How can I get a single cell with MySQL in PHP?

Question

Whenever I try to run some code to get a specific cell, I get an error. Here is the code:

        <?php
            $query = mysql_query("SELECT about_me FROM users WHERE username = '" . $mcu . "'");
            if($query === FALSE) {
        die(mysql_error()); // TODO: better error handling
    }

    while($row = mysql_fetch_array($query))
    {
        $abme = mysql_num_rows($query);
    }
        ?>
        About Me:<p> <?php echo "$abme" ?></p>

Here is the error:

Warning: mysql_fetch_array() expects parameter 1 to be resource, boolean given in location/to/file.php on line 96

Line 96 is the $row = mysql_fetch_array($query);.

I did a die check and it says Unknown column 'user_name_here' in 'where clause'

error comes from your query near `username = ".$mcu."` that should be with comas `username = '".$mcu."'` — jogesh_pi, Mar 15 '13 at 04:01
Your query is erroring. You'll see the error by echoing it: `echo mysql_error();` — Ultimater, Mar 15 '13 at 04:05
@huhitschris Its the test username... see the username = ".$mcu.""? — ChrisRockGM, Mar 15 '13 at 04:06
yeah, it thinks it's looking at a field name because it's not quoted. — Emery King, Mar 15 '13 at 04:07
@MarshallHouse What do you mean? I want it to find the column with a specific row name. Then, take the about_me data cell. — ChrisRockGM, Mar 15 '13 at 04:08
you've got it quoted now. I'm thinking you aren't getting any results. put the mysql_num_rows outside of the loop and see. — Emery King, Mar 15 '13 at 04:09

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 15 '13 at 03:58

1

Try this:

$query = mysql_query("SELECT about_me FROM users WHERE username = '" . $mcu . "'");

It's because you didn't quote the parameter.

Also, you should wrap your parameter in mysql_real_escape_string() or switch to mysqli or PDO to protect you application from SQL injection attacks.

answered Mar 15 '13 at 03:58

Emery King

3,477
20
34

When I do `echo "$abme"` it doesn't return anything. – ChrisRockGM Mar 15 '13 at 04:03
What does `mysql_num_rows($query)` return? – Emery King Mar 15 '13 at 04:04
I updated my code. It doesn't return anything either... – ChrisRockGM Mar 15 '13 at 04:06
no, you have to do mysql_num_rows outside of the loop. – Emery King Mar 15 '13 at 04:08
lol. that means that it's not finding any results. something about your query isn't compatible with your database. Syntax is correct. – Emery King Mar 15 '13 at 04:12
I figured it out. $mcu was the wrong variable. Thanks! – ChrisRockGM Mar 15 '13 at 04:15

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 15 '13 at 04:00

1

Sounds like your $query is false, meaning that mysql_query() failed. You probably have a bad SQL query.

$query = mysql_query("SELECT about_me FROM users WHERE username = ".$mcu.""); 
if (!$query) {
    die(mysql_error());
}

answered Mar 15 '13 at 04:00

ozz

1,147
7
9

Updated OP with more info. – ChrisRockGM Mar 15 '13 at 04:01

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 15 '13 at 05:05

0

$query = mysql_query("SELECT about_me FROM users WHERE username = ".$mcu.""); 
if (!mysql_num_rows($query)) {
    die(mysql_error());
}

answered Mar 15 '13 at 05:05

subh

78
7

How can I get a single cell with MySQL in PHP?

3 Answers3