Split output into 2 columns?

[rivka]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out a way to output the results from a query into two table columns, i.e. the first half of the results goes into the left hand column, and the second half goes into the right hand column. I've done some poking around here in the forum, and elsewhere, but am not quite sure where to start. Can anyone point me towards something?

[sarahk]

for each line you want to output have something like:

echo "<tr><td>" . $result->record["col1"] . "</td><td>" . $result->record["col2"] . "</td></tr>";

don't forget to setup the table, and finish it afterwards.

[daynah]

hello there, I'm just going to give you pseudocode for this. 🙂

This is for data of the same field, outputted in html format.

step 1: connect to the database
step 2: run the query, fetch the rows/array
step 3: use mysql_num_rows() and find out the number of rows of data you have
step 4: divide that number by two
step 5: create a counter, create a table (<table><tr><td>)
step 6: while loop, while there is data and counter is less or = to mysql_num_rows()/2, print the data
step 7: if the counter is == to mysql_num_rows()/2, then close your <td> tag, and start the next column.
step 8: when there is no more data, close table tags (</td></tr></table>)

That should be it. If you need more help, just post. 🙂

[rivka]

I'm close, but not quite there. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong?

$result = mysql_query("select * from recipes_categories");

$numberResults = mysql_numrows($result);
$halfresults = ($numberResults / 2);
$counter = 0;

echo "<table><tr><td>";
while(($catresults = mysql_fetch_array($result)) && ($counter <= $halfresults))
{
echo "<a href=\"linknotsetyet\">".$catresults[category]."</a><br>";
echo "$catresults[description]<br><br>";
$counter++;

if ($counter == $halfresults)
echo "</td><td>";
}

echo "</td></tr></table>";

What's happening is that the first column of results (the first 3 out of 5 items) are displaying, but nothing from the last half. I was a little lost on where to put step 7 and 8 in your suggestion, and some of the above is probably complete gibberish, LOL. I'm such a noob...

[TodManPlaa]

Hi,
The reason you're not getting the second column is because of you're code.

You're while loop reads:

while(($catresults = mysql_fetch_array($result)) && ($counter <= $halfresults)) { 

What that measn is that everything inside you're while loop is only going to execute while there is a result AND while you're value for $counter is less than or equal to $halfresults. ie as soon as the counter gets high enough to build you you're second column, the syntax of the while statement will stop it working!

So take another look at your while, there also look to be a few missing quotes and } in the code as well.

hope this helps

/s

[daynah]

TomManPlaa gave you a big hint. 🙂

But the code should look something like this:

<?php

$result = mysql_query("select * from recipes_categories"); 
$numberResults = mysql_numrows($result); 
$halfresults = ($numberResults / 2); 
$counter = 0; 

echo '<table><tr><td>'; 

while($catresults = mysql_fetch_array($result)) 
{ 
  echo "<a href=\"linknotsetyet\">" . $catresults[category] . "</a><br>"; 
  echo $catresults[description] . '<br><br>'; 
  $counter++; 

  if ($counter == $halfresults) 
    echo '</td><td>'; 
} 

echo '</td></tr></table>'; 

?>

For the while loop, you want the loop to keep outputting data when there is still data there. In your previous code, your output will stop when it reaches it's half point. The only thing we want to output when it reaches the halfpoint is </td><td> right? That is when your if statement will come in. Otherwise, continue on with the while loop. 🙂