Complex query structure, not working as intended

[mstembri]

	if ($sort == "date") {$order = "sortdate, pmsname, techid";}
	if ($sort == "vendor") {$order = "pmsname, sortdate, techid";}
	if ($sort == "techid") {$order = "techid, pmsname, sortdate";}
	if ($sort == "lengthcall") {$order = "lengthcall, pmsname, techid";}
	if ($sort == "fnum") {$order = "fnum, sortdate, techid";}
	
	$result = mysql_query("SELECT *, DATE_FORMAT(date,'$datesort') as sortdate, DATE_FORMAT(date,'$dateformat') as date, DATE_FORMAT(lengthcall,'$timeformat') as lengthcall FROM outdated,pms,ver WHERE outdated.verid=ver.verid AND pms.pmsid=ver.pmsid ORDER BY '$order'",$db);

Any clue why this routine returns the same order of records no matter what sort variable is given?

Thanks!

[freddydoesphp]

Try removing the single quotes from around the $order

[TWTCommish]

I would also suggestion using a SWITCH statement in place of the IF conditionals. My general rule of thumb is that, when declaring the value of a variable that way, anymore than 2 possible outcomes should be handled with a SWITCH statment.

It should go a little something like this:

switch ($sort) {
  case "date"
    $order = "sortdate, pmsname, techid";
    break;
  case "vendor"
    $order = "pmsname, sortdate, techid";
    break;
  case "techid"
    $order = "techid, pmsname, sortdate";
    break;
  case "lengthcall"
    $order = "lengthcall, pmsname, techid";
    break;
  case "fnum"
    $order = "fnum, sortdate, techid";
    break;
} 

You should be able to replace your if statements with that block of code...good luck!