create friends list for profile site

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

how would i go about creating friends lists for my profile site?

Zhadus · April 25, 2008

Each member have a friendslist array in the database and add other member ID #'s to the list.

Simplistic design.

MadTechie · April 25, 2008

Personally i would create a table ie "buddie"

fields

uID

UserID

FriendID

example data

uID | UserID | FriendID

1 | 1 | 3

2 | 1 | 2

3 | 2 | 3

User Table

UserID | name

1 | Bob

2 | Fred

3 | Tony

Bob is friends with Tony

Bob is friends with Fred

Fred is friend with Tony

DarkWater · April 25, 2008

Or, you make a friends table in your database and have user_id and friend_id column, where you put the user's ID and the friend's ID.

Zhadus · April 25, 2008

That is basically what I was getting at in a more refined manner

E.g.

Members Table

ID | Name | Friends | Email... etc.

1 | Bob | 2, 3 | etc.

2 | Mark | 1 | etc.

3 | Greg | 1, 4 | etc.

4 | Meg | 3 | etc.

Parse the ID's from friends field.

DarkWater · April 25, 2008

Yeah, but that could get very messy and make a REALLY long row which would be a lot to parse, so it's easier and better database design practice to separate the tables.

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

eeek lol so which one should i do

user | friend_id just like that or what lol any tutorials on net?

MadTechie · April 25, 2008

the reason i would use another table is for better management, ie when deleteing a member and thus also wanting to remove his UserID from the system completely, updating users friend list field is a pain but deleting records is easy.. it really depends on how the system is going to grow!

i'll admit adding a 2nd table and linking it in on the searches can be a pain at times but again personally i find it easier in the end..

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

im still abit confused...so i would do

user_id | friends_id

1 | 2,3,5

2 | 1,3

3 | 1,2

MadTechie · April 25, 2008

thats one way but not my way.

Daniel0 · April 25, 2008

It's a basic many to many relationship. Just have a table storing the IDs.

Tables:

CREATE TABLE users (
  user_id int(11) PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL auto_increment,
  username varchar(100) NOT NULL,
  # etc...
);

CREATE TABLE friends (
  user_id int(11) NOT NULL REFERENCES users(user_id),
  friend_id int(11) NOT NULL REFERENCES users(user_id)
);

Both of the IDs reference the users table.

Then to get user #34's friends you'd do:

SELECT u.* FROM friends AS f INNER JOIN users AS u ON f.friend_id = u.user_id WHERE f.user_id = 34;

This is also what MadTechie said.

dptr1988 · April 25, 2008

If you ever want to use the friends list in a SQL query, definitely use MadTechie's method. If the friend's lists is just a like a string containing CSV friend ID's, that list will almost be useless in an SQL query. It will require a PHP script to retrieve it, decode it and then put it back in the SQL query.

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

ok guys i attacked it and its not 100% lol need little help

first off i get a blank page with this

<?php
session_start(); // starts sessions
include "../settings.php"; // inlcudes config

if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //checks user is logged in
switch get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //allows multiple pages
default:
$get = mysql_query( "SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `username` = 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' "); //gets requests
while ($reqs = mysql_fetch_array($get))
{

echo ( "Friend Requests
$reqs[by] wants to be friends with you.
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=accept&user=$reqs[by]'>Accept</a><br/>
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=delete&user=$reqs[by]'>Delete</a>" ); //displays requests and shows accept delete links
}
break;

case 'accept': //accept page
if ($_GET[user]) { //get username

$add = mysql_query( "INSERT INTO `friends` (`friendname` , `username`) VALUES ('get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' , 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])') "); // add to your friends list
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by` = 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) has been added as a friend and the request has been deleted" ); // echos the completion
}
break; //ends accept page

case 'delete': // delete page
if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //gets username
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "$_get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])'s request has been deleted" );
}
break;
} // ends switch

?>

i belive its if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //checks user is logged in

after this i will post whole script as i dont think its just right...but 1 problem at a time eh

Daniel0 · April 25, 2008

It doesn't look very efficient. I suppose the get_username() function queries the database, right? Nonetheless, you shouldn't use the username as the primary key, use the user ID instead. You'll also need to post how your tables look like, otherwise it's pretty difficult to tell you how to do it and optionally how to improve it. You can't run a function inside a string either. Interpolation only works with variables.

