You may be able to sort using a regex expression. David
-----Original Message----- From: DL Neil [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 1:39 AM To: 'abdul - عبد الرحمن' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: ignoring in ORDER Hi Abdul, Can Mysql ignore alphabet , like 'the' when ORDERING a name. A sample : I have a table (first_name) : - The test. - Falcon - The Armageddon - Battle When ordering it will be : Battle Falcon The Armageddon The test. Can it be like this : The Armageddon Battle Falcon The test. Is that possible? =Anything is possible! =This is a common 'problem' in the library world where in the context of titles 'the', 'a', 'al' are considered 'noise-words'. Some of the 'library' scripts available on the various support/tutorial sites may offer assistance. =Here are three choices: 1 regimentation: insist that all title data entered, is expressed in a sequence-friendly fashion, eg "Armageddon, The"; 2 smart data: have two title fields in your db. One which is the title straight off the cover. The other which is a 'sequencing field' - sometimes with noise words removed/words re-ordered, sometimes exactly the same. Users should be presented with the former, but the RDBMS is programmed to use/sequence using the latter; 3 smart queries: (this is more of a challenge) look up IF() [6.3 Functions for Use in SELECT and WHERE Clauses] and rewrite the query so that if the title commences with a noise word miss it out of the sort process, eg if the left three characters are "the" sequence using only the "Arrmageddon" part. =Regards, =dn --------------------------------------------------------------------- Before posting, please check: http://www.mysql.com/manual.php (the manual) http://lists.mysql.com/ (the list archive) To request this thread, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Trouble unsubscribing? Try: http://lists.mysql.com/php/unsubscribe.php --------------------------------------------------------------------- Before posting, please check: http://www.mysql.com/manual.php (the manual) http://lists.mysql.com/ (the list archive) To request this thread, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, e-mail <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Trouble unsubscribing? Try: http://lists.mysql.com/php/unsubscribe.php
