IF statement in Query

Question

Hi
I have a query / recordset that  would be looking at 12000 rows in a database and 10 different variables and potential filters chosen by end users.
Should I put 10 wild card / url Where statements in my recordset query or should I put IF statements in my query.
ie.
If URL colname then ",and BetType= "xzz"" .
Is that the most efficient way to run my queries.
I will be running about 10 recordsets on my page all looking at these url variables so it will be a busy page.
If that is the answer can someone please tell me how to insert the if statement - i've tried allsorts but it wont work.
$colname_Recordset4 = "%";
if (isset($_GET['colname'])) {
  $colname_Recordset4 = $_GET['colname'];
mysql_select_db($database_racing_analysis, $racing_analysis);
$query_Recordset4 = sprintf("SELECT BetType, sum(if(season='2006-2007', Bet, 0)) AS '2006-2007',  sum(if(season='2007-2008', Bet, 0)) AS '2007-2008',  sum(if(season='2008-2009', Bet, 0)) AS '2008-2009' FROM dataextract WHERE BetType Like %s and TrackID = 1 and Distance = 1000 and Class = 1 GROUP BY BetType", GetSQLValueString($colname_Recordset4, "text"));
$Recordset4 = mysql_query($query_Recordset4, $racing_analysis) or die(mysql_error());
$row_Recordset4 = mysql_fetch_assoc($Recordset4);
$totalRows_Recordset4 = mysql_num_rows($Recordset4);
hope someone can help.
Simon

Answer 1

That part of the query cross tabs my data into three columns - not intended to confuse the issue. I'd have the same problem with a basic query.
So Here is a very basic version:
I want an IF statement to go around: "WHERE Distance = 1000" and "AND Class = 1"
That I believe will reduce the effort on the MYSQL Server as it wouldn't be running a bunch of wild card queries and would only run if there is a URL paramter delivered.??
I just don't get how to put the IF statements in PHP.
thanks
$maxRows_Recordset3 = 5;
$pageNum_Recordset3 = 0;
if (isset($_GET['pageNum_Recordset3'])) {
  $pageNum_Recordset3 = $_GET['pageNum_Recordset3'];
$startRow_Recordset3 = $pageNum_Recordset3 * $maxRows_Recordset3;
mysql_select_db($database_racing_analysis, $racing_analysis);
$query_Recordset3 = "SELECT * FROM dataextract WHERE Distance = 1000 AND Class = 1";
$query_limit_Recordset3 = sprintf("%s LIMIT %d, %d", $query_Recordset3, $startRow_Recordset3, $maxRows_Recordset3);
$Recordset3 = mysql_query($query_limit_Recordset3, $racing_analysis) or die(mysql_error());
$row_Recordset3 = mysql_fetch_assoc($Recordset3);
if (isset($_GET['totalRows_Recordset3'])) {
  $totalRows_Recordset3 = $_GET['totalRows_Recordset3'];
} else {
  $all_Recordset3 = mysql_query($query_Recordset3);
  $totalRows_Recordset3 = mysql_num_rows($all_Recordset3);
$totalPages_Recordset3 = ceil($totalRows_Recordset3/$maxRows_Recordset3)-1;