order by a value

[searls03]

hi all.  I am looking for a way to order a php query result by a specific value, not like an id ASC, but like first column 1=red(there could be multiples, so all that have column 1 as  red display first), then column2=blue.   

 

I have been looking all day and havent been able to find anything.  any help?

[objnoob]

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/string-functions.html#function_field

 

the MySQL FIELD() function is great for this.

SELECT rating FROM tRatings ORDER BY FIELD(rating, 'Professional', 'Advanced', 'Amateur');

[Psycho]

I'm not sure I really understand the question. But, I think you want to sort such that all records where column 1 = red sort first, then by column 2 = blue, etc. If so, the solution is simple, you can create your sorting conditions as comparisons

SELECT *
FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_1 = 'red', column_2='blue'

EDIT: Why is this in the PHP forum? You should know better after 900 posts. Moving to MySQL forum.