Simple Beginner Question about SELECT WHERE

[PHPstarter]

I have this line, to select a controlled number of values.

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM AFL_BoE_Chapters WHERE ((boe_type='Chapter Index List') AND ('boe_required_level' >= '".$lvl."' )) ORDER BY boeID ASC")

$lvl is gotten from a number passed on via sessions.
It is used as a 'level' for the user.
So this result is supposed to select only the content that is of the same level as the user, or higher.

The problem is that it selects content which level is above the user, though it works otherwise, but if you might know why this happens.

[dgreenhouse]

At first look, I think you should drop the single-quotes surrounding the column name: boe_required_level.

i.e. 'boe_required_level' >= '".$lvl."' ) should be: boe_required_level >= '".$lvl."' )
- or should be: boe_required_level >= ".$lvl." ) if boe_required_level and $lvl are numeric


The way the query is constructed,'boe_required_level' is always going to be >= '1', and you'll select all records.

Basically, you're only testing a string against a string - not a column against a value.

At least that's how it looks to me...

[PHPstarter]

boe_required_value is a database row. I only put on the single-quotes to check if it would do any difference, when it didnt work without them.
And yeah $lvl is numeric, it can be from 1 to anything higher, depending on what level the user is set to.

I tried echoing the values, and they are all set, but it seems as if the $lvl inside the query maybe isn't, since it selects everything. So could it be a syntax error?
Usually, using '".$lvl."' single-quotes and double-quotes and punctuation always worked..

Edit: I made it work, I had to turn the arrow operator the other way around, to check for 'equal and lower' instead of 'equal and higher'. lol

It will now only display the content which match the user's level, setting the max level at the user's level and will display anything below or equal to it.

Thanks dgreenhouse.