first come first serve sign-up page

[WALoeIII]

I'm doing a website for my gaming clan, and I'm trying to build a script to automate the adding of matches and outcome. I want it so only the first 8 people can sign-up. And then for it to say the match is full. How can I do this? should I creat 8 spots in the table?

I know how to count the number of entries, but well, I don't know where to get started.

[jogler]

If you know how to count the number of entries, you can just make a conditional statement, if the number of entries is less than 8, let them sign up, otherwise, don't.

HTH
jogler

[WALoeIII]

but what would I count the number of entries of? I don't want to create a new table for every match!

[Defender1]

this might not be the most efficient method, but when someone signs up, have it open a file that contains a number.
0 when no one has signed up.
each time someone signs up, increase the number by one, and when it equals 8, make it print a message saying signups are full.

or you could do this with a new table, which would be MUCH easier, but you didn't want to create another table

[WALoeIII]

The problem is we have a match once a week, and I want the first 8 guys to sign up to be the ones that play. And if I have to create a new table every time thats gonna be ALOT of tables. I think I'll try that though.

[seanf]

Have one table that will hold all of the match data. Have one field to hold a unique id for the match then when people sign up for a match count how many entries there are with that id. If it is not 8 you can add them to the table else say the match is full.

Sean

[WALoeIII]

hey! good idea, I already have the match_id that auto increments, but I don't get how you would set it up to count?

[seanf]

The basics of it will be something like this:

    $MID = 12;

    $sql = mysql_query("SELECT count(*) FROM matches WHERE MatchID = '$MID'") or die(mysql_error());

    $count = mysql_result($sql, 0, 0);

    if ( $count < 8 ) {

        $places = 8 - $count;

        echo "$places place(s) left";

    } else {

        echo "No places left";

    } 

$MID is a variable that represents the match id

Sean

[WALoeIII]

The probem with that is that I'd be counting the total number of matches, I need to be able to count the number of entries in a single column of a table. So in the colums players (just as an example) I would be able to insert people into that colum, but I'd like to count the number of people that are in that particular column. I don't understand what good it would to to count all of the entries in my table, that would just give me the first 8 people to sing up ever, I will not be clearing the table each round, I want to store the data of each row, and then start a new row for each and every match. And within each row have a space for people to sign up. Should I maybe create 8 new columns slot1-8 or something and insert into each column? or is there a way to put all 8 players into 1 column called players. I could potentially maniupulate my columns with a for clause... Here's my table so far, with an example of the data I'd like to have entered.

CREATE TABLE `ladder` (
  `match_id` int(4) NOT NULL auto_increment,
  `opponent` varchar(255) default NULL,
  `tag` varchar(255) default NULL,
  `ladder` varchar(255) default NULL,
  `map` varchar(255) default NULL,
  `time` varchar(255) default NULL,
  `location` varchar(255) default NULL,
  `outcome` varchar(255) default NULL,
?? what should I do for the players in the match?
  PRIMARY KEY  (`match_id`)

I've already made a simple script to let me add/edit/delete matches based of the match_id variable. I am going to make a separate script that will allow people to signup to play in a particular match (ie those that are still not filled.) and if there are 8 signed up for the match they won't be allowed to signup

[seanf]

What I am suggesting is that you have a seperate matches table where each play that signs up for a match is put in that table along with the match id

Sean

[WALoeIII]

AHHHH!!! I'm sorry some how I wasn't getting that. LOL! Thanks that will work perfectly, and I'll keep my data nice and normalized. LOL! Thanks