[Resolved] [Resolved] query function help

[g7ibby]

Im attempting to use a variable for a column name. I would like to send a variable to the sql string and then assign the result as its own variable to be returned.

function valid_check($test_col,$usr){ 
global $db;
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT '$test_col' FROM users WHERE user_name = '$usr'", $db);
if  ($myrow = mysql_fetch_array($sql))
{do{

$done = $myrow['$test_col'];     //i think this is the problem

print ("done is $done and\n<br>column name is $test_col<br>");
}while ($myrow = mysql_fetch_array($sql)); }
else {echo "Sorry, no records were found!";}
}

$test = "testingcolumn";
$login = "anybody";
echo "$test<br>$login<br>";

valid_check($test,$login);

what i get in return is

anybody
testingcolumn
done is testingcolumn and
column name is testingcolumn

Line 3 of that should be "true" as it is the value in the database. My guess is that my problem exist in

$done = $myrow['$test_col'];

How can i pass that field name to replace $test_col on that line?

Thanks
G

[tomhath]

You have too many quotes in both the "select" and the assignment:

$sql = mysql_query("SELECT $test_col FROM users WHERE user_name = '$usr'", $db); 
...
$done = $myrow[$test_col];     //i think this is the problem 

[g7ibby]

when i do that I get . . .

Warning: Supplied argument is not a valid MySQL result resource in indexc.php on line 6
Sorry, no records were found!

If I put the quote back on $test_col in the SELECT statement $ done is assigned testingcolumn

[g7ibby]

Does anybody know if it is even possible to use a variable to determin the name of the array item?

[g7ibby]

re-did the whole concept to simplify it

$a = 'Y'; //dynamicly named variable
$b = 'a'; //found posible name from list
$c = $$b; // creates known variable name with dynamic value
echo "$c"; //returns $a dynamicly