invalid insert command

[ktambascio]

Hi,

I'm trying to write some php code that inputs a customer's name, address, phone, and email address into a customer database. I keep getting this error:

Query failed : You have an error in your SQL syntax near '\'\', \'michael\', \'smith\', \'[e-mail]\', \'1234 anywhere\', \'any' at line 1

my code to construct the insert is this:

$sql = "INSERT INTO customer_data (cust_id, first_name, last_name, email_address, street, city, state, zip, phone, newsletter_subscribed)"    

 ." VALUES(\'\', \'$_REQUEST[first_name]\', \'$_REQUEST[last_name]\', \'$_REQUEST[email]\', \'$_REQUEST[street]\', \'$_REQUEST[city]\',
 \'$_REQUEST[state]\', \'$_REQUEST[zip]\', \'$_REQUEST[day_phone]\', \'true\' )";
$result = mysql_query($sql) or die("Query failed : " . mysql_error()); 

the first value is blank, because its supposed to be autogenerated in the table. I know its probably something simple, I went through these annoying growing pains with C++, but I can't figure this one out all morning.

Also, that second line break (in the VALUE line) doesn't exist in the code, I had to add it so that it would fit the forum screen.

Also, is $_REQUEST the proper variable to use when gathering data from a form just submitted?

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

[Sxooter]

The standard way to increment autoinc fields is to just ignore them.

I.e.

insert into table (first_name, last_name) values ('first','last');

where cust_id is the autoinc field.

If you must include it, the PostgreSQL way is to use the DEFAULT keywork, but I don't know if MySQL does that or a normal way. If you override it, the database should take what you give it. I know MySQL converts NULLs to autoincrement, but that's a REALLY bad habit to get into.