username field / column in table (is it reserved?)

[Siggles]

I am trying to run a simple select statement.

 

$result = mysql_query("SELECT *

FROM `users`

WHERE `username` = $usertoedit

");

 

The error I get is

 

Unknown column 'Roger' in 'where clause'

 

for example.

 

Why is this. I know one question asked will be does username column actually exist but I am certain it does.

 

Please help. Is there a way around this?

[trq]

Try...

 

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE `username` = '$usertoedit'");

[beebum]

FYI, for a complete list of reserved words see:

 

http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/reserved-words.html

[aschk]

To give you some clarity on what went wrong.

Say you set $usertoedit = "Roger";

Then if you echo'd out your query you should get the following:

SELECT * FROM `users` WHERE `username` = Roger

 

MySQL assumes (because you haven't used single quotes (') ) that you're asking if the column username equals the column Roger.

So in summation:

MAKE SURE YOU QUOTE YOUR STRINGS!