public function scan_table($table_name = '')
    {

        if (empty($table_name)) return false;

        $this->_l_table_name                  = strtolower($table_name);
        $this->table_name                     = $table_name;
        $this->tpl_replacements['table_name'] = $table_name;
        // get a more detailed description of the table
        $sql = "SHOW FULL COLUMNS FROM `$table_name`";

        $res               = $this->db->query($sql);
        $this->table_model = $this->db->fetch_object_list($res);

        return true;
    }