If statement in the SELECT???

Question

I use Coldfusion as my source for remoting with Flash. I have
created different databases for different materials. However when
an order is placed I get the "id" of the material. I also return
the "type" of material. If I would have planned this correctly I
would have just put all the materials in one database and returned
what I needed just fine. As it turns out I cannot change it.
Below is my code and basically what I'd like to do is say
that:
if bag_traits.trait_type = 1
select materials.material_name where bag_orders.bag_trait_a =
materials.material_id
So right now it's returning a 6. I need the name of the
material from the materials database with an id of 6. I also have a
ribbons table where if the trait_type = 2 then I would need the
ribbons.ribbon_name where bag_orders.bag_trait_a =
ribbons.ribbon_id.
How to I make an if or case statement that will pull the name
from the appropriate database depending on the trait_type? Thanks!

Answer 1

C-Rock wrote:
>
> Why can I not use the material_id number in more than
one column for the
> bag_orders table?
>
As far as I know, that is not the proper way to join multiple
tables.
To join multiple tables you use multiple joins.
I.E.
FROM tableA INNER JOIN tableB ON tableA.key = tableB.key
INNER JOIN
tableC ON tableA.key = tableC.key INNER JOIN tableD ON
tableC.key =
tableD.key
Each join between to tables creates another 'relation'
(database speak
for table like object_ that you can then join to another
table to create
a new relaion and so on and so on. For complex queries it is
usually
much easier to start with the first to tables, confirm that
you return
the desire results, then add the next table. Keep adding one
table at a
time confirming you are getting the expected results each
iteration
before adding another.