multiple search not working

[temp2escape]

tbl_data

id.............name.............contactID............. location.............specialize

1.............Josh.............1902A .............New York.............IT
2.............Robert...........8291B............. Boston.............Business
3.............Ben.............2893Z ............. Boston.............Marketing
4.............Matt.............X2379............. Beverly Hills.............IT

3 searching option...

1. text box with the id keyword (for name or contactID)
2. drop down list with the id location (for location). can be proceed without selecting any value.
3. drop down list with the id specialize (for specialize). can be proceed without selecting any value.

I did this sql query.

---

SELECT *
FROM tbl_data
WHERE (name LIKE %Colname1%) OR (contactID LIKE %Colname1%) AND location = Colname2 AND specialize = Colname3

---

Name: Colname1
Type: Text
Default value: %
Run-time value: $_POST['keyword']

Name: Colname2
Type: Text
Default value: %
Run-time value: $_POST['location']

Name: Colname3
Type: Text
Default value: %
Run-time value: $_POST['specialize']

---

It is not returning the result as expected. can someone advise me where i go wrong?

[Sxooter]

It's a good idea to not rely on precedence of AND and OR ops and use parens to make sure it's working the way you want it. Also, you're not quoting your strings.

WHERE (name LIKE %Colname1%) OR (contactID LIKE %Colname1%) AND location = Colname2 AND specialize = Colname3

becomes

WHERE (name LIKE '%Colname1%' OR contactID LIKE '%Colname1%') AND location = 'Colname2' AND specialize = 'Colname3'

[temp2escape]

i tried the codes you suggested and its not returning any result at all. the prior codes is at least showing something.

[temp2escape]

any similar sample or work i can refer to?