database selection, but with a certain order

[abda53]

http://upixs.com/1/MNemn/2806.jpg

currently..
$sql = "SELECT * FROM $userstable WHERE section != 'Staff' && section != 'Ass Staff' ORDER BY section,grade DESC";

how can i have it so that i can order it like so it will show up in a certain section order? like drummajor, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, baritones, etc

[maxpup979]

isnt that what you have there?

[abda53]

no. they are just sorted by alphabetical. i wanted to sort it in a pre defined, non-alphabetical way.

i found another solution, i just made them ordered by numbers, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and sorted it that way.

[maxpup979]

ah. gotcha. that is probably the easiest way to do it. btw, you should always sort trombones to the top...😉

[abda53]

yeah i know.. im a trombone player myself 😉

[maxpup979]

GRIN. The best minds always are...😉

[abda53]

i also played baritone in drum corps
(but now i think we are getting off topic) lol

if you want you can im me.. abda53bd on aim

[Sxooter]

There's two basic ways to do the ordering, using a client side query mechanism with a case statement, or with a secondary table.

I'd use the secondary table, like so:

order_table:
id | cat
1 | saxophones
2 | trombones
3 | tubas
4 | trumpets

and so on, then just do:

select * from yourtable yt left order_table ot on (yt.section=ot.cat) (more query goes here) order by ot.id

[abda53]

gotcha.. thanks 🙂