asked on

Data from one MySQL table to be used in another table

SUMMARY:
When displaying the data from TABLE2, replace the number in TABLE2's TOPIC field with the associated TOPIC_NAME from TABLE1.

DETAILS:
I have 2 tables in the same MySQL DB. I need help populating the array from TABLE1 to be used by TABLE2 (if I even need to use an array). If it matters, I'm using PDO.

No UPDATE or INSERT... just display the words instead of the number.

============================
TABLE1 is a list of topics.

TABLE1 Syntax:
ID,TOPIC_NUM,TOPIC_NAME

Sample Record from TABLE1:
1,Topic1
2,Topic2
etc...
============================
TABLE2 is a list of individual people and associated data.

TABLE2 Syntax:
ID,NAME,STATE,TOPIC,YEAR

Sample Record from TABLE2:
1,John Smith,MA,2,2005
2,Jane Doe,AZ,1,2009
etc...
============================

FYI: In the Sample Record above, the number after the State abbreviation is the TOPIC.

Here's my code:
(*I'm new to PDO. If you see anything that requires corrections, etc., please let me know.)

<?php 

try {
	$db = new PDO("mysql:host=$hostname;dbname=$database", $username, $password);
	$db->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
        $db->exec("SET CHARACTER SET utf8");

// TABLE1
$tablename1 = 'topics';
$topics_col1 = 'TOPIC_NUM';
$topics_col2 = 'TOPIC_NAME';

// TABLE2
$tablename2 = 'people';
$items_col1 = 'NAME';
$items_col2 = 'STATE';
$items_col3 = 'TOPIC';
$items_col4 = 'YEAR';

$items_q = "SELECT $items_col1, $items_col2, $items_col3 FROM $tablename2";
$items = $db->query($items_q);

foreach ($items as $items_row) {
?>
<h2><?php 
/*

THIS IS WHERE THE TOPIC_NAME FROM TABLE1 SHOULD DISPLAY

*/
?></h2>
<p>
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col1];?>
<br />
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col2];?>
<br />
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col3];?>
<br />
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col4];?>
</p>

<?php 	
} // end FOREACH
	$db = null; // close the database connection
} // end TRY
catch(PDOException $e) {
	echo '<span class="error">ERROR:</span><br />'.$e->getMessage() . "<br />";
	die();
} // end CATCH
?>

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

johanntagle

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Imran Saeed

Here is a reference from other forum.

http://sqlfiddle.com/?_escaped_fragment_=2/d7be9/1#!2/d7be9/1

simply use INNER JOIN

SELECT a.ID, a.NAME, a.STATE, b.TOPIC_NAME , a.YEAR
FROM table2 a
INNER JOIN table1 b
ON a.topic = b.topic_num

mar2195

ASKER

I would welcome input as to which of these solutions is recommended.

johanntagle

We basically gave you the same solution. If you look closely the two queries presented use the same logic. I just gave the extra comment that you also need to make changes in your PHP code as well.

mar2195

ASKER

1. Is xImran's solution supposed to be literal? Meaning... COPY/PASTE the code (using the "a.xxxx" "b.xxxx") and it will execute correctly or is this an example of the JOIN INNER method? ... he was simply giving me an example using the "a" "b" ? I would like to know if using the "dot" method he suggests is another way to code this.

2. The solution provided by johanntagle works perfectly - except for an error/typo in the actual display of the output. It should be:

<?php echo 'TOPIC: '.$items_row[$topics_col2];?>

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johanntagle

xImran's solution still needed to be adapted to use your php variables. But other than that - "a" and "b" are just aliases, which are useful if the names of the tables involved are quite long. And using a.ID, etc in the select clause is optional unless the tables involved have commonly named columns. "INNER JOIN" and just "JOIN" are the same. That's why I said the logic presented by both solutions are the same.

mar2195

ASKER

So ... from my original coding example, I would code this as:

SELECT $tablename1.ID, $tablename1.NAME, $tablename1.STATE, $tablename2.TOPIC_NAME , $tablename1.YEAR

Correct?

johanntagle

Yes

Imran Saeed

Yes it should work. Have your tested it yet?

mar2195

ASKER

For future reference, here is the final version of this script. I have included a commented section that shows the alternative coding method for the query using the "dot" method.

I have tested this script (using both methods) and it functions perfectly.

As always, thanks for the forums' experts help!

<?php 

try {

	$db = new PDO("mysql:host=$hostname;dbname=$database", $username, $password);
	
	$db->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);

    $db->exec("SET CHARACTER SET utf8");


// TABLE1
$tablename1 = 'topics';
$topics_col1 = 'TOPIC_NUM';
$topics_col2 = 'TOPIC_NAME';

// TABLE2
$tablename2 = 'people';
$items_col1 = 'NAME';
$items_col2 = 'STATE';
$items_col3 = 'TOPIC';
$items_col4 = 'YEAR';


$items_q = "SELECT $items_col1, $items_col2, $items_col3, $items_col4, $topics_col2 
FROM $tablename2 
JOIN $tablename1 on ($items_col3 = $topics_col1)";

/* ALTERNATE METHOD FOR QUERY

(*No need for all of the vars above using this method.)
$items_q = "SELECT $tablename2.NAME, $tablename2.STATE, $tablename2.TOPIC, $tablename2.YEAR, $tablename1.TOPIC_NAME 
FROM $tablename2 
INNER JOIN $tablename1 on ($tablename2.TOPIC = $tablename1.TOPIC_NUM)";

*/

$items = $db->query($items_q);

foreach ($items as $items_row) {
?>

<h2><?php echo $items_row[$topics_col2];?></h2>

<p>
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col1];?>
<br />
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col2];?>
<br />
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col3];?>
<br />
<?php echo $items_row[$items_col4];?>
</p>

<?php 	
} // end FOREACH

	$db = null; // close the database connection

} // end TRY
catch(PDOException $e) {
	echo '<span class="error">ERROR:</span><br />'.$e->getMessage() . "<br />";
	die();
} // end CATCH

?>

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mar2195

ASKER

As you can see by the thread of this topic, johanntagle's help was invaluable! Thank you.