How to populate custom tables with rows of data

Question

I'm trying to populate a custom table called countries, with two rows of data. The custom table is created when the plugin is activated. The rows need to be added when the plugin is activated. The code for the custom table is fine, & the custom table is created. My code so far:

register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'mp_insert_countries_rows' );
function mp_insert_countries_rows(){

global $wpdb;
$mp_insert_country = $wpdb->prefix . 'countries';

$insert_country_rows = $wpdb->insert(

$mp_insert_country,
array(
'id' => '1',
'name' => 'UK',
'labour_cost' => '20',
'overheads' => '0.45',
'profit' => '0.22'     
),

array(
'id' => '2',
'name' =>'China',
'labour_cost' => '6',
'overheads' => '0.27',
'profit' => '0.17'  
));  

 require_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php' );
 dbDelta(  $insert_country_rows );
}

How should I correct this? Thanks

Answer 1

Looking at this article on WP.org it seems you have to create your database first, with some SQL:

function mp_install_table() {
    global $wpdb;

    $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . "countries";

    $sql = "CREATE TABLE $table_name (
        id mediumint(9) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
        name tinytext NOT NULL,
        labour_cost INT,
        overheads FLOAT,
        profits FLOAT
    );";

   require_once( ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/upgrade.php' );
   dbDelta( $sql );
}

And after you have your table you can add rows:

function mp_install_country_data() {
    global $wpdb;
    $table_name = $wpdb->prefix . "countries";

    $wpdb->insert(
        $table_name,
        array(
            'id' => '1',
            'name' => 'UK',
            'labour_cost' => '20',
            'overheads' => '0.45',
            'profits' => '0.22'     
        ),

        array(
            'id' => '2',
            'name' =>'China',
            'labour_cost' => '6',
            'overheads' => '0.27',
            'profits' => '0.17'  
        )
    );  
}

I hope this helps.