How can I display text if a field in a table is empty?

[eVrn]

I want to display some default text in case the data is not yet inserted into two specific rows in my table. So I need to check to see if data exists, and if not, them display some text. The data being displayed is an MOV file and some comments about that movie. I would also like to not render the box for the movie if that data is missing. Right now, I am using an echo to embed the MOV files, and within the path is the call to the specific file in the table. But if the data is not there, I just get a blank box.

I think I just need some simple if statements but I am not sure how to check for data being present or not.

Something like:

if (data present){
echo "embed video code";
}
else(
echo "data not available";
)

Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

[Rodney_H_]

What does your code look like?

What have you tried so far?

What error messages are you given with your current code?

Here is a simple example taken from PHP.net (and slightly modified for your needs):

<?php
mysql_connect("localhost", "user", "***") or die(mysql_error());

mysql_select_db("mydb");

$result = mysql_query("SELECT `name` FROM `mytable`");

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result, MYSQL_ASSOC)) 
{
     if($row["name"] == '')
     {
          echo 'The name is empty<br />';
     }
     else
     {
          echo $row["name"] . '<br />';
     }
}

mysql_free_result($result);
?> 

[eVrn]

I have not tried anything yet, didn't know where to start. Am am a SOOPER NOOB here, but I can understand your code enough to incorporate it I think. The key seems to be the

if($row['name'] == '')

I think I need to install my row name there and this then checks to see if it is empty using the == operand. Do I have that correct?

I am off to give it a go now.

By the way, I see you are in Chicago. I am in Plainfield, just south of Naperville.

Anyway, thanks for your input, I will post again when I have it working, or if I have any issues.

[eVrn]

OK, I guess I am stuck trying to figure out just where to place that code. I think you will be able to see where the content is that I want to either display or echo my message that no data exists yet.

Can you give me some direction on where to incorporate another if/else statement in view of the fact that I am already IN an else() statement.

<?php
// Connects to your Database
mysql_connect("localhost", "******", "******") or die(mysql_error());
mysql_select_db("*******") or die(mysql_error());

//checks cookies to make sure they are logged in
if(isset($_COOKIE['ID_my_site']))
{
$username = $_COOKIE['ID_my_site'];
$pass = $_COOKIE['Key_my_site'];
$check = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = '$username'")or die(mysql_error());
while($info = mysql_fetch_array( $check ))
{

//if the cookie has the wrong password, they are taken to the login page
if ($pass != $info['password'])
{ header("Location: clients.php?ctPos=125&pld=1");
}

//otherwise they are shown the admin area
else
{
echo "<BR><BR>Dartfish files for " .$info['first']. " " .$info['last']. " are shown below.<BR><BR><HR WIDTH='70%'><BR><BR>";

echo "<embed src=http://www.theWebSite/files/".$info['filepath']." pluginspage='http://quicktime.apple.com/' width=320 height=260 loop='true' controller='true' autoplay='true'></embed><BR><BR><BR><BR>";

echo " " .$info['comments']. " ";

echo "<BR><BR><BR><a href=logout.php>Logout</a><BR><BR><BR>";
}
}
}
else

//if the cookie does not exist, they are taken to the login screen
{
header("Location: clients.php?ctPos=125&pld=1");
}
?>

Thanks again!