MySQL PHP Query Invalid - Can't find column

Question

UPDATE: The suggestion of the '' worked around $username. Thanks! But now, the table isn't actually getting updated from the $lastLoginTime.

I have some problem with my query that I can't seem to figure out for the life of me and I am at a halt.

Let's take a look at the code.

function checkTOS($preusergrab){
include("includes/opendb.php");

$query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE username='".$preusergrab."'";
$result = mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error());

while($row = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)){
    $resultset[] = $row;
    $TOS = $row['acceptTOS'];
    }

mysql_free_result($result);

 if($TOS == 1){
 // return to processor

    $lastLoginTime = time();

    $query = mysql_query("UPDATE users 
                    SET lastLoginTime = '$lastLoginTime' 
                        WHERE username = $username");

                        if (!$query) {

             die('<br>Invalid query: ' . mysql_error());
            }


 }elseif($TOS == 0 || $TOS = ''){
    header("Location: http://partner.domain.com/terms.php?action=show");
    die();
}else{
echo 'Internal Application Error:';
echo 'Value unrecognizable.';
echo '<br>Please alert someone at [email protected]';
die();
}
 }

Now, where the problem comes in is at this section:

    $lastLoginTime = time();

    $query = mysql_query("UPDATE users 
                    SET lastLoginTime = '$lastLoginTime' 
                        WHERE username = $username");

                        if (!$query) {

             die('<br>Invalid query: ' . mysql_error());
            }

It says the following:

   Invalid query: Unknown column 'theuser' in 'where clause'

In this case, 'theuser' is the user that $preusergrab is representing.

In my table, the username is the primary key, row 0.

What could possibly be invalid if I know the row is there and everything else works?

i recommend putting your SQL query into a variable, echoing it, then copy and pasting it into PHPMyAdmin. This will tell you whether its your PHP or SQL that is at fault. — Julien
– Julien, Commented May 14, 2012 at 14:28

triclosan · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-14 14:27:30Z

2

try to

$query = mysql_query("UPDATE users 
                SET lastLoginTime = '$lastLoginTime' 
                    WHERE username = '$username'");

answered May 14, 2012 at 14:27

triclosan

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3 Comments

triclosan Over a year ago

check that time() returns date in appropriate format understandably to mysql

user1393955 Over a year ago

Yes, standard unix timestamp, i use it everywhere else on the app. Just echoed the variable as well and it showed the timestamp.

triclosan Over a year ago

print out "UPDATE users SET lastLoginTime = '$lastLoginTime' WHERE username = '$username'" for debugging (post it here please) and run this query by console mysql-client. let's see )

D'Arcy Rittich · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-14 14:27:37Z

1

It should be:

WHERE username = '$username'");

Note the apostrophes I added around your $username' variable.

answered May 14, 2012 at 14:27

D'Arcy Rittich

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Comments

Ikmal Ezzani · Accepted Answer · 2012-05-14 14:34:22Z

0

I believe you forgot to quote the $username, quote like so '$username'

$query = mysql_query("UPDATE users 
SET lastLoginTime = '$lastLoginTime' 
WHERE username = '$username'");

if (!$query) {
die('<br>Invalid query: ' . mysql_error());
}

answered May 14, 2012 at 14:34

Ikmal Ezzani

1,2838 silver badges13 bronze badges

1 Comment

user1393955 Over a year ago

Well that worked, but some reason it doesnt update the table.. I updated my question.

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