ORDER by acting strange

[drstop]

Hi,

I know its something really simple, but after 2 days of searching around I finally decided to give up... here is the issue:

• I have a mysql table with topics and the number of time they have been read
  
• the "number of reads" is called READS and is INT(11)
  
• I <b>CAN</b>order ascending/descending when I do it in phpmysql, no problems
  
• in PHP, running a simple query like SELECT * FROM stories ORDER BY 'reads' DESC" produces zero rows :'(
  
• All other fields ORDER BY without problems
  
• the field has ONLY numbers
  

I am getting kinda crazy here... any possible hints as to where the problem can be? Will GLADLY describe anything that might help you help me

With best regards

Alexander

 

[Mchl]

You're using ' (quotes) instead of (`) backticks around 'reads', although this should not limit number of rows fetched.

Can you paste the actual code you use?

[lampstax]

Not 100% sure this is why you're getting 0 result, but try replacing the ORDER BY 'reads' DESC with ORDER BY `reads` DESC.

 

I think the way you are quoting 'reads' makes mysql process that as a value, and not a table column.

[lampstax]

Looks like Mchl beat me to it.

[drstop]

backticks actually helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting that no quotes (backticks) still doesnt produce any result.

In the same table, have a field called ID (exactly same thing, INT(11))

SELECT* FROM stories ORDER BY id  <--- works perfectly

SELECT* FROM stories ORDER BY reads <---- doesnt work

 

But backticks solved it!!

Thanks ALOT for your help!

 

[PFMaBiSmAd]

READS is a reserved mysql keyword and produces an error when used as a column name. The back-ticks `` denotes special handling and allows a reserved keyword to be used as a column name.