forms and database help

[autoglass]

I am quite new to this and am working on a site of my own. I am wanting to input data into a database based on the values of two textboxes. I have the general engine set up but there are some problems.

 

For example when I do the INSERT with values such as:

 

mysql_query("INSERT INTO PageTable (uniqueid, ImageLink, ImageLink2, IP)

VALUES ('3434343',

'http://www.example.com/1.jpg',

'http://www.example.com/1.jpg',

'94.123.123.9')");

 

This will go into the database perfectly. However if I do this:

 

mysql_query("INSERT INTO PageTable (uniqueid, ImageLink, ImageLink2, IP)

VALUES ($random2,

$img1,

$img2,

$ip)");

 

Where random2 is rand() and img1 and img2 are the values of the text boes and ip is the ip of the user.

 

When I do this there is no insert into the database.

 

Another thing I noticed was that if I put in '111111111111111111' into the textbox the value in the database is something like 111111111111111.0904039 or something like that, however if I put '111111111111111111' into the INSERT statement it goes into the database perfectly. Also if I put '1' into the textbox it goes in fine but putting 'a' into the textbox and it doesn't! I am sure I am missing something very very basic but I just can't get my head round this! Any help would be much appreciated.

[litebearer]

the VALUES need be encased by single quotes - ie '$var1', '$var2'  etc etc

[revraz]

Put your query in a string, then echo it to validate it.

Put single quotes around your variables in your insert statement.

Use mysql_error after your query to diagnose sql errors.

We also don't see your form code, so hard to say if you're doing that part right as well.

[autoglass]

the VALUES need be encased by single quotes - ie '$var1', '$var2'  etc etc

 

Thanks! Ill try that now! what is the reason for this? just out of interest. for example I have not put $random2 in quotes and it works ok, it it because they are varchars?

[autoglass]

Put your query in a string, then echo it to validate it.

Put single quotes around your variables in your insert statement.

Use mysql_error after your query to diagnose sql errors.

We also don't see your form code, so hard to say if you're doing that part right as well.

 

 

Thanks! I was validating it so I knew the data that should be going in was fine! It looks like the single quotes are working, just didn't realise I needed them! Can you expand on the mysql_error?

[BlueSkyIS]

Can you expand on the mysql_error?

 

mysql_query("INSERT INTO PageTable (uniqueid, ImageLink, ImageLink2, IP) VALUES ('$random2', '$img1','$img2','$ip')") or die(mysql_error());