+/**
+ * Plugins may load this file to gain access to special helper functions for
+ * plugin installation. This file is not included by WordPress and it is
+ * recommended, to prevent fatal errors, that this file is included using
+ * require_once().
+ *
+ * These functions are not optimized for speed, but they should only be used
+ * once in a while, so speed shouldn't be a concern. If it is and you are
+ * needing to use these functions a lot, you might experience time outs. If you
+ * do, then it is advised to just write the SQL code yourself.
+ *
+ * <code>
+ * check_column('wp_links', 'link_description', 'mediumtext');
+ * if (check_column($wpdb->comments, 'comment_author', 'tinytext'))
+ * echo "ok\n";
+ *
+ * $error_count = 0;
+ * $tablename = $wpdb->links;
+ * // check the column
+ * if (!check_column($wpdb->links, 'link_description', 'varchar(255)')) {
+ * $ddl = "ALTER TABLE $wpdb->links MODIFY COLUMN link_description varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '' ";
+ * $q = $wpdb->query($ddl);
+ * }
+ *
+ * if (check_column($wpdb->links, 'link_description', 'varchar(255)')) {
+ * $res .= $tablename . ' - ok <br />';
+ * } else {
+ * $res .= 'There was a problem with ' . $tablename . '<br />';
+ * ++$error_count;
+ * }
+ * </code>
+ *
+ * @package WordPress
+ * @subpackage Plugin
+ */