I need some guidance

[Tekkno]

I have a script that generates random data into an array then uses a while loop to display the data. I have a separate script that takes a row from that array and inserts it into a MySQL database. The problem I am having, is that every time the page refreshes the data changes. So instead of inserting the original row I wanted into the database, it inserts the refreshed row. I can post code if need be, but I am just looking for a way to:

a. Either keep the random script from generating automatically or, in intervals, on a particular event, etc.

b. Or, find a way to preserve those variables somehow so they don't refresh when the page is reloaded. Possibly store them in a session?

Any recommendations are appreciated.

[somedude3488]

Storing the data in a session would be the easiest way to overcome your problem.

[Tekkno]

OK, the problem I have had with this method, is that every time the query runs, it changes the session variable, thus doing no good. There must be something simple I am missing. How would I separate the session variable from the array? Here is the code:

$results = mysql_query("SELECT column1, column2, date, time FROM users ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1");
$row_data = mysql_fetch_assoc($results);
$_SESSION['data_date'] = $row_data['date'];
$_SESSION['data_time'] = $row_data['time'];

[Tekkno]

How about this kkeith, what if I create a new column in the database. Before the query, I check the database for the value of that field. If the field contains a 1 the query does not run, if it contains nothing the query runs. When the query runs, it puts a 1 in this field. Then when the user logs out it clears the field and the process starts all over again. Do you think this would work? I don't need the data refreshing every time the page reloads, just occasionally.

[somedude3488]

That sounds like it would work.

Can you explain what you are doing exactly? Like the reason for the random data, ect.

[Tekkno]

That sounds like it would work.

Can you explain what you are doing exactly? Like the reason for the random data, ect.

The random data is due to a recommendation area. When the user goes to that page there are recommendations of other places on the site to visit. But it needs to be dynamic.

[Tekkno]

Here is what I came up with:

<?php
//Connect to user database
include_once("connect_user.php");
$query = "SELECT rec_check FROM members WHERE uid='".$_SESSION['uid']."'";
if(!$rec_check = mysql_query($query)){
echo mysql_error();

}elseif($rec_check = "1"){
header("location: index.php");

}elseif(empty($rec_check)){

//Connect to website database
include("connect_web.php");

$results = mysql_query("SELECT column1, column2, date, time FROM data ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1");
$row_animals = mysql_fetch_assoc($results);
}
?>

But it appears to be an endless loop, no page is displayed then I get a firefox error that the page isn't redirecting properly. Could it be because the query is encapsulated? Another suspicion I have is that I wrote the script to connect to 2 different databases because the website data is in a separate database than the user information. Any ideas?

[Tekkno]

Well after changing some of it around, I nearly got it working. But I realized something, the while loop will error out if I bypass the query and I won't get any data. Unfortunately the query HAS to run. Any other ideas out there? I need to get this working badly.

[somedude3488]

Sorry about the delay in my response.

What is the value of rec_check? Just a 0 or a 1?

[Tekkno]

Oh that's OK kkeith, at the time of testing it contained a 1. I can post that failed code if you want. One thing it was missing now that I think about it was dumping the data into a session then getting the data from there. But I just realized I accidentally deleted that code. Working on rebuilding it.

[somedude3488]

Can you post the code and some example data? Is the code online at all so I can see it working (or not working)?

[Tekkno]

Here is the code.

<?php
//Connect to user database
include("connect_user.php");

$qry = mysql_query("SELECT rec_check FROM members WHERE uid='".$_SESSION['id']."'");
if(!$rec_check = mysql_query($qry)){
echo mysql_error();
}elseif($rec_check == "1"){

header("location: index.php");
}

if($rec_check == "0"){

//Connect to website database
include("connect_web.php");

$resu = mysql_query("SELECT column1, column2, date, time FROM data ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1");
$row_data = mysql_fetch_assoc($resu);
$_SESSION['data'] = $row_data;

include("connect_user.php");

$qy = "UPDATE members SET rec_check = 1 WHERE uid='".$_SESSION['id']."'";
if(!$rec_c = mysql_query($qy)){
echo mysql_error();
}else{
echo "added 1 to database"; (I just added this to check the progress)
}
}

?>

It appears to be running the query every time however, even though I had that part working before. I just have been working on this all day and am starting to go crosseyed :)

[somedude3488]

After looking through your code, I am still confused as to what you are trying to accomplish. Sorry, but can you try to explain it better.

[Tekkno]

I got it taken care of. Thanks for trying to help kkeith.