Question

I want to select unique images from a database. I am using the following query which includes a specific image, (ID=11), but I’m getting some repeated images:

$photo=mysql_query("SELECT A. * FROM (
SELECT * FROM profile_images
WHERE approved='N'  
ORDER BY (ID = 11) DESC, RAND()      
LIMIT $sn) 
as A ORDER BY RAND()");

Where can I put DISTINCT? I have tried:

$photo=mysql_query("SELECT A. * FROM (
SELECT DISTINCT FROM profile_images
WHERE approved='N'  
ORDER BY (ID = 11) DESC, RAND()      
LIMIT $sn) 
as A ORDER BY RAND()");

But I’m getting this error:

You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ‘FROM profile_images WHERE approved=’N’ ORDER BY (ID = 11) DESC, RAND(‘ at line 2

Answer 1

you can use DISTINCT but you are not selecting any columns in your sub-query. You have to add the columns you want or select *

change you current query from this:

$photo=mysql_query("SELECT A. * FROM (
SELECT DISTINCT FROM profile_images
WHERE approved='N'  
ORDER BY (ID = 11) DESC, RAND()      
LIMIT $sn) 
as A ORDER BY RAND()");

to this:

$photo=mysql_query("SELECT A. * FROM (
SELECT DISTINCT * FROM profile_images
WHERE approved='N'  
ORDER BY (ID = 11) DESC, RAND()      
LIMIT $sn) 
as A ORDER BY RAND()");