Avoid printing empty db-fields ?

[Anon]

Hey,
I'm in the middle of making a newsscript in php/mysql but I have a problem with the presentation of the data.
My code right now:

function showdailynews()
{
global $tablename;
$tablename=Nyheter;

print ("<table border=0 width=100%><tr>");
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT NewsId, NewsDate, NewsHeader, NewsText, NewsLink1, LinkName1, NewsLink2, LinkName2 FROM dailynews ORDER BY NewsId DESC LIMIT 5");
$alternate = "2"; // number of alternating rows
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)) {
$NewsId = $row["NewsId"]; //name of field
$NewsDate = $row["NewsDate"];
$NewsHeader = $row["NewsHeader"];
$NewsText = $row["NewsText"];
$NewsLink1 = $row["NewsLink1"];
$LinkName1 = $row["LinkName1"];
$NewsLink2 = $row["NewsLink2"];
$LinkName2 = $row["LinkName2"];

print ("<td class=\"text\"><b><u>$NewsDate</u><br>$NewsHeader</b></td></tr>
<tr><td class=\"text\">$NewsText</td></tr>
<tr><td class=\"text\">");
print("<a href=\"$NewsLink1\" target=ext_win>$LinkName1</a><br>
<a href=\"$NewsLink2\" target=ext_win>$LinkName2</a><br><br>
</td></tr>");
}
print ("</table>");
}

showdailynews();
?>

The problem is: If I got an empty field in $NewsLink1 or $NewsLink2 the page still prints two empty rows and creating som extra code.
Is there a way to print the rows only when there's a value in the $NewsLink1 and/or $NewsLink2 ?
Greatful 4 any help.

[Anon]

You could throw an IF statement in just before each print statement:

if ( $NewsLink1 != "" ) {

print("<a href=\"$NewsLink1\" target=ext_win>$LinkName1</a><br>");

}

if ( $NewsLink2 != "" ) {

print ( "<a href=\"$NewsLink2\" target=ext_win>$LinkName2</a><br><br>" );

}

print ( "</td></tr>" );

etc...

[apatel]

Hi, You could do a check to see if the fields are empty,

use !empty($var) this checks to see if a variable is NOT empty, (note the "!")

try this...

if ((!empty($NewsLink1)) and (!empty($NewsLink2)))
{
if both are NOT empty then print code goes here
}

Let me know if you need any further help.

Regs, Anand

[Anon]

You could use if (empty()) checks.

[Anon]

Works like a charm, thank you very much :-)