hi folks, i need an sql query(mysql) that can retrieve records from two tables and which also can reterive specific records e.g

lets say i have to tables, books and authors and both referenced by a foreign key(author_id) in the books table.

if i use a join command eg SELECT * FROM books LEFT JOIN authors ON books.author_id=authors.authors_id;

i know this will retreive all records but what if i want only only one record or just a select group of records, normally i should use my WHERE but i dont seem to know how to do it.

Any info will be highly appreciated.

Off the top of my head, I would imagine that your result is stored in an array (I am thinking one of the mysql_fetch_* functions here) and based on which result you want you can then reference the index/indices of the rows you need.

I have never seen a retrieval written your way (I am not saying it is wrong. I am just saying I have not seen it written your way) so please allow me to write it the way I probably would:

<?php
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM books, authors WHERE books.author_id=authors.authors_id";
if (!$result) {
    echo 'Could not execute! ';
    exit;
}
$row = mysql_fetch_row($result);

echo $row[0]; //the first row of the result, e.g. email
echo $row[2]; //the second row of the result, e.g. name
echo $row[6];
echo $row[n]; //to nth row of result
?>

Then to get multiple records, you do the same thing, but in a loop (this may be where mysql_fetch_array comes in). One thing I like to do is insert an "echo" after each line I want executed and then add an "exit" after each step (declare query, exit. get results, exit. etc).

Again, this is off the top of my head. I haven't ran this code so there is no guarantee that this will work, but hopefully you get my point.
I hope this helps.