efficent method of updating database

[droidus]

i have a form that edits a user in the database.  here is what i have right now:

 

if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {
	mysql_select_db($database_uploader, $uploader);    
    	$query = "SELECT * FROM members WHERE id='" . mysql_real_escape_string($id) . "'";
	if (mysql_num_rows($result) > 0) {
		$name = $row[name];
		$username = $row[uname];
		$email = $row[email];
		$acntActivation = $row[activated];
		$accountType = $row[acntType];
		$accountStatus = $row[acntStatus];
		$bandwhitech = $row[bandwhitech];
		$notes = $row[notes];
		$timezone = $row[timezone];

		// METHOD: If $_post[name] != $name, then update database record to new value

		mysql_query(sprintf("UPDATE members SET notes = '%s'", mysql_real_escape_string("hello there!")))
		or die(mysql_error());  
		mysql_close($con);
	}
}

 

1)  the notes are not being updated

2)  what would be the best way to update each field that is changed.  i was just going to insert each individually, after checking if it is different than what is in the database for the record.  would it just be better to update the whole record, instead of one piece at a time?  it seems like the first way would take up too much load time.

[Psycho]

would it just be better to update the whole record, instead of one piece at a time?

 

Yes. No need to check which fields have changed. Just do an UPDATE with all the fields that are on the form that you allow to change.

[jcbones]

To better clarify,

 

MySQL is smart, and it will only update columns that CHANGE.

If you set a column to the value it currently has, MySQL notices this and does not update it.

[droidus]

ok, thanks!!