CODEWITHSUNDEEP
phpmysqlselectsql-order-by
WX Fox
WX Fox

Reputation: 33

cannot figure out MySQL ORDER BY

I am pretty new to MySQL...so I am sure this is probably an easy fix for someone...I've tried tutorials and other help topics, but can't figure out why it isn't working.

I have a data table with an auto incrementing index. I want to select the last 2 rows of the table. This is what I have:

SELECT * FROM tburg_golf ORDER BY 'index' DESC LIMIT 2

For some reason though, it gives me the first two rows. I've tried removing the limit, changing DESC to ASC...everything I can think of.

If curious, this is part of a larger piece of code:

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM tburg_golf ORDER BY 'index' DESC LIMIT 2");

while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result))  {
    $date = $row['date'];
    $day = $row['day'];
    $time = $row['time'];
    $icon = $row['icon'];
    $forecast = $row['forecast'];
    $updated = $row['updated'];

echo $date.$day.$time.$icon.$forecast.$updated.'<p>';
}

Upvotes: 2

Views: 229

Answers (3)

Joachim Isaksson
Joachim Isaksson

Reputation: 180917

You're ordering by 'index' which is a string constant. Column names are instead surrounded by `

Provided your auto incrementing column is actually called index, this will work;

SELECT * FROM tburg_golf ORDER BY `index` DESC LIMIT 2

Ordering by 'index' will sort every line by the same string, which basically will give you rows in random order.

Upvotes: 2

fire
fire

Reputation: 21531

Is there a field in the table called "index"?

If there is I believe the word index is a reserved word in MySQL which is why it might not work. Either rename the field or wrap it with ` instead of ' e.g.

SELECT * FROM tburg_golf ORDER BY `index` DESC LIMIT 2

Upvotes: 2

Basti
Basti

Reputation: 4042

SELECT * FROM tburg_golf ORDER BY `index` DESC LIMIT 2

If you type 'index' MySQL will ORDER BY the string 'index', which is the same for all tuples, instead of your column index.

Upvotes: 3

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