PHP/MySQL SELECT question

[adam_shep]

Hi,

If I use the following statement, I'm able to get all titles that begin with the letter a.

$result = mysql_query("SELECT title FROM my_table WHERE title like 'a%'");

However, what do I do if I want to get all the titles that begin with the letters a,b,c and d?

Thanks for you help,

Adam

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[adam_shep]

$result = mysql_query("SELECT title FROM my_table WHERE title REGEXP '[a-d]'");

I figured it out

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[maximar]

LOL!

I would have done that like this:

$result = mysql_query("SELECT title FROM my_table WHERE title LIKE 'a%' OR title LIKE 'b%' OR title LIKE '%c' etc. etc. ");

Shows how much I know =)

[maximar]

On a somewghat related note, what would be the best way to deal with titles that start with "The". Often such titles are shown in indexes like this: "Search for Spock, The" or whatever How could this title be placed under S, not T?

[maximar]

Whoooie, another reply to myself!

I would advise against using the REGEXP solution! I tried it out... it would select all titles containing a, b, c or d, not just select the ones that *start* with them.

[adam_shep]

OK... I think I really have it figured out this time.

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM my_table WHERE title REGEXP '^[a-eA-E]'");

The little ^ tells it just to search for the first letter, and a-eA-E has it search both lowercase and uppercase titles.


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[maximar]

Yes, that's it!

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[TWTCommish]

Dang, you guys are good!


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