You're very close:

INSERT INTO `$db`.`$table`
VALUES ( SELECT  '', 'author', '',* FROM `$db`.`$oldtable` )

[download]

Of course, I assume those values you mentioned were good to go in, and wouldn't cause it to clear or override defaults in the table (if it would, then you'll want to specify which fields you're inserting into by name, which takes a bit more work).

Mysql also specifically has a INSERT...SELECTsyntax that's supposed to correctly handle autonumber fields: 

INSERT INTO `$db`.`$table`
SELECT  '', 'author', '',* FROM `$db`.`$oldtable`

[download]

Update: dragonchild is right. I need to stop giving Oracle answers for mysql questions. (blah...lack of subqueries)

In reply to Re: Perl/MySQL table data copy by jhourcle
in thread Perl/MySQL table data copy by rsiedl

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