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

ok i will paste all code....

ok so

CREATE TABLE `friend_requests` (
`id` int(10) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`username` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
`by` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM;

CREATE TABLE `friends` (
`id` int(10) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`friendname` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
`username` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM;

and here is friends request

<?php
session_start(); //starts session
include "../settings.php"; //include config


if ($_SESSION['user_id']){ //gets username
$username = htmlspecialchars get_username($_SESSION['user_id']); //friend
$by = ($_SESSION['user_id']); //you
$query = mysql_query("INSERT INTO `friend_requests` ( `username` , `by` ) VALUES ( '$username' , '$by' )"); //inserts the request
echo ( "$username has been sent a request you must now wait for it to be accepted" ); //echos completion
} else {
echo ( "No request was made" ); // or no request sent
}
} else {
echo ( "You need to be logged in" ); //not logged in
}
?>

this is done by following this link <a href='index.php?page=friendrequest?user=$user'>Add as Friend</a> (THIS DOES NOT WORK ATM FOR SOME REASON)

then i have this to view friends

<?php
session_start(); // starts sessions
include "../settings.php"; // inlcudes config

if ($_SESSION['user_id']) { //checks user is logged in
switch ($_SESSION['user_id']) { //allows multiple pages
default:
$get = mysql_query( "SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `username` = 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' "); //gets requests
while ($reqs = mysql_fetch_array($get))
{

echo ( "Friend Requests
$reqs[by] wants to be friends with you.
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=accept&user=$reqs[by]'>Accept</a><br/>
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=delete&user=$reqs[by]'>Delete</a>" ); //displays requests and shows accept delete links
}
break;

case 'accept': //accept page
if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //get username

$add = mysql_query( "INSERT INTO `friends` (`friendname` , `username`) VALUES ('get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' , 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])') "); // add to your friends list
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by` = 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) has been added as a friend and the request has been deleted" ); // echos the completion
}
break; //ends accept page

case 'delete': // delete page
if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //gets username
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "$_get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])'s request has been deleted" ); // echos completion
}
break; //ends delete page
} // ends switch

?>

the functions are

<?php /**
 * Get username - Returns the username of the logged in member based on session ID
 *
 * @access	public
 * @param	string
 * @return	string/bool
 */


function get_username ( $id )
{
	global $db;

	$query = "SELECT `Username` FROM `" . DBPREFIX . "users` WHERE `ID` = " . $db->qstr ( $id );

	if ( $db->RecordCount ( $query ) == 1 )
	{
		$row = $db->getRow ( $query );

		return $row->Username;
	}
	else {
		return FALSE;
	}
}
	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------

/**
 * Get id - Returns the username of the logged in member based on session ID
 *
 * @access	public
 * @param	string
 * @return	string/bool
 */

	function get_id ( $id )
{
	global $db;

	$query = "SELECT `ID` FROM `" . DBPREFIX . "users` WHERE `ID` = " . $db->qstr ( $id );

	if ( $db->RecordCount ( $query ) == 1 )
	{
		$row = $db->getRow ( $query );

		return $row->ID;
	}
	else {
		return FALSE;
	}
} ?>

atm this does not work and im abit stuck on where to go with it lol

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

bmp

Daniel0 · April 25, 2008

Why are you putting the user id in the switch?

runnerjp · April 25, 2008

ow yer i should be getting the other users id...but how cna i do this... this script iv mashed up is poor and think it needs qucik look at and guidence would be gr8

runnerjp · April 26, 2008

bmp

MadTechie · April 26, 2008

Comments below!

