Making MySQL ORDER BY link dynamic in URL

Question

I would like to have a dynamic table sorted by a dynamic URL.
I have found this script but I am not sure where I am meant
to put the DECLARE?
This is the MySql recordset:
BEGIN
DECLARE @SortOrder tinyint
SET @SortOrder = 2
SELECT *
FROM products
WHERE `Section` = colname OR `Department` = colname2
ORDER BY CASE WHEN @SortOrder = 1 THEN Code
WHEN @SortOrder = 2 THEN Name
ELSE Order
END
I get an error saying this:
You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that
corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to
use near 'DECLARE @SortOrder tinyint SET @SortOrder = 2 SELECT *
FROM products WHERE `Sec' at line 2
Any ideas? And in the script what does the number 2 in this [
SET @SortOrder = 2 ] refer to? Two CASES?

Answer 1

I don't know for sure, but one thing I see is that you are using an alias which has the same name as the column:
DATE_FORMAT(date_created, '%m/%d/%Y %l:%i %p') AS 'date_created',
Then the order by clause is using that same column/alias. Maybe this is confusing MySQL?  If MySQL supports alias's based on functions in the order by clause, you might want to change that alias name to something else, like date_created_alias and use that in the order by.
Otherwise, try using the complete function in the order by clause:
ORDER BY DATE_FORMAT(date_created, '%m/%d/%Y %l:%i %p')  DESC
But in any case, it sure seems like it should be sorting correctly the way you are currently handling it.