PHP MySQL Query Issue

[zebe]

Hi,

I'm trying to run a query like the following example:

[code]
$activity = $HTTP_POST_VARS["activity"];
$sql = "SELECT first, last, email FROM student_involvement WHERE " . $activity . " = 1";
$result = mysql_query($sql) or die(mysql_error());
[/code]

The variable $activity is pulling a column name from a predefined select list of activities. Each one of these fields is an int field and if it is true it will have a 1 false a 0. The query fails:

SELECT first, last, email FROM student_involvement WHERE acapella = 1
EXPORT ERROR:Unknown column 'acapella' in 'where clause'

Does anyone know why this is failing? The columns exist, I can pull general data from that table, but it seems to throw errors when I try to implement a WHERE clause...

Thanks for all of your help in advance![b][/b]

[HeyRay2]

Does hardcoding the column name work?

[code=php:0]
$sql = "SELECT first, last, email FROM student_involvement WHERE acapella = 1";
[/code]

Let us know if the query is successful.

[zebe]

Just hardcoded it as requested and that is throwing the same error as well... Not sure what's up. The table exists and the columns do as well...

[Caesar]

Yeah...paste this before your query & let us know if it works:

[code]<?php

$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM student_involvement WHERE acapella ='1'");

$res = mysql_fetch_array($query);

print_r($res);exit;

?>[/code]

[zebe]

I get a blank page...

[Caesar]

Then the array is blank. It's not retrieving anything from that field in the table. Mind pasting a screenshot of that table?

[zebe]

Screenshot is attached

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Caesar]

Though the field/column is there....is there any data in it yet?

[zebe]

Yes,

I have a form that was placing data into the fields. If a user checked that activity it would store a 1 in the respective field, 0 otherwise. All the int fields are storing are basic binary true false data from checkboxes. When I browse, those fields have 0's and 1's in them, so there is data in there...

[king arthur]

This table is definitely named "student_involvement"?

[zebe]

Yes it is called student_involvement.

I can extract first name last name etc fine, but the problem arises when I try to do a where clause on the integer fields...

[Caesar]

If you convert the field to varchar, and then run the script again...what are the results? I asume if you add the WHERE clause criteria using a field that is an integer but also set as a primary key, it won't return the error?

[zebe]

Changed the `acapella` column to a varchar(1) type, ran it again and got the same unknown column in where clause error...

[Caesar]

If you would like (Because I'm very damned curious :-P) send me an email and I will give you my AIM sn & I can help troubleshoot this for you.  :) ([email protected])

[ryanlwh]

are you connecting to a different database from php that has this table but without the acapella column?

[Caesar]

[quote author=ryanlwh link=topic=102606.msg407510#msg407510 date=1154462590]
are you connecting to a different database from php that has this table but without the acapella column?
[/quote]

True dat. Check to make sure you're not doing that.