Question

just doing an INSERT using mySQL which works fine…

 mysql_query("INSERT INTO FLIGHTS_AVAILABLE 
 (aircraftID, aircraftType, maxSeats) VALUES('$theaircraftID', '$addType', '$maxCapacity'      ) ") 
or die(mysql_error());  

 echo '<p>';
 echo "The following details were added into the database:";
 echo "<hr>";

  echo $theaircraftID . $addType . $maxCapacity;

This works fine, however I’ve looked online and whilst I have heard of a feature called IF NOT EXISTS, there are not very good explanations online about it’s use.

Is there anyway, I can run this query above, providing that if for example $theaircraftID = 10, and there is already a row in the database where the aircraftID = 10, then the query would not be run?

Thanks for any help you may be able to suggest,

Tom

Answer 1

Add a UNIQUE INDEX on 'FLIGHTS_AVAILABLE'.'aircraftID'. MySQL will block additional INSERTs with the same value. Additionally you can use ON DUPLICATE KEY EXISTS to run an UPDATE incase the INSERT give a DUPLICATE KEY constraint error.