ok i will paste all code....

ok so

CREATE TABLE `friend_requests` (
`id` int(10) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`username` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
`by` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM;

CREATE TABLE `friends` (
`id` int(10) NOT NULL auto_increment,
`friendname` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
`username` varchar(225) NOT NULL default '',
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM;

and here is friends request

<?php
session_start(); //starts session
include "../settings.php"; //include config


if ($_SESSION['user_id']){ //gets username
$username = htmlspecialchars get_username($_SESSION['user_id']); //friend
$by = ($_SESSION['user_id']); //you
$query = mysql_query("INSERT INTO `friend_requests` ( `username` , `by` ) VALUES ( '$username' , '$by' )"); //inserts the request
echo ( "$username has been sent a request you must now wait for it to be accepted" ); //echos completion
} else {
echo ( "No request was made" ); // or no request sent
}
} else {
echo ( "You need to be logged in" ); //not logged in
}
?>

this is done by following this link <a href='index.php?page=friendrequest?user=$user'>Add as Friend</a> (THIS DOES NOT WORK ATM FOR SOME REASON)

Check the input.. your adding the logged in user to himself!!!

i assume you mean

$username = htmlspecialchars(get_username($_GET['user'])); //friend

then i have this to view friends

<?php
session_start(); // starts sessions
include "../settings.php"; // inlcudes config

if ($_SESSION['user_id']) { //checks user is logged in
switch ($_SESSION['user_id']) { //allows multiple pages
default:
$get = mysql_query( "SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `username` = 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' "); //gets requests
while ($reqs = mysql_fetch_array($get))
{

echo ( "Friend Requests
$reqs[by] wants to be friends with you.
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=accept&user=$reqs[by]'>Accept</a><br/>
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=delete&user=$reqs[by]'>Delete</a>" ); //displays requests and shows accept delete links
}
break;

case 'accept': //accept page
if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //get username

$add = mysql_query( "INSERT INTO `friends` (`friendname` , `username`) VALUES ('get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' , 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])') "); // add to your friends list
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by` = 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) has been added as a friend and the request has been deleted" ); // echos the completion
}
break; //ends accept page

case 'delete': // delete page
if get_username($_SESSION['user_id']) { //gets username
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "$_get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])'s request has been deleted" ); // echos completion
}
break; //ends delete page
} // ends switch

?>

switch on the userid is pointless the function concatenated into a string won't work..

$add = mysql_query( "INSERT INTO `friends` (`friendname` , `username`) VALUES ('get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])' , 'get_username($_SESSION['user_id'])') "); // add to your friends list

the functions are

<?php /**
 * Get username - Returns the username of the logged in member based on session ID
 *
 * @access	public
 * @param	string
 * @return	string/bool
 */


function get_username ( $id )
{
	global $db;

	$query = "SELECT `Username` FROM `" . DBPREFIX . "users` WHERE `ID` = " . $db->qstr ( $id );

	if ( $db->RecordCount ( $query ) == 1 )
	{
		$row = $db->getRow ( $query );

		return $row->Username;
	}
	else {
		return FALSE;
	}
}
	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------

/**
 * Get id - Returns the username of the logged in member based on session ID
 *
 * @access	public
 * @param	string
 * @return	string/bool
 */

	function get_id ( $id )
{
	global $db;

	$query = "SELECT `ID` FROM `" . DBPREFIX . "users` WHERE `ID` = " . $db->qstr ( $id );

	if ( $db->RecordCount ( $query ) == 1 )
	{
		$row = $db->getRow ( $query );

		return $row->ID;
	}
	else {
		return FALSE;
	}
} ?>

atm this does not work and im abit stuck on where to go with it lol

try cleaning it up and breaking the problems into smaller chunks and then ask for help..

add some debugging

ie

or die(mysql_error())

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create friends list for profile site

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