First of all... yes... in MySQL variables are declared and used with @ Now for the ":" ... there is no particular role... they're there because otherwise the SQL parser will be confused...
*SELECT column1, @neededValue=column2 FROM table_name LIMIT 1* *SELECT column1, @neededValue:=column2 FROM table_name LIMIT 1* In the first SQL the parser would test whether @neededValue is equal tot the value in column2 instead of assigning to @neededValue the value from column2 This confusion can happen only in SELECT statements... so you are required to add ":" only in SELECT statements. In SET statements you don't need that... you can write: *SET @last = last_insert_id()* Or with values from outside MySQL: *SET @iNeedThis = 'someText';* Then use both in an insert statement: *INSERT INTO table (lid, txt) VALUES (@last, @iNeedThis);* Hope this cleared up things ! -- Gabriel PREDA Senior Web Developer On 4/3/06, Yemi Obembe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Got the snippet from the mysql website: > > select @last := last_insert_id() > i av the hunch that is to assign the variable 'last' to the > last_insert_id(). Im i right? is placing @ before a word mysql's way of > declaring variables? what's the work of the colon preceeding the equal > sign? >
