First of all... yes... in MySQL variables are declared and used with @
Now for the ":" ... there is no particular role... they're there because
otherwise the SQL parser will be confused...
*SELECT column1, @neededValue=column2 FROM table_name LIMIT 1*
*SELECT column1, @neededValue:=column2 FROM table_name LIMIT 1*
In the first SQL the parser would test whether @neededValue is equal tot the
value in column2 instead of assigning to @neededValue the value from column2
This confusion can happen only in SELECT statements... so you are required
to add ":" only in SELECT statements.
In SET statements you don't need that... you can write:
*SET @last = last_insert_id()*
Or with values from outside MySQL:
*SET @iNeedThis = 'someText';*
Then use both in an insert statement:
*INSERT INTO table (lid, txt) VALUES (@last, @iNeedThis);*
Hope this cleared up things !
--
Gabriel PREDA
Senior Web Developer
On 4/3/06, Yemi Obembe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Got the snippet from the mysql website:
>
> select @last := last_insert_id()
> i av the hunch that is to assign the variable 'last' to the
> last_insert_id(). Im i right? is placing @ before a word mysql's way of
> declaring variables? what's the work of the colon preceeding the equal
> sign?
>
