I'm trying to display a column(field) in a table from mysql to populate a table(with 3columns,1row)i.e to spread across the 3 columns without repeating data.{highlighted in red}

<?php
$sql = "SELECT company FROM company ";
$result = mysql_query($sql, $conn);
//If no category, let the user know.
if (mysql_num_rows($result) == 0) {
echo " <br>\n";
echo " sorry, could not locate jobs by company. Please check back\n";
} else {
while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
echo "<div class=\"pubdate\">";
echo "<table class=\"company_table\">";
echo "<tr>";
echo "<td><a href=\"#\">" . htmlspecialchars($row['company']) . "</a>;</td>";
echo "<td><a href=\"#\">" . htmlspecialchars($row['company']) . "</a>;</td>";
echo "<td><a href=\"#\">" . htmlspecialchars($row['company']) . "</a>;</td>";
echo "</tr>";
echo "</table>";

echo "</div>\n";
}
}
?>

thats d best i could do but apparently, the datas are repeated.
Alternative suggestions will be welcomed.(its not compulsory i use tables but its neccessary i group it into 3)
thanks

If you need 3 columns and only 1 row, you are close to it.

echo "<div class=\"pubdate\">";
echo "<table class=\"company_table\">";

// include this variable if the returned data is more than three
int three_columns = 0;

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {

three_columns++;
echo "<td><a href=\"#\">" . htmlspecialchars($row['company']) . "</a>;</td>";
if(three_columns == 3)break;
}

echo "</tr>";
echo "</table>";



I did not test this code but you can get some idea.

Let me know if you have more questions.

echo "</div>\n";

after making some adjustments to your code, it worked
// include this variable if the returned data is more than three
$i= 0;

while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {

$i++;
echo "<td><a href=\"#\">" . htmlspecialchars($row['company']) . "</a>;</td>";
if($i == 3)break;
}

echo "</tr>";
echo "</table>";

echo "</div>\n";

thanks man. You're a genius...I'm so grateful...i'll kip in touch if i get into any trap.

You are welcome. I am glad I can be of help. Sorry for the typed variable (int three_columns). Sometimes I mistakenly port Java or another language to Php.