ifnull issue

belask · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-11, 22:36

I am using the following line in a PHP file:
SELECT * FROM `poems` WHERE `poemID`=1

now i want the following in addition with the above line:
if PoetName is NULL then PoetName is "Unknown"

but i am unable to solve this issue with ifnull() function. please somebody solve this problem.

I am using mysql

r937 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-11, 23:40

Code:

SELECT something
     , anything
     , just_not_the_dreaded_evil_select_star 
     , COALESCE(PoetName,'Unknown') AS PoetName
  FROM poems 
 WHERE poemID = 1

belask · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-11, 17:57

Ok i tried but it didn't work, although it didn't result in an error either. Poet field remained empty in output page.

Quote:

mysql_query(
"SELECT ghazalID, NameUrdu, TextUrdu, PoetUrdu, NameRoman, TextRoman, PoetRoman, COALESCE(PoetRoman,'Unknown') FROM ghazal_list WHERE ghazalID='" . $_GET[ghazalID] ."'");

r937 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-11, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by belask

Ok Poet field remained empty in output page.

you forgot something

belask · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-11, 18:45

That's for sure, but what? Do you have any idea?
As far as i know, i edited the correct php file.
There is no syntax error, because the page is showing correctly. (although there were some errors during the editing, but i fixed them)
I am sure that particular field is Null in the database table.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7194/nullfields.png

r937 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-11, 19:18

run your query outside of php, i.e. directly in mysql

you will see that it actually does work

then inspect your php code for the source of the error

belask · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-11, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by r937

run your query outside of php, i.e. directly in mysql

you will see that it actually does work

then inspect your php code for the source of the error

Thanks

Only after runing the query in mysql i could figure out the problem.
The problem was that I didn't blindly follow your syntax in the first place and didn't include AS PoetName.
Working perfectly now

And thanks for not telling me my mistake too early. Your strategy made me understand the meaning of AS PoetName.