Two column table

[keyroche]

Hey,
This is probably a newbie question, but that is somewhat what I am to PHP. I need to create a two column table within a while statement.

<?php
$letter = $data['letter'];
$getCats = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM categories WHERE catName LIKE '$letter%' ORDER BY catName"); 

while ($cat = mysql_fetch_array($getCats)) {
	$catID = $cat['catID'];
	echo "<li><a href=\"category.php?letID=$letID&catID=$catID\">" . $cat['catName'] . "</a></li>";
}
?>

That is what I have right now, it is just listing them in an unordered list. I have googled how to make the two column table, but I don't understand what the code does, so I was wondering if someone could show me how to do it and what each part does.

I would be forever greatful for anyone's help,
Key

[baudday]

Do you know html? You would have to set up the table before the while loop then do a table row for each item. I don't see your 2nd column data, I just see the catName. But I guess it would be something like:

<?php
$letter = $data['letter'];
$getCats = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM categories WHERE catName LIKE '$letter%' ORDER BY catName"); 
echo "<table>";
while ($cat = mysql_fetch_array($getCats)) {
	$catID = $cat['catID'];
	echo "<tr><td></td><td><a href=\"category.php?letID=$letID&catID=$catID\">" . $cat['catName'] . "</a></td></tr>";
}
echo "</table>";
?>

[keyroche]

Yeah, I know HTML, but I want the categories listed in two columns. (I should have mentioned that part) When I went to find out how to do it, it looked really complicated.

[baudday]

Oh okay I see what you're trying to do. Hmm that's a hard one, I can't think of anything right now.

[keyroche]

I copied this from a CMS of shorts to see if it could help us with figuring it out.

<?php // The category boxes only take the full width if there are at least $this->categoryColumnsNum boxes:
  $tableWidth = "100%";
  $categories =& $this->get("categories");
  $catNum=count($categories);
  $categoryColumnsNum =& $this->get("categoryColumnsNum");
  $oneCatWidth = 100/$categoryColumnsNum; 
  $alternatingColorsNum = 4;  // one different color for each column
?>

<?php if( $catNum ): /* if there are category boxes at all */ ?>
<h3>Categories</h3>
  <table cellspacing='0' class='catGrid' width='<?php echo $tableWidth ?>' align='center'>
    <?php for( $i=0; $i<$catNum; $i++ ): ?>
      <?php if( ($i % $categoryColumnsNum) == 0 ): /* new row necessary */ ?>
        <tr>
      <?php endif; ?>
          <td width='<?php echo $oneCatWidth ?>%' class='catColor<?php echo $i % $alternatingColorsNum ?>'>
            <div class='catTitle'>
              <a href='<?php echo $categories[$i]->link ?>'><?php echo $categories[$i]->title ?> [<?php echo $categories[$i]->itemNum ?>]</a> 
            </div>   
            <?php if($categories[$i]->picture): ?>
              <div class='catPicture'>
                <a href='<?php echo $categories[$i]->link ?>'><img src='<?php echo $categories[$i]->picture ?>' width='202px'></a> 
              </div> 
            <?php endif; ?>
            <?php if($categories[$i]->description): ?>
              <div class='catDescription' style="">
                <div><?php echo $categories[$i]->description ?></div> 
              </div> 
            <?php endif; ?>
          </td>
      <?php if( (($i+1) % $categoryColumnsNum) == 0): /* row end necessary */ ?>
        </tr>
      <?php endif; ?>  
    <?php endfor; ?>
    <?php if( ($colspNum = $i % $categoryColumnsNum) > 0): /* filling the rest of the row with an empty td */ ?>
          <td colspan='<?php echo $colspNum ?>'></td>
        </tr>  
    <?php endif; ?>
  </table>
<?php endif; ?>

When I googled it, it was very similar to that anyway.

[keyroche]

Can anyone help with a two column table in a while statement?

[maheb4u]

Can anyone help with a three column table ?

If I understand you correctly you want to place all your records into two columns. DO they have to be ordred in any way?

...
$num = mysql_num_rows($result);
$x = 1;
$output="";
while($data = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
  if($x%2 == 0){
    $output .= "<td>$data['field']</td></tr>"; //for even records
  }else{
    $output .= "<tr><td>$data['field']</td>"; // for odd records
  }
  $x++;
}
if($num%2 != 0)$output .= "<td>&nbsp;</td></tr>"; //tag on empty cell if odd no. records

echo "<table>$output</table>";
...

This will give a zig-zag order. A two column sort is more fiddly - you probably need to place your record values into an array.

[keyroche]

Okay, I got it. I looked up what the % operator meant and I completely get it. It seems to me like it would work. I will test it when I get into the office in the morning. Thanks for your help.

[baudday]

Props on that solution. really creative!

[keyroche]

That code works well, the only problem is that for some reason it never likes it when I put $data in, I have to put it in a variable and echo the variable. that's all though, other than that, all is fine!

Oops! Sorry my fault - you need to brace the variable - array variables if they contain ' or " need to be braced.

...
$num = mysql_num_rows($result);
$x = 1;
$output="";
while($data = mysql_fetch_array($result)){
  if($x%2 == 0){
    $output .= "<td>{$data['field']}</td></tr>"; //for even records
  }else{
    $output .= "<tr><td>{$data['field']}</td>"; // for odd records
  }
  $x++;
}
if($num%2 != 0)$output .= "<td>&nbsp;</td></tr>"; //tag on empty cell if odd no. records
 
echo "<table>$output</table>";
...