[SOLVED] rand() help

[richard_PHP]

back with, hopefully, the last problem for a while.

 

scenario: im wanting to perform a php rand() function so that random projects are displayed in a page. im wanting to use the id number as the variable but i cant think on how to write it.

 

what's in the database table:

$sql = "SELECT 'id', 'img', 'thumb', 'url', 'title', 'description'  FROM xxx ORDER BY id";

 

all im going to display is THUMB and TITLE, but as said i cannot for the life of me think of a way to write it!!!

pre-thanks for your help.

[Michdd]

$sql = "SELECT 'id', 'img', 'thumb', 'url', 'title', 'description'  FROM xxx ORDER BY RAND()";

[richard_PHP]

no no no! lol.. that bit of code was just to show what the database table contains. im trying to have a crack at it, ill let you know how it goes.

[Michdd]

no no no! lol.. that bit of code was just to show what the database table contains. im trying to have a crack at it, ill let you know how it goes.

If you're online going to use thumb and title, use this:

 

$sql = "SELECT title, thumb  FROM xxx ORDER BY RAND()";

 

You might also want to set a limit, depending on your situation.

[richard_PHP]

got it working! that was easier than i first thought it was. looking back, i could have been a bit clearer with what i wanted. but here's the final code:

 

<?php
			$random = rand(1,5);
			$conn = mysql_connect("xxxx", "xxx", "xxx");
			mysql_select_db("xxx", $conn);
			$sql = "SELECT * FROM xxx WHERE id = '$random'";
			$result = mysql_query($sql, $conn);
			$array = mysql_fetch_array($result);
			echo "<p><img src=".$array[thumb]." /><br />";
			echo "<a href='info.php?id=$random'>".$array[title]."</a></p>";
		?>

 

thanks for the help though! =D

[Michdd]

got it working! that was easier than i first thought it was. looking back, i could have been a bit clearer with what i wanted. but here's the final code:

 

<?php
			$random = rand(1,5);
			$conn = mysql_connect("xxxx", "xxx", "xxx");
			mysql_select_db("xxx", $conn);
			$sql = "SELECT * FROM xxx WHERE id = '$random'";
			$result = mysql_query($sql, $conn);
			$array = mysql_fetch_array($result);
			echo "<p><img src=".$array[thumb]." /><br />";
			echo "<a href='info.php?id=$random'>".$array[title]."</a></p>";
		?>

 

thanks for the help though! =D

 

That's extremely unnecessary, and will only get a real random value if it's between the value you hard coded.. I told you use the RAND() mysql function to grab a random one. If you only want to choose one do this:

$sql = "SELECT title, thumb  FROM xxx ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

 

It's faster, and more 'correct'

 

 

[richard_PHP]

thanks. implemented it and it seems simpler than what i did. many thanks again. =D