MySQL Order by Question

daveguy

OK, I have a Database, and I do Queries such as this against it -
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM maininventory where main_title LIKE '$alphachar%' order by main_title, alt_title, issue_num",$db);

The table is setup as follows (with some sample data to show the question.

3 Rows -
main_title , alt_title, issue_num

and then Data Like this (following example of Rows above)
Grendel Tales , Devil in Deed, 1
Grendel Tales , Devil in Deed, 2
Grendel Tales , HomeComing , 1
Grendel Tales , HomeComing , 2

How can I change the Order statement to reflect alphabetical order by main_title and alt_title AND numerical order by issue_num ?

Thanks!

Dave

glowball

If you want it to say

A Main Title, Some Subtitle, 1
This Title, A Nice Subtitle, 2

then do

SELECT * FROM maininventory where main_title LIKE '$alphachar%' order by main_title, alt_title, issue_num

If you want

This Title, A Nice Subtitle, 2
A Main Title, Some Subtitle, 1

then just move the ORDER BY around

SELECT * FROM maininventory where main_title LIKE '$alphachar%' order by alt_title, main_title, issue_num

[deleted]

Is that table a sample of what you have or of what you need?

daveguy

I'm sorry , it was late and I was sleepy when I asked this question.

the DB looks something like this-

main_title , alt_title , issue_num
Grendel Tales , HomeComing , 2
Grendel Tales , Devil in Deed , 1
Grendel Tales , Devils Choices , 1
Grendel Tales , Devil in Deed , 2
Grendel Tales , HomeComing , 1
Astro City , , 1
Supermen , , 340

What I want the query to produce is output like this -
Astro City 1
Grendel Tales Devil in Deed 1
Grendel Tales Devil in Deed 2
Grendel Tales Devils Choices 1
Grendel Tales HomeComing 1
Grendel Tales HomeComing 2
Supermen 340

Hopefully this is a bit Clearer! ;>

daveguy

ok - after reading the two responses from Vincent and Glowball I see I need to clear it up a bit more. (what should really do is not ask questions when I am sleepy ;> )

let me give a larger example of my database

main_title , alt_title , issue_num
Books of Magic, Bindings , 1
Books of Magic, Bindings , 2
Aliens , Rogue , 1
Books of Magic, Artificial Heart , 9
Grendel Tales , Devil in Deed , 1
Books of Magic, Artificial Heart , 10
Grendel Tales , Devil in Deed , 2
X-Men , , 290
X-Men , Alpha , 1
Grendel Tales , HomeComing , 1
Grendel Tales , HomeComing , 2
Superman , , 300

I'd like a query that returned this -

Aliens Rogue 1
Books of Magic Bindings 1
Books of Magic Bindings 2
Books of Magic Artificial Heart 9
Books of Magic Artificial Heart 10
Grendel Tales Devil in Deed 1
Grendel Tales Devil in Deed 2
Grendel Tales HomeComing 1
Grendel Tales HomeComing 2
Superman 300
X-Men 290
X-Men Alpha 1

it's tricky - because sometimes the alt_title influences the return value, sometimes it doesnt ..

Thanks!
Dave