[RESOLVED] Pulling alphebetized list starting with random record

Mandakins

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to do this the most efficiently (or if it can even be done).

I need to pull a list of records starting with a random record and then running to the end of the list, then back to the beginning and ending with the record before the random one - with paging.

Example, a list of bed and breakfasts. The owner wants the list to start on a new (or random) letter each time the results are presented - AND - wants to start with the first listing for that letter. Like if the random record happens to pull "Mitchell Cabins", then I need to roll back to the first "M" listing and go from there to the end, then start over until I get to Mitchell cabins and stop, and be able to page through the results.

It'll be easy enough to get the random record... not too difficult to go back to the first listing of that first letter. I'm sure I can even pull the records once I get to the end. But to get it to work with paging???? :eek:

If anyone has any good ideas I'd appreciate hearing them - any at all!

Thanks in advance!!

NogDog

Just an untested thought:

$letters = range('a', 'z');
$letter = $letters[rand(0,25)];
$sql = "SELECT *, STRCMP('$letter', column_name) AS sort_result
FROM table_name ORDER BY sort_result, column_name";

Mandakins

I hadn't thought of that. That's cool!

I'd have to have a way to test to see if a record existed with that letter though. Like what if the letter was N but no records starting with N were in the table? I guess you could just check for number of rows and if it was 0, run it again?

NogDog

If there were none starting with "N", then I'd expect it to start with the "O" entries. But my brain gets a little twisted trying to work it out in my head, so a little testing is order to prove the concept. 🙂

Mandakins

Yeah, I think you're right now that I look at it again. My brain is fuzzy this time of night.

Thanks!!!!

Mandakins

You're a genius! It works great!!! 🙂

bradgrafelman

Don't forget to mark this thread resolved.

Mandakins

Thanks for letting me know how to do that (mark it as resolved). 🙂