Joomla - pulling custom mysql table

[elis]

I'm an amateur when it comes to Joomla, so please bear with me.

 

I'm trying to select a field from a custom table I made in Mysql through a module page on Joomla.

However, I've noticed Joomla's PHP commands for pulling tables is fairly...odd (at least to me)

 

Random bit of unrelated code to express what I'm talking about.

$query = "UPDATE #__polls"; $database->setQuery( $query );

 

However, when I try to set a typical code like

mysql_query("SELECT field FROM table") 
or die(mysql_error());  

 

It isn't working. (I can't duplicate the actual errors right now as I'm away from my home computer)

I can only assume it's because of how Joomla's set up to operate. I've spent the past four hours on Joomla's site trying to figure this out and I'm ready to slam my head into the keyboard.

I realize that Joomla has designated tables so they appear as "#__table", and have tried searching through the code to find where this is being set but haven't found it yet.

 

Can someone explain what it is I'm not understanding or how to select a custom table through a Joomla module?

???

[devreflex2004]

You can try it on the  joomla.org  forum for classified problem.