query problem

[k994519]

Hi guys,

I got a little problem which i can not work out yet, thought i would ask for help

I got a table which is called tests
in that table there the following entries

test_id, subject_id, number of questions........

when i set the number of questions to 5, it should look for 5 questions from a table called questions but are linked by the subject id........

my question is

how can I create a query which will load the first x number of questions from the question table where subject_id is the same as subject_id in the questions table.....

also how can i randomise the way these questions, I know its the rand option in mysql but ive never used it before.....

if some one could help me with the query code or even advanced suedo code for this i would very much appriecate it......

thanks

[bastien]

okay two part answer.

1. select question_id from questions where subject_id = x

use PHP to create an array of questions_id
$array_Qid[] =$rows['question_id'];

then count the elements of the array
$counter = count($array_Qid);

now create a random array of numbers from array
$my_q = array_rand($array_qid, $limit);

now implode the array to get a csv list for the IN portion of the sql query

$my_qs = implode(",",$my_q);

2. run the query

select questions.* from questions, tests
where
tests.subject_id = questions.subject_id
and questions.question_id in ($my_qs)
LIMIT $limit;