Message Count?

hi, im trying to integrate a private messaging system onto my site. my aim is to try gain info from the 'messages' database which looks like this:

id......reciever.............sender.........subject............message..........recieved
32.....lianesherry..........liamallan.......READ!!!............hi......................1
33.....HansBoatman1.....liamallan.......hey!................just testing.........0
35.....liamallan.............lianesherry....kghj................jhgfj...................0
42.....HansBoatman1.....liamallan.......gfhfghfg..........fghghhjfdh...........0

i want to disply amount of messages each user has beside a link to their inbox eg. [Inbox(3)]. any ideas on how i could do this? if u need anymore info, just ask. thanx

$q = mysql_query('SELECT * FROM `tablename`;');
echo mysql_num_rows($q);

it works, but counts all. say i (liamallan) logged in, i would want it to count my messages only.

something along the lines of:

PHP Code:

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$q = mysql_query('SELECT * FROM `messages` where username=reciever;');
echo mysql_num_rows($q); 


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That syntax is correct, though it is more proper to use:
'........WHERE `username` = \''.$username.'\'';

Make sure $username is set to the current user.

just keep getting blank screen. here is what i got so far:

PHP Code:

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$q = mysql_query('SELECT * FROM `messages` WHERE `username` = \''.$username.'\'';
echo mysql_num_rows($q); 


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Oh, just change `username` to `reciever`

(unrelated, but if you care, note that the correct spelling is receiver)

it works, thanx m8! but one more thing, i am having trouble inserting it alongside 'inbox' link:

PHP Code:

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if($session->logged_in){
   echo "Welcome <b>$session->username</b>! <br><br>"
       ."*[<a href=\"comments.php\">Feedback</a>]* <br><br>"
       ."[<a href=\"inbox.php\">Inbox(echo mysql_num_rows($q);) </a>] <br>"
       ."[<a href=\"onlineusers.php\">Whos Online?</a>] <br>"
       ."[<a href=\"userinfo.php?user=$session->username\">My Account</a>] <br>"
       ."[<a href=\"useredit.php\">Edit Account</a>] <br>";
   if($session->isAdmin()){
      echo "[<a href=\"admin/admin.php\">Admin Center</a>] <br><br>";
   }
   echo "[<a href=\"process.php\">Logout</a>]";
}
else{ 


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."[<a href=\"inbox.php\">Inbox".mysql_num_rows($q)." </a>] <br>"

doesnt seem to be doing its thing, this wot i got:

PHP Code:

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."[<a href=\"inbox.php\">Inbox ".mysql_num_rows($q)."</a>] <br>" 


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That is correct. Be sure that $q has the right variable scope: try putting the query line right above the beginning of that code (all of what you posted above for the output).

that done the trick mate! thanks alot for ur time and knowledge