Advanced Database Searching...

[Goldmund]

Hi Guys-
I'm having trouble getting a advanced search of my database. First of all, I have twelve drop-down menus. It would take a very, very long time to set up a conditional loop for all combinations if people decide to only use just a few of these fields. So I was thinking the next easiest option would be to make the 'ANY' value="Yada OR Yada OR Yada...". Here is a brief example of my script:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {

$gender = $_POST['gender'];
$build = $_POST['build'];

$query = "SELECT * FROM profile WHERE gender='$gender' AND build='$build'";

if ($result = mysql_query ($query)) { //Run the query
print '<h3>Your Matches...</h3>';

//Retrieve and print every record
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array ($result)) {
print "<a href=\"personals_view.php?id={$row['user_name']}\">{$row ['user_name']}</a><hr />\n";
}

} else { //Query didn't run
die ('<p>Could not retrieve the data because: <b>' . mysql_error() . "</b>.
The query was $query.</p>");

} //End of query IF

} else { //Didn't press 'Submit' yet

<form action="personals.php" method="post">
<select name="gender" align="left" >
<option value="Male OR Female" >Any</option>
<option value="Male" >Male</option>
<option value="Female" >Female</option>
</select>

<select name="build" >
<option value="Slim/Slender OR Average OR Athletic OR Fit">Any</option>
<option value="Slim">Slim/Slender</option>
<option value="Average">Average</option>
<option value="Athletic">Athletic</option>
<option value="Fit">Fit</option>
</select>

</form>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This didn't work. On another forum I was told to exchange my OR's for commas and my syntax in my $query like so:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$query = "SELECT * FROM profile WHERE gender IN ('$gender') AND build IN ('$build')";

<option value="Male, Female" >Any</option>
...
<option value="Slim/Slender, Average, Athletic, Fit">Any</option>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This also didn't work. I've tried everything it seems. Every combination possible and nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advanced!
_________________
You learn something new every day.

[Goldmund]

For everyone interested-

Okay, I solved the problem for having an advanced search on your website. I will give an example below (using parts from the above script):

1)First you change the <select> menu options like so:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<select name="build" >
<option value="_">Any</option>
<option value="Slim">Slim/Slender</option>
<option value="Average">Average</option>
<option value="Athletic">Athletic</option>
<option value="Fit">Fit</option>
</select>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By using "_" allows the 'Any' value to equal "one character"

2)Now we change the query like so:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$query = "SELECT * FROM profile WHERE gender LIKE '%$gender%' AND build LIKE '%$build%'";
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This tells the query to SELECT * FROM profile WHERE both the values 'gender and build' have at least one character, which all of them do obviously.

I hope this helps anyone who has had trouble in creating multiple questioned searches. Good Day!
_________________
You learn something new every day.