[SOLVED] use php variable in mysql query - syntax error??

[kate_rose]

I have found exactly this search but the problem wasn't quite the same in that they were using the variable as the value to test against instead of the variable itself.  I just can't seem to figure out how to make this work.  Not sure that totally made sense but you will see in my code. 

 

It is the query statement that is giving me the error.  If I replace the $show_this with actual values contained in the mysql table it works just fine.  I have checked to make sure $show_this contains data which is a valid column in my database.

 

The error is: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_VARIABLE in C:\wamp\www\Guana_Plant_Key\browse.php on line 28

 

<?php
foreach ($to_show as $show_this) {
// load links or jpeg names from guana_plants db into $picmysql
$query = "SELECT "$show_this" FROM guana_plants WHERE "$show_this" <> 'none' AND "$show_this" <> '"$show_this"'";
$result = mysql_query($query);
}
?>

[hitman6003]

you need to use the concatenation operator in your $query string...

 

http://www.php.net/language.operators.string

[kate_rose]

Thanks,

 

This is my first php script so please excuse my ignorance.

 

Kate

[hitman6003]

we all have to start somewhere... : )