[Resolved] xtremely absurd problem in searching

blaster_master

my search script works only for a certain search inputs. for the rest, eventho the input is already available somewhere within the db (in the proper table), it doesn't return anything. it even doesn't display the message "Nothing found." (that's included in my code).

also i have 50 entires for now in my db. when i search for some word that does appear in the very 1st row, it doesn't return that row either (results begin from the 2nd row). so i fixed it -temporarily by filling the 1st 2 rows with same data. that worked. but why did that happen?

i just don't seem to get over these ridiculous problems... hopefully someone knows what on earth is wrong with this.
you'll probably need the script, i'll post that later on. will have to change the stuff (names, etc) in it...

P.S> does anyone live in vancouver, bc, canada? damn none of my friends know anything about php. they're more into CS!

planetsim

I think you need to post your script. No point making a thread without something to view. I also suggest that you test your Query in PHPMyAdmin

blaster_master

<HTML><title>My Database</title>
<?php
$searchstring=trim($searchstring);
if ($searchstring){
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "*****", "*******") or die("Unable to connect to the database: " . mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("my_db",$db);

$exp = explode (" ", $searchstring);
$i=0;
foreach ($exp as $val){
  if ($i==0){
    $where = "where $searchtype like '%$val%' ";
  }
  else{
    $where .= "and $searchtype like '%$val%' ";
  }
$i++;
}
$sql="SELECT * FROM my_table $where ORDER BY code ASC";
$result = mysql_query($sql,$db);
if (mysql_fetch_array($result) == 0){
  echo "No matching results found.<br><br>";}
while ($myrow = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
  echo "Code: ".$myrow["code"]."<br>";
  echo "Author: ".$myrow["author"]."<br>";
  echo "Title: ".$myrow["title"]."<br>";
  echo "Journal: ".$myrow["jname"]." ";
  echo "<b>".$myrow["jver"]."</b>";
  if ($myrow["jnum"]!=0) {
    echo "(".$myrow["jnum"].")";}
  else{
    echo "";}
  echo ", pp. ".$myrow["jpage"];
  echo ", (".$myrow["year"].")<br>";
  $link = $myrow["link"];
  if ($link==NULL){
    echo "Link not available<br><br>";}
  else{
  echo "<a href='$link'>Link</a><br><br>";}
  }
}
else
{
?>
<H2>My Database</H2>
<form method="POST" action="<?php $PHP_SELF ?>">
<table border="0" cellspacing="2">
<tr><td>Type your search here</td>
<td>Search by</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><input type="text" name="searchstring" size="30"></td>
<td><select size="1" name="searchtype">
<option selected value="title">Title</option>
<option value="author">Author</option>
<option value="jname">Journal</option>
<option value="year">Year</option>
<option value="keyword">Keyword</option>
<option value="code">Code</option>
</select></td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><input type="submit" value="Search" name="B1">
<input type="reset" value="Reset" name="B2"></p>
</form>
<?php
}
?>
<hr>
</HTML>

i'll do a search about phpmyadmin and will see if i could use it...

planetsim

Hmm.. Echo out $where see what it gives you.

$searchstring=trim($searchstring);
if ($searchstring){

Bit curious about this though. Shouldnt it be

$searchstring=trim($_POST['searchstring']);
if (isset($searchstring)){

Although Id be checking to make sure $_POST['searchstring'] wasnt empty, checking the characters inside to not allow invalid ones.

xblue

Originally posted by blaster_master
it doesn't return that row either (results begin from the 2nd row). so i fixed it -temporarily by filling the 1st 2 rows with same data. that worked. but why did that happen?

this is because you are fetching the first record here (without using the data)

if (mysql_fetch_array($result) == 0){

better for this purpose

if (mysql_num_rows($result) == 0){

blaster_master

AWESOME!!! thnx alot both of you, however it was xblue's advise that made the difference! that line was the cause of all my problems.