Dynamic MySQL query is supposed to order by column name (variable), but won't

[traineeirishprogrammer]

I am currently working on a project where I need to sort my MYSQL query results by different categories. How ever the code does not seem to be working properly and I spend too much time on it already.

So here is the code:

[PHP]
if (isset($_GET['sortby'])){$sort = $_GET['sortby'];}
else $sort = '';

$query = "SELECT * FROM list WHERE county = '$counties[$x]' order by '$sort' ";
$db->query($query);
[/PHP]

When I view the results I dont the order I want, the order I posted $_GET

how ever when I let the query be lets say "bandwidth"

[PHP] $query = "SELECT * FROM list WHERE county = '$counties[$x]' order by bandwidth ";[/PHP]

it works.

can you help me where am I going wrong.

[epots9]

order by has to be followed by a column name, your $sort isn't a column name.

[pbmods]

Heya, Irish.

Changed thread title to better describe the problem (did you know that threads whose titles do not follow the Posting Guidelines actually get FEWER responses?).

Try using backticks (`) around $sort instead of quotes (').

[traineeirishprogrammer]

$sort is actually a variable and could be anything, by any coloumn name I want. But what ever way it reads or parses it, mysql does not seem to be able to get the information from the variable. I tried the backsticks but they dont work I only get an error when I try to fetch the results. using mysql_fetch.

CAN ANYONE HELP ME IT IS NOT WORKING!!

thanks

[Atli]

The order by clause requires the name of a column that exists in the table. The column name should not be quoted. You can encapsulate the column name in backticks (`), as pbmods suggested.

Note, that depending on your server and how you created the table, the column names may be case-sensitive.
(My tests show that columns created using backticks are case-sensitive, whether they are encapsulated in the SELECT query or not)

If your $sort variable provides a value that fits this description, your query should run fine. If not, it will fail.

[traineeirishprogrammer]

Thanks I fixed the problem

[pbmods]

Heya, Irish.

Glad to hear you got it working! Good luck with your project, and if you ever need anything, post back anytime :)