Problem with count(*)

[lprocks]

If count(*) returns nothing, how can I get mysql to simply return 0 instead of returning nothing...

I had a more discriptive question but IE "expired" my page or something... I can be more discriptive if it's needed bu tI don't feel like type ALL that again...

[the_Igel]

count isn't supposed to return nothing. BTW, what is "nothing"?

And if something's wrong, try count() + 0.

[Weedpacket]

Originally posted by the_Igel
count isn't supposed to return nothing. BTW, what is "nothing"?

And if something's wrong, try count() + 0.

I agree: count(*) is supposed to always return a count - down to and including zero.

[lprocks]

I Hate IE... I have to go through this stupid thing again... BTW, if count didn't return anything then how would it return data to the select statement as a field, regardless, here is the scenerio.

Two tables...

Name- Coulums (...)

Users - ID, Name
Numbers - ID, Number

Dispite the simplicity of this DB, It will work for this illustration.

Here's the code, the problem will follow...

<------------SNIP------------------------------>
if( $result = mysql_query( "select Users.Name, count(*) from Users, Numbers where Users.ID = Numbers.ID group by Users.Name" ) {
while( $rows = mysql_fetch_row( $Result ) ) {
Print "$row[0]: $row[1] Numbers";
}
} else {
// die or WHATEVER
}

<--------------/SNIP------------------------------>
So the whole problem is that if a user doesn't have any phone numbers then their name simply doesn't appear. IS THERE ANYWAY TO MAKE THESE PHONENUMBERLESS NAMES APEAR?

Been stuck on this one for a while... need suggestions... I don't think the count() + 0 suggestion is applicable here... I could be wrong... Don't have my server at hand so I can't run any tests at the moments....

Need help...

[the_Igel]

Your mistake is using
Users, Numbers where Users.ID = Numbers.ID
(or, in other words, Inner Join)

try put
Users LEFT JOIN Numbers ON Users.Id = Numbers.Id

then the query will select groups of Users whether they have phone numbers or not.

[lprocks]

never used join or left before but I'll look them up and figure it out... thanks dude