mysql_fetch_array question

[sk1tL1L]

Hello, i've got abit of a problem
[code]
  <?php
include ("config.php");

// Retrieve data from database
$sql= "SELECT * FROM messages WHERE to='$member'";
$result=mysql_query($sql);

while($rows=mysql_fetch_array($result)){
?>
<table width="400" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td width="10%"><? echo $rows['from']; ?></td>
<td width="40%"><? echo $rows['message']; ?></td>

</tr>
</table>

<?php
}
mysql_close();
?>[/code]

Whic displays an error:
[code]Warning: mysql_fetch_array(): supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in C:\xampp\xampp\htdocs\TFP\messages.php on line 51[/code]

I'm Trying to make my own PM system, it will be great if you can help me with this.

[ToonMariner]

echo out the query and run it in phpmyadmin I suspect you are retunring 0 rows.

[kenrbnsn]

If the query were returning zero rows, the OP wouldn't get an error, but the while loop wouldn't execute. That error usually occurs when the query has a syntax error. Change the mysql_query() to:
[code]<?php $result=mysql_query($sql) or die("There is a problem with the query: $sql<br>" . mysql_error()); ?>[/code]
Check the error that prints, and fix the problem...

Ken

[JasonLewis]

make the $member variable '".$member."'. i dont like code that isnt like that. or you can add { and } i think.

[sk1tL1L]

ok thanks everyone,
[code]<?php $result=mysql_query($sql) or die("There is a problem with the query: $sql<br>" . mysql_error()); ?>[/code]
that helped me out!