third Step: Make a Comment of all imported models & forms in views.py Because we don't want errors.

Fourth Step: After these three steps you have to just run the command "python manage.py migrate".

Fifth Step: After that command You have to just bring back all the models in models.py and all the forms in forms.py & uncomment all the imported forms and models of views.py.

Last Step: After these all steps you have to just run another two commands 1."python manage.py makemigrations" 2."python manage.py migrate"

& Done,It works.

Please avoid such detailed list of steps: "copy", "cut" and "comment" are not useful. Your list cannot be generalized as a good procedure as it is very close to your specific case and very vague "Make a Comment [...] Because we don't want errors". Be simple and provide examples. Hope that my comment can help you :) — Dos, Aug 05 '21 at 10:42

How to fix 'Django: table doesn't exist' when migrating from someone else's project?

3 Answers3