Question

How to list records for a query and to display “no records” when no rows returned using a single query?

Currently I am using a COUNT(*) query or using mysql_num_rows() function; then another query in different result set to list data. Can you tell me if it is possible to accomplish the same with a single query?

Answer 1

Important: I assume that the OP uses PHP as (s)he mentions mysql_num_rows. And I hope (s)he will tell me if I am wrong.

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It is your job in PHP to check whether the result is an empty set or not. I don’t understand why you have to do another query. Maybe you have to clarify your question.

Here a more complete example:

$link = mysql_connect("localhost", "mysql_user", "mysql_password");
mysql_select_db("database", $link);

$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table1", $link);

// If if result set contains rows
if(0 == mysql_num_rows($result)) {
    echo 'no records';
}
else { // Loop over the result set
    while(row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
       // do whatever you want with the data here
    }
}

Reference: mysql_num_rows, mysql_fetch_array

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Even if you don’t use PHP, the approach is the same in other languages and there should be similar functions available.