Printing warning when users try submitting duplicate entries

[Kazhultee]

How do I warn users there is a duplicate entry in the MYSQL database already?
if ($REQUEST['name'] != "") {
$code = $REQUEST['name'];

$query="INSERT INTO friends (name) values ('" . mysql_real_escape_string($name) . "')";

$result=mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error());
echo("Inserted " . htmlentities($name) ." into database");
} else {
echo("<p>Please enter a name</p>");
}
?>

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That's my code, how do I make it so that if that name is already there it refreshes page (shows everything still) but says taht that name was already used instead of saying "Duplicate entry 'frank' for key 1"

Thanks 😃

[dagon]

either make name a unique index, if the query fails due to being a duplicate give them the warning, or check the db for the name before the insert.

[Kazhultee]

Unique is already there, and it gives the "Duplicate entry 'frank' for key 1" when someone inputs a named already used.

I want to let the user know a name is already used on the same page so they can re-enter a new one. I have no REAL knowledge of php, i used a tutorial to get this far. So, how do I get it to check prior or right after? Can you give me some code?