MySQL variables

Question

I want to write a MySQL query that selects a database table
based on a variable. Lets say I have three tables: 'game_data',
'image_data', and 'video_data'.
I would make a variable called 'submission_type' which gets
its value from the browser variable, 'type'. So the runtime value
of the variable should be '$_GET['type']. The 'submission_type'
variable will be either 'game', 'image', or 'video'.
This is to get an idea of how I want my query to function:
SELECT title, artist_id
FROM 'submission_type'_data
'submission_type' is where I would like the variable to be. I
just don't know how to code it to work right.
Basically if someone goes to "somepage.php?type=game", the
value of 'game' should replace the variable, 'submission_date'.
I tried to explain this the best I could; any help would be
much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

It's interesting because there is a place in the advanced
window to add variables and give them a "default value" and
"run-time" value. Then you can just enter into the query like:
SELECT title, artist
FROM image_data
WHERE id =
variable
You don't even have to put quotes around the variable or
anything. But as soon as you try to combine the variable with
something else (e.g:
SELECT title, artist
FROM
variable_data
), it gets confused and gives me a syntax error.
I tried putting quotes around the variable and using other
different forms of possible syntax, but obviously with no prevail.
I am definitely open to any suggestions, but if nothing works
I suppose I will just enter the code manually using the GET
function. By the way, thanks for that suggestion. I haven't tried
it yet, but I think it should work.