How to search database using php

[ehpratah]

hi i have a problem i need to search my database for the registration number..the problem is i have 2 tables in that database such as cd and sd.. how can i search it?

i already have an idea its using textbox and combobox and a submit button but i dont how to implement it..please help me guyz thanks

here is the form

 <form method="post" action="searcherresults.php">
 
  <select name="table" size="1">
 <option value="cd">cd</option>
 <option value="sd">sd</option>
 </select>
 <input type="text" name="search" size=25 maxlength=25>
 <input type="Submit" name="Submit" value="Submit">
 </form>

and this searchresult.ph p

<?php

 $search=$_POST['search'];
 $table=$_POST['table'];

 



									$dbhost = 'localhost';
									$dbuser = 'root';
									$dbpass = '';

									$conn = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass) or die ('Error connecting to mysql');

									$dbname = 'msic';
									mysql_select_db($dbname);
 $sql = mysql_query ("SELECT * FROM '%{$table}%' WHERE Rnum LIKE '%{$search}%'");
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)){
    echo 'ID: '.$row['Idko'];
    echo '<br/> Registration Number: '.$row['Rnum'];
    echo '<br/> Name: '.$row['Fname'];
	echo ' '.$row['Lname'];
	echo '<br/>Contact Number: '.$row['Contact'];
	echo '<br/>Rate: '.$row['Rate'];
	echo '<br/> Pick Up location: '.$row['Origin'];
	echo '<br/>Pick Up Date: '.$row['Pickday'] . $row['Pickmonth'] ;
    echo '<br/>Pick time: '.$row['Pickhr'];
	echo ' '.$row['Pickmin'];
	echo '<br/>Return Date: '.$row['Rday'] . $row['Rmonth'] ;
	echo '<br/>Return time: '.$row['Rhr'] ;
	echo ' '.$row['Rmin'];
	echo '<br/> Destination: '.$row['Destination'];
	echo '<br/> Vehicle Type: '.$row['Vehicle'];
    echo '<br/><br/>';
    }
 
 ?>

[Dormilich]

as a matter of fact, you search in a database by using the database (resp. its language SQL). PHP is only there to transform the user input into SQL and the returned DB data into (readable) HTML.

[ehpratah]

have any idea how can i search my database with a use of dropdown menu, combo box?i'm really stuck in here dude..

[Dormilich]

searching a DB from scratch is a lot of code, you know? and depending on how each part looks (you have at least HTML, CSS, PHP, SQL (not to forget the DB layout) and possibly JavaScript), it can become quite a handful.

[ehpratah]

i've already made a bit of coding and im having an error

Warning: mysql_fetch_array() expects parameter 1 to be resource, boolean given in C:\xampp\htdocs\msicrevised\searcherresults.php on line 20

[Dormilich]

that means that your query failed due to an SQL syntax error.

[ehpratah]

can you point it out where i made the mistake..and can you give me a an alternative solution.thanks

[Dormilich]

the error is made on line 20. detailed info you can get from mysql_error().

[ehpratah]

i already review my code i cant kind point out where i made the mistake...can you help me debug it.. thanks help is much appreciated

[Dormilich]

can you help me debug it

as I said, use mysql_error()

[ehpratah]

the error that i encounter when i put mysql_error() is

Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_LOGICAL_OR in C:\xampp\htdocs\msicrevised\searcherresults.php on line 19

[Dormilich]

a little bit more code would be incredibly helpful ...

[ehpratah]

actually i really dont have any idea what to do next whit that error that i am encountering:(

[ehpratah]

is their a problem with this part?

 $sql = mysql_query ("SELECT * FROM '%{$table}%' WHERE Rnum LIKE '%{$search}%'");

[Dormilich]

that’s correct.

edit: table names must not be string quoted and can’t contain wildcard characters.