[SOLVED] Displaying Forum Posts

[fry2010]

Hi all. Have another headache trying to figure this out.

Im trying to select all posts from a table, and echo each post out BUT I only want to echo out say 10 posts per page, then generate a new page to list the next 10. The only problem is I want to echo the newest posts first so that the new post is always on top and the old messages get sent back. Also I cant work out how to stop generating new pages once the posts have run out.

 

Basically the way I have it working at the moment it does this:

 

1) Posts get listed in date order but the newest post goes to bottom of page.

2) When I generate a new page I end up running the sql statement from the beggining again so I end up repeating the same messages on the previous page.

 

I know what I need to use but its missing a couple of things to work how I want it to.

 

      
$page = $_GET['next_page'];

$conn = db_connect();
      $result1 = $conn->query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM posts WHERE username IS NULL AND clientof = '$user'");
      $result2 = $conn->query("SELECT * FROM posts WHERE username IS NULL AND clientof = '$user' ORDER BY sent ASC");
      $rows = $result1->fetchColumn();
      $message = $result2->fetchObject();

  if(!isset($page))
  {
    for($i = 0; $i < 11; $i++)
    {
       echo $message->post;
     }
     echo '<a href="this_page.php?nextpage=2">Next Page</a>';
  }

     if($page == 2)
     {
        for($i = 0; $i < 11; $i++)
        {
           echo $message->post;
         }
         echo '<a href="this_page.php?nextpage=3">Next Page</a>';
      }

     if($page == 3)
     {
        for($i = 0; $i < 11; $i++)
        {
           echo $message->post;
         }
         echo '<a href="this_page.php?nextpage=4">Next Page</a>';
      }
          

 

Its obvoius that this is just a never ending cycle and I am limiting the number of pages when it should be dynamic. So i need to use some kind of loop to find the end of the posts, trouble is my brain cant figure out how to do this. Any help greatly appreciated.

[fry2010]

ah i just thought of somthing...

I find out how many rows are in the table, divide by 10 and round it up to nearest unit. This will tell me how many pages I require and can work from that.

Im gna try to get something out of that, but I would still appreciate help. Thanks.

[defeated]

firstly the order.  That can be fixed by ORDER BY whateverthecolumnis DESC  in your mySql. That will change the order to the opposite of the default.

 

Next: logic.

Pagination is not as easy as it looks.  Try this: http://php.about.com/od/phpwithmysql/ss/php_pagination.htm

[defeated]

that sounds like you're on the right track! 

[BloodyMind]

well you need to use the LIMIT clause in the query

seach MySQL manual for the LIMIT clause

 

i've made a class already to paginate, if you'd like to have it message me.

 

and do some equation to calculate the LIMIT's offest and count from the page number

[fry2010]

thank you very much guys, I have plenty to read through now. Bloodymind thanks for the limit clause thing I just look at that and came across another great article.

Cant believe I over looked DESC too.... nvm.

thanks again.