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Description

This error indicates that you have attempted to create a spatial index on a `GEOMETRY` column using an index type that MySQL does not support for spatial data. MySQL's spatial indexes primarily rely on R-tree indexing, and specifying incompatible types like `BTREE` or `HASH` will result in this error.

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Error Message

The index type %s is not supported for spatial indexes.

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Known Causes

3 known causes

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Incorrect Index Type in SQL

The `CREATE INDEX` statement explicitly specified an index type (e.g., `USING BTREE`, `USING HASH`) that is not compatible with spatial indexes in MySQL.

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Missing RTREE Specification

The `USING RTREE` clause was omitted when creating a spatial index, and the default index type for the table's storage engine is not suitable for spatial data.

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Incompatible Storage Engine Defaults

The chosen storage engine or its configuration might not correctly support or default to R-tree indexes for spatial data, leading to this conflict.

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Solutions

3 solutions available

1. Use Supported Index Types for Spatial Data easy

Replace unsupported index types with the correct ones for spatial data.

1

Identify the table and column(s) causing the error. These are typically columns with spatial data types (e.g., POINT, LINESTRING, POLYGON) that have an index defined on them.

2

Determine which index types are supported for spatial indexes in your MySQL version. Generally, `SPATIAL` indexes are the only supported type. Other index types like `BTREE` or `HASH` are not compatible.

3

Drop the unsupported index and create a `SPATIAL` index instead.

ALTER TABLE your_table_name DROP INDEX index_name;
ALTER TABLE your_table_name ADD SPATIAL INDEX spatial_index_name (spatial_column_name);

2. Ensure Spatial Column is Properly Defined medium

Verify that the column intended for spatial data is of a recognized spatial data type.

1

Examine the table schema to confirm that the column on which you are trying to create a spatial index is indeed defined with a MySQL spatial data type.

SHOW CREATE TABLE your_table_name;

2

If the column is not a spatial data type (e.g., it's a `VARCHAR` or `INT` storing coordinate strings), you will need to convert it to a suitable spatial type like `POINT`, `LINESTRING`, `POLYGON`, `GEOMETRY`, etc. This may involve data transformation.

ALTER TABLE your_table_name MODIFY COLUMN spatial_column_name POINT;

3

Once the column has a correct spatial data type, create a `SPATIAL` index on it.

ALTER TABLE your_table_name ADD SPATIAL INDEX spatial_index_name (spatial_column_name);

3. Check MySQL Version and Spatial Index Support medium

Confirm that your MySQL version supports spatial indexes and the specific spatial data types you are using.

1

Determine your current MySQL server version.

SELECT VERSION();

2

Consult the official MySQL documentation for your specific version to understand its spatial data type and index support. Older versions might have limited or no support for spatial indexes.

3

If your MySQL version is too old, consider upgrading to a version that provides robust spatial indexing capabilities (e.g., MySQL 5.7 and later).

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Related Errors

5 related errors

MySQL Error 3729: Unsupported Index Type for Spatial