I have a dynamic number of "category_names.table2, optionvalue.table2" in my query.

These "category_names" are joined with the dynamic "type.table1, name.table1, street.table1, city.table1, state.table1, zip.table1, phone.table1."

The type.table1 & optionvalue.table2 are the common between the 2 tables. The type and optionvalue are always a letter and a number (i.e.) 'K1', 'K2', etc. but the number of them is not always the same. There could be 1 or 20.

This code will echo them exactly as I have instructed, but it's not what I need.

 $result = mysql_query($query) or print mysql_error();
$num_results = mysql_num_rows($result);
for ($i=0; $i < $num_results; $i++)
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
 {
  $type=$row["type"];
  $name=$row["name"];
  $street=$row["street"];
  $city=$row["city"];
  $state=$row["state"];
  $zip=$row["zip"];
  $phone=$row["phone"];
  $category_name=$row["category_name"];
 
 echo "$num_results<br>";
 echo  "<u>$category_name</u><br>";
 echo "$name<br>" .
  "$street<br>" .
  "$city, $state $zip<br>" . 
  "$phone<br>";
}

Produces the following....

173

Italian Restaurants
Joe's Pizza
1234 Sauce Street
Pizzatown, NY 90000
(212) 555-1212

Italian Restaurants
Cicilia's Italian Restaurant
333 S. Cheese Lane
Lasagna, IL 95000
(432) 555-1212

Chinese Restaurants
Fortune Cookie Heaven
4321 Chow Mein Rd.
Chopstix, CA 92001
(310) 555-1212

Chinese Restaurants
Wang Ling Palace
4444 Beef Broccoli Way
Pork, TX 92001
(414) 555-1212

With all 173 results echoing respectively below their "$category_name."

What I need is..

Italian Restaurants
Joe's Pizza
1234 Sauce Street
Pizzatown, NY 90000
(212) 555-1212

Cicilia's Restaurant
333 S. Cheese Lane
Lasagna, IL 95000
(432) 555-1212

Chinese Restaurants
Fortune Cookie Heaven
4321 Chow Mein Rd.
Chopstix, CA 92001
(310) 555-1212

Wang Ling Palace
4444 Beef Broccoli Way
Pork, TX 92001
(414) 555-1212


I have tried moving the echo outside the loop, however I ONLY get the final record.

I have tried mixing code - exiting php, listing the category in HTML then re-entering php, but the same thing happens.

I have tried several other rudimentary ideas by searching the WWW, and reading "PHP & MySql" - (Luke Willing & Laura Thompson) as well as "Learning PHP & MySql" (Michele Davis & John Phillips). I have been able to follow various coding ideas which ultimately parse properly and echo results, but CANNOT get the category_names to echo ONCE with their respective names, street, etc... below the categories.

Can anyone POINT me in the right direction - I don't need anyone to DO this for me exactly -> however some guidance is requested as I am clearly not getting it.

I do beleive that what I need is a multi-dimensional array but I just can't wrap my head around creating it using dynamic $variables.

Thanks.

Can anyone POINT me in the right direction

Simple, save the last category parsed by the loop.
If the next loop iteration finds the same value, then do nothing.
If the value have changed, display it.

I'd prototype it like this:

PHP Code:

<?php
$prevCat="";
$q="select type, name, address from table";
$r=mysql_query($q);
while($row=mysql_fetch_array($r)){
  if ($row['type']!=$prevCat){
    echo "<div class="sectionHeader">{$row['type']}</div>";
  }
  $prevCat=$row['type'];
  /*
  ...
  ...
  Continue your script
  ...
  */
}

Tripy,
What a simple answer. I have spent so much time on this and your solution worked in 5 minutes.
The things I could accomplish with your brain! Thank you once again for your help - it is greatly appreciated and here's what I did.

 
$prevCat="";
$query = "select name, type, street, city, state, zip, phone FROM table...."
$result = mysql_query($query) or print mysql_error();
$num_results = mysql_num_rows($result);
for ($i=0; $i < $num_results; $i++)
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result))
{
$type=$row["type"];
$name=$row["name"];
$street=$row["street"];
$city=$row["city"];
$state=$row["state"];
$zip=$row["zip"];
$phone=$row["phone"];
$category_name=$row["category_name"];
 
echo "$num_results<br>";
 
if ($type != $prevCat)
 
echo "<u>$category_name</u><br>";
 
$prevCat=$type;
 
echo "$name<br>" .
"$street<br>" .
"$city, $state $zip<br>" . 
"$phone<br>";
}

I have spent so much time on this and your solution worked in 5 minutes.
The things I could accomplish with your brain!

Thanks, but it's just simple logic, pseudo-code and experience...
Try to break down each part of your script that gives you a problem in smaller parts, and you'll end up with a solution for all of them.

What I like to do, is to draw the logic on paper.
Take a pencil, a sheet, and draw an box for each logical operations.
Link them with arrows. I make a diamond for an if, with 2 arrow for the yes/no path, and connect them to the logical operations.
It's a tremendous help when you seem stuck, to be able to draw your thoughts. And when you want to validate a request done by a customer, it's very easy for him to pinpoint an error in the flow.