Error handling with a DB query

i have a query checking my DB to see if a user exists (for my login script); i'm using the count(*) function in MySQL to display a '1' if the user exists but it cant return a '0' when it doesnt find anything, anyway, here is the code i am using:

PHP Code:

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mysql_result(mysql_query("SELECT *, count(*) FROM users 
WHERE uname='$u_name' AND upassword='$u_password' 
GROUP BY uname"),0,"count(*)"); 


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Anyone know how to handle this error ?

Might be easier to return the records where the username matches then count the records returned with the mysql_num_rows function

I agree with chris on this one. don't make it harder than it is.

you could do the query with the "or die" included... like so...

$sql1="select yadda.yadda from datta";

$imageresult=mysql_query($sql1)
or die ("An error has occured. <script language='javascript'>alert('uh oh, what did you do now');</script> ");

that "or die" is only if the it can't query the database. he waqnts it to return a "0" if he doesn't find anything.

Quote:

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Originally posted by chrisjk
Might be easier to return the records where the username matches then count the records returned with the mysql_num_rows function

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hmmm, sounds good "chrisjk", i think i sorta know what u mean but not totally, could u explain a little better pls ? :)

btw. "TheGoldenShogun", i'v tried a "OR DIE" thiny, doesnt solve my problem, as scoutt sais, i think its only for a seruious problem like not being able to actually access the DB. (i think i know what i mean by that :D)

okay, here's an example

PHP Code:

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// connect to database
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "username", "password");
mysql_select_db("databasename",$db);

// Formulate the query
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE uname ='$u_name'";

// Execute the query and put results in $result
$result = mysql_query($sql);

// Get number of rows in $result.
$num = mysql_numrows($result);

if ( $num == 1 ) {
    // 1 record, user exists. At this point you should check the password matches
} else {
    // more than 1, or doesn't exist
} 


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My name is chris BTW ;)

or

PHP Code:

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// connect to database
$db = mysql_connect("localhost", "username", "password");
mysql_select_db("databasename",$db);

// Formulate the query
$sql = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE uname ='$u_name'";

// Execute the query and put results in $result
$result = mysql_query($sql);

// Get number of rows in $result.
$num = mysql_numrows($result);

if ( $num == 0 ) {
    // say they don't exist and do what you want 
} else {
//  if a record exists. then check for the password and then run rest of the page. so you can query the DB from here to check.

} 


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ok, thanx Scoutt & *ahem* Chris :)

maybe i'll buy u 2 a beer @ the end of the year when i turn 18, then maybe air mail it to you, ****e, u don like flat beer do ya ? :D

thanx again

no worries

if it's beer, I don't mind how it gets here ;)