public function get_table_status($table = '') {

        // if table argument contains the database name, extract it
        if (strpos($table, '.') !== false) list($database, $table) = explode('.', $table, 2);

        // run the query
        $this->query('
            SHOW
            TABLE
            STATUS
            ' . (isset($database) ? ' IN ' . $this->_escape($database) : '') . '
            ' . (trim($table) != '' ? 'LIKE ?' : '') . '
        ', array($table));

        // fetch and return data
        return $this->fetch_assoc_all('Name');

    }