PHP MySQL Search syntax

[Anon]

Hi , i was wondering if anyone could help me figure out how to do this , im new to SQL and PHP so im not sure if what ive done is right. I was wondering how i would search for four different variables in a mysql database in one query string like

Im trying to get the database to return the results from this search but my problem is some of the fields may be blank and im not sure if ive used the right syntax for this, any help would be welcome. thanks in advance

$query ="select * from database where $var1 like "this" or $var2 like "that" or $var3 like "or that" or $var4 like "this";"

$result = mysql_query($query);

[Anon]

Hi Mark,

your approach works in theory. Just one or two points:

1) when using your strings (this, that, or that), put them in single qoutes e.g. 'this' cos you are already using double qoutes at the beginning of the query.
2) Semi colon goes at the end of the line - in your case
$query = "select bla bla ..... OR $var4 LIKE 'this' ";

$query ="select * from database where $var1 like "this" or $var2 like "that" or $var3 like "or that" or $var4 like "this";"

Hope it helps
Kev

[Anon]

the help on the syntax was great , thanks