[RESOLVED] Looping issue with mysql_fetch_array

bosco500

I'm trying to display a table with states listed in three columns. There are 51 states. When I add a new column, I lose a state (each time), and I cant seem to figure out where its going. Here is the code:

<?php
		$thirdnumstates = ($numstates/3);
		$statecount = 0;
		while (($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) && ($statecount < $thirdnumstates)){
			$statecount += 1;
			$st = $row['st'];
			$sturl = urlencode($st);
			echo "<a href=web-design.php?st=".$sturl." class='statelink'>".$st."</a>";
			echo "<br />";
		}
		echo "</td>";
		echo "<td>";
		$thirdnumstatestwice = (($numstates/3) * 2);
		$statecount = 16;
		while (($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) && ($statecount < $thirdnumstatestwice)){
			$statecount += 1;
			$st = $row['st'];
			$sturl = urlencode($st);
			echo "<a href=web-design.php?st=".$sturl." class='statelink'>".$st."</a>";
			echo "<br />";

	}
	echo "</td>";
	echo "<td>";

	$statecount = 33;
	while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
		$st = $row['st'];
		$sturl = urlencode($st);
		echo "<a href=web-design.php?st=".$sturl." class='statelink'>".$st."</a>";
		echo "<br />";

?>

I lose a state after the first loop, then lose another state after the next loop. Any idea what is causing this would be greatly appreciated!

bosco500

Here is an easier example. This example does the same thing... it drops the current row at the start of the second loop.

<?php
		$halfnumstates = ($numstates/2);
		$statecount = 0;
		while (($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) && ($statecount < $halfnumstates)){
			$statecount += 1;
			$st = $row['st'];
			$sturl = urlencode($st);
			echo "<a href=web-design.php?st=".$sturl." class='statelink'>".$st."</a>";
			echo "<br />";
		}
		echo "</td>";
		echo "<td>";

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
			$statecount += 1;
			$st = $row['st'];
			$sturl = urlencode($st);
			echo "<a href=web-design.php?st=".$sturl." class='statelink'>".$st."</a>";
			echo "<br />";

	}
	echo "</td>";

	?>

In this example, there are six states in the DB:
Georgia
Alabama
NorthCarolina
California
NewYork
Washington

The output is:
<td>
Georgia
Alabama
NorthCarolina
</td>
<td>
NewYork
Washington
</td>

Am I missing something simple here?

mjax

If you switch the order of the while evaluation, it will work:

while (($statecount < $halfnumstates) && ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))){

What happens is that when $statecount < $halfnumstates evaluates to false, the mysql_fetch_array() statement already had been executed, but the while loop will not be entered. After that program flow goes to the second while loop, where another mysql_fecht_array() will be executed, hence skipping one record.

bosco500

mjax wrote:
If you switch the order of the while evaluation, it will work:
while (($statecount < $halfnumstates) && ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))){
What happens is that when $statecount < $halfnumstates evaluates to false, the mysql_fetch_array() statement already had been executed, but the while loop will not be entered. After that program flow goes to the second while loop, where another mysql_fecht_array() will be executed, hence skipping one record.

Thank you for the explanation, it all makes sense now.