Adding multiple column values

[thereaper87]

Hello,

I am trying to add all rows in the same column together.

So here is the basic scheme:

id  l    column1

1  l        1

2  l        2

3  l        3

 

 

Second table

 

id  l      variable1

 

1  l              3

2  l              5

3  l              6

 

I basically want to add 5+3+6 and set it to a variable named '$total'. Would this be done using while loops? Here is the code I have been messing with.

$sql="SELECT column1 from table1 where id='$userid'";   // userid would be set near the top of the page
   $sql2=mysql_query($sql,$conn);
          while($rows=mysql_fetch_array($sql2)){
              $getid = $rows['column1'];
                          $sql3="SELECT variable1 FROM table2 where id='$getid'";
                          $sql4=mysql_query($sql3,$conn);
           while($items=mysql_fetch_array($sql4)){
              // Then I'm getting lost...
           } 
           }

 

Can you at least see what I am trying to do? I'm not even sure if this is the right approach, any help would be appreciated!

[litebearer]

Perhaps this will get you started..

 

http://www.tizag.com/mysqlTutorial/mysqlsum.php

[thereaper87]

thank you for that link and I have bookmarked it! It may end up being useful, but how could I reword this 'GROUP BY type' to fit my query? There really isn't another column that would work the same way.

[litebearer]

untested...

$query="SELECT sum(variable1) as total_variable FROM table2";
$result = mysql_query($query)
$my_row = mysql_fetch_array($result); 
$total = $my_row['total_variable']; 
echo "the total is: $total; 

[thereaper87]

Awesome! I will try to fit it into my code and get it working, thanks a mil!