[SOLVED] Basic Function Question

[gray8110]

So, first, let me apologize for being the annoying class of PHP noob that knows just enough to be stupid instead of merely ignorant.

 

I have a MySQL query that I need to include in a function. When I call the function, I'd like to be able to declare the value of a variable inside the function.  Here's a snippet of the code:

 

function newsQuery()
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM sv_newsbrief ORDER BY briefID DESC LIMIT $limitValue,1", $connection);

 

I'm leaving out some of the query, but the relevent stuff is there. When I call newsQuery, I need to be able to the value of $limitValue (for that instance of the function only).

 

So, how do I do that? I'm usually pretty good about searching for this sort of help, but I don't know what to search for in this case.

[genericnumber1]

<?php
function newsQuery($limitValue, $connection) {
   return mysql_query("SELECT * FROM sv_newsbrief ORDER BY briefID DESC LIMIT $limitValue,1", $connection);
}

$result = newsQuery($limitValue, $connection);

 

functions can't access variables outside of their block of code, and the main script can't access values inside of the function unless they are returned.

 

http://us.php.net/functions

[gray8110]

Hmm, that code makes sense, but it doesn't return a value.

 

Ok, maybe if I look at it this way...

 

I need to execute this block of code a bunch of times (12 to be exact.) If I were to repeatedly use this block, the only value that would change from one instance to another would be the Limit Value of 2 in the query. How can change that value without repeating the whole block every time?

 

<?php
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM sv_newsbrief ORDER BY briefID DESC LIMIT 2,1", $connection);

if (!result) {
die("Database query failed: " . mysql_error());
}

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {

$briefID = $row["ID"];
$open = $row["open"];
$in_issue = $row["in_issue"];
$item1 = $row["item1"];
$item2 = $row["item2"];
$item3 = $row["item3"];
$close = $row["close"];
$brief = $item1 . $item2 . $item3;

echo $brief;
}

[genericnumber1]

Why would you need to execute it that many times?

[DeanWhitehouse]

could use a loop to run it 12 times.

[Maq]

Put it in a function and use the for loop like blade suggested:

 

$connection = //whatever your connect string is...;

for($x=0; $x{
doQ($x, $connection);
}


function doQ($limit, $connection)
{
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM sv_newsbrief ORDER BY briefID DESC $limit,1", $connection);

if (!result) {
die("Database query failed: " . mysql_error());
}

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {

$briefID = $row["ID"];
$open = $row["open"];
$in_issue = $row["in_issue"];
$item1 = $row["item1"];
$item2 = $row["item2"];
$item3 = $row["item3"];
$close = $row["close"];
$brief = $item1 . $item2 . $item3;

echo $brief;
}
?>

[gray8110]

Why would you need to execute it that many times?

 

I don't... I just had an epiphany... I was so focussed on the individual result of the query, that wasn't thinking about how I could use a bigger range of results. Thanks (for helping me think through it more clearly)

[Maq]

Why would you need to execute it that many times?

 

I don't... I just had an epiphany... I was so focussed on the individual result of the query, that wasn't thinking about how I could use a bigger range of results. Thanks (for helping me think through it more clearly)

 

I'm confused  ???

[DeanWhitehouse]

I think he is saying he doesn't have a clue why he wanted to run it that many times :s

Topic Solved?

Bottom Left

[gray8110]

Yes, Topic solved.. at least until I have another brain fart.

 

FWIW, I know WHY I was thinking I needed to run it 12 times - I need to manipulate the 12 most recent entries in a table. For some reason my mind was stuck on getting each result individually instead of querying for the range. (AKA I feel like an idiot)

 

[Maq]

I need to manipulate the 12 most recent entries in a table.

 

Lol, that's the whole point of ORDER BY DESC and LIMIT.  You should have said that from the beginning, at least you realized how to solve this problem.