[RESOLVED] Query to find the largest number

[joshmpratt]

I've got a table (MySQL) with a field called: 'java_num'. It's a varchar(4). It's going to have a number in that field anywhere from 001 to 999. How can I make a query in PHP that searches through that field and finds the largest number?

[cahva]

U probably mean:

$sql = "SELECT MAX(java_num) FROM table";
$res = mysql_query($sql);
$max = mysql_result($res,0);

[TimC]

why is it a varchar if its a number field? You'd be better off with int or smallint.

Then its just a case of

SELECT java_num FROM <table_name> ORDER BY java_num DESC;

[joshmpratt]

Well, how can I make a field that is an integer that will always be 3 numbers long:

002, 014, 235, etc. It MUST be 3 numbers long. I can't figure out how do do that. Any idea?

[devinemke]

read up on ZEROFILL in the mySQL manual on Numeric Types.

[joshmpratt]

ok, I've got the zerofill thing going on and working correctly...

I've got this code now:

$highest = mysql_query("SELECT MAX(java_num) FROM events");

But this isn't giving me the number. It says it's an array. How can I get the highest number into a variable?

[devinemke]

$result = mysql_query('SELECT MAX(java_num) FROM events') or exit(mysql_error());
$max = mysql_result($result, 0);
echo $max;

[joshmpratt]

thanks a bunch!