[Phplib-users] HELP! php-mysql weirdness

[Stephen W. <wo...@me...>]

Hi all,

Sorry this is a little off topic, but I'm can't figure this one out and
someone here might have run into this problem.

I have a SQL query to mysql from php3, the query has an optional WHERE
clause. I get results back if the where clause is included but none if
it is left out.

select distinct BIRT_PLAC as PLACE from INDI where BIRT_PLAC like "%%"
order by PLACE 
num=719

select distinct BIRT_PLAC as PLACE from INDI order by PLACE 
num=0

BOTH queries work FINE if I cut and paste them into mysql directly.
Anyone have any ideas?
  -Steve

function Places($str) {
  global $conn;

  $aPlaces = array();

  $sql = "select distinct BIRT_PLAC as PLACE from INDI ";
  if ($str != "")
    $sql .= "where BIRT_PLAC like \"%$str%\" ";
  $sql .= "order by PLACE ";

  print "<br>$sql<br>\n";
  $result = @mysql_query($sql, $conn)
    or die("Can't execute query: $sql ! $php_errormsg");

  $num = 0;
  while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
    $aPlaces[] = $row["PLACE"];
    $num++;
  }
  print "num=$num<br>\n";
}