# Problem with :conditions in find **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [August 3, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204 "2007-08-03T20:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/1 "2007-08-03T20:02:43Z")
I’m having the strangest problem… I’m getting syntax errors on this find… @lob\_messages = ProviderMessage.find(:all, :conditions =\> [ “to = ?”, “GFA”], :order =\> ‘created\_at DESC’, :limit =\> 5) The Exception Rails is returning is:Mysql::Error: #42000You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ‘to = ‘GFA’) ORDER BY created\_at DESC LIMIT 5’ at line 1: SELECT \* FROM provider\_messages WHERE (to = ‘GFA’) ORDER BY created\_at DESC LIMIT 5I really would appreciate another set of eyeballs. Anybody see anything wrong with the find?And I can’t get a find with :conditions =\> [ “something IN (?)”, some\_array] to work either.Any assistance would really be appreciated!TIA,Bill ---
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/2 "2007-08-03T20:19:47Z")
On 8/4/07, Bill W. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > The Exception Rails is returning is: > > Mysql::Error: #42000You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ‘to = ‘GFA’) ORDER BY created\_at DESC LIMIT 5’ at line 1: SELECT \* FROM provider\_messages WHERE (to = ‘GFA’) ORDER BY created\_at DESC LIMIT 5 > > I really would appreciate another set of eyeballs. Anybody see anything wrong with the find? It seems “to” is a reserved word in mysql, check the manual yourself. And I can’t get a find with :conditions =\> [ “something IN (?)”, some\_array] to work either. > use some\_array.joins(“,”) instead. Any assistance would really be appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 10:42pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/3 "2007-08-03T22:42:05Z")
On Aug 3, 2007, at 2:18 PM, Ye Dingding wrote: > The Exception Rails is returning is: > And I can’t get a find with :conditions =\> [ “something IN (?)”, > some\_array] to work either. > > use some\_array.joins(“,”) instead. > > Any assistance would really be appreciated! > TIA, > Bill > While I’d strongly suggest that you change the name of that column, > if you actually managed to create a column with that name, you should > be able to add ID quotes (that is, backticks or grave accents) to the > column name: ``` :conditions => ["`to` = ?", "GFA"], ``` -Rob Rob B. [http://agileconsultingllc.com](http://agileconsultingllc.com) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/4 "2007-08-03T20:26:49Z")
Ye Dingding wrote: > It seems “to” is a reserved word in mysql, Thanks. It never occurred to me that it might be a reserved word problem. > use some\_array.joins(",") instead. And thanks again! Best regards, Bill ---
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/5 "2007-08-04T14:01:19Z")
Rob, Would you mind taking this one step further and show how I’d write the condition to find an integer instead of a string. I get the same error message described above when I try to make the :condition for an integer like this; :conditions =\> [‘intfieldvalue = ?, intvalue’] surprisingly, it passes with this, but the condition is disregared for some reason? :conditions =\> [‘intfieldvalue = intvalue’] I am grateful for a reply. Kathy removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/6 "2007-08-04T00:19:19Z")
Hi Rob, Rob B. wrote: > While I’d strongly suggest that you change the name > of that column, Did that. > if you actually managed to create a column with that name, Did. Via a migration. > you should be able to add ID quotes (that is, backticks or > grave accents) to the column name: Thanks for that information. When I get some time, I’ll go back and see if that works. Thanks again! Bill :conditions =\> [“`to` = ?”, “GFA”], -Rob Rob B. [http://agileconsultingllc.com](http://agileconsultingllc.com) removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid ---
**Author:** ![wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wpwood](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/wpwood)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/problem-with-conditions-in-find/111204/7 "2007-08-04T14:06:20Z")
Hi – On Sat, 4 Aug 2007, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > Rob, > Would you mind taking this one step further and show how I’d write the > condition to find an integer instead of a string. > I get the same error message described above when I try to make > the :condition for an integer like this; > :conditions =\> [‘intfieldvalue = ?, intvalue’] That has to be: :conditions =\> [‘intfieldvalue = ?’, intvalue] The values to be interpolated have to be outside the string, as separate array elements. > surprisingly, it passes with this, but the condition is disregared for > some reason? > :conditions =\> [‘intfieldvalue = intvalue’] If you want it all in one string (usually not advisable, for security reasons), you’d have to do Ruby-style string interpolation: :conditions =\> “intfieldvalue = #{intvalue}” David – - Books: RAILS ROUTING (new! [http://www.awprofessional.com/title/0321509242](http://www.awprofessional.com/title/0321509242)) RUBY FOR RAILS ([Ruby for Rails](http://www.manning.com/black)) - Ruby/Rails training & consulting: Ruby Power and Light, LLC ([http://www.rubypal.com](http://www.rubypal.com))