ok so in my table i currenty have
________________________
| username | by_user |
|------------------------- |
| Emma | Bob |

but im getting the error

QUERY ERROR:
SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = Bob
Unknown column 'Bob' in 'where clause'

but bob is right there ... and surly if it cant find bob it should display the page still

PHP Code:

<?php
session_start(); // starts sessions
include "../settings.php"; // inlcudes config

switch ($_GET[friends]) { //allows multiple pages
default:
 $id = $_SESSION['user_id'];
 $get_username_value = get_username($id);
$get = "SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = $get_username_value "; 
$result= mysql_query($get)     or die("QUERY ERROR:<br />{$get}<br />" . mysql_error() ); //gets requests
while ($reqs = mysql_fetch_array($get))
{

echo ( "Friend Requests
$reqs[by_user] wants to be friends with you.
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=accept&user=$reqs[by_user]'>Accept</a><br/>
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=delete&user=$reqs[by_user]'>Delete</a>" ); //displays requests and shows accept delete links
}
break;

case 'accept': //accept page
if ($_GET[user]) { //get username
 $get_username_value = get_username($id);
$add = mysql_query( "INSERT INTO `friends` (`friendname` , `username`) VALUES ('$_GET[user]' , '$get_username_value') "); // add to your friends list
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "$_GET[user] has been added as a friend and the request has been deleted" ); // echos the completion
}
break; //ends accept page

case 'delete': // delete page
if ($_GET[user]) { //gets username
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request
echo ( "$_GET[user]'s request has been deleted" ); // echos completion
}
break; //ends delete page
} // ends switch

?>

woops i forgot 'quotes'

PHP Code:

<?php 
session_start(); // starts sessions 
include "../settings.php"; // inlcudes config 

switch ($_GET[friends]) { //allows multiple pages 
default: 
 $id = $_SESSION['user_id']; 
 $get_username_value = get_username($id); 
 $get = "SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = '$get_username_value'"; 
$result= mysql_query($get)     or die("QUERY ERROR:<br />{$get}<br />" . mysql_error() ); //gets requests 

{ 

echo ( "Friend Requests 
$reqs[username] wants to be friends with you. 
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=accept&user=$reqs[username]'>Accept</a><br/> 
<a href='newfriends.php?friends=delete&user=$reqs[namername]'>Delete</a>" ); //displays requests and shows accept delete links 
} 
break; 

case 'accept': //accept page 
if ($_GET[user]) { //get username 
 $get_username_value = get_username($id); 
$add = mysql_query( "INSERT INTO `friends` (`friendname` , `username`) VALUES ('$_GET[user]' , '$get_username_value') "); // add to your friends list 
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request 
echo ( "$_GET[user] has been added as a friend and the request has been deleted" ); // echos the completion 
} 
break; //ends accept page 

case 'delete': // delete page 
if ($_GET[user]) { //gets username 
$delete = mysql_query( "DELETE FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = '$_GET[user]' "); // deletes friend request 
echo ( "$_GET[user]'s request has been deleted" ); // echos completion 
} 
break; //ends delete page 
} // ends switch 

?>

now i im stuck,,, need some advie lol. ok the code doents pull the username of the person that wants to be accepted as a friend

i just get /members/newfriends.php?friends=accept&user=??
how would i pull the user name out so i can have

Name wants to be friends with you. Accept or Delete

and how would you go about making it so that a message is displayed when there is a user waiting to become a friend?

sorry i forgot to think this part through

You need to put single quotes around the value.

i.e.

PHP Code:

$get = "SELECT * FROM `friend_requests` WHERE `by_user` = '$get_username_value' "; 


ty i have this working but $reqs[username] doesnt seem to get the friend requesting to be accepted.. any ideas why

try to put mysql_query(...) or die ('mysql error :'.mysql_error());
to stop any mysql errors