Parse error: parse error in php - php

Question

I have this php code that accesses the tables users and portfolio
However I keep running into Parse error: parse error in /Users/...../Sites/..../sell.php on line 28
If someone could help me out, it'd be of great help.
<?
// require common code
require_once("includes/common.php");
//check for errors
$error = false;
if (isset($_POST["submit"]))
{
if(empty($_POST["symbol"]))
{
$error = true;
$message = "Enter a name";
}
else if(empty($_POST["shares"]))
{
$error = true;
$message = "Enter the shares";
}
// check if user has the stocks and the shares
$id = $_SESSION["id"];
$symbol = $_POST["symbol"];
$sharesQuery = "SELECT shares FROM portfolio WHERE id = $id AND symbol = '$symbol' ";
else if(($shares = mysql_query($sharesQuery)) == false)
{
$error = true;
$message = "Don't have the stock";
}
// else, if everything checks out, delete it and increment the cash
else
{
$deleteQuery = "DELETE from portfolio WHERE id = $id AND symbol = '$symbol'";
mysql_query($deleteQuery);
$incrementQuery = "UPDATE users SET cash = cash + ($shares * lookup($symbol)->price) WHERE id = $id ";
mysql_query($incrementQuery);
//set the variables into session and then redicrect to sell2
$_SESSION["symbol"] = $_POST["symbol"];
$_SESSION["shares"] = $_POST["shares"];
redirect("sell2.php");
}
}
?>

Answer 1

From where is this else coming in? Add a }:
} else if(($shares = mysql_query($sharesQuery)) == false)
Your final code will be:
<?
// require common code
require_once("includes/common.php");
//check for errors
$error = false;
if (isset($_POST["submit"])) {
if (empty($_POST["symbol"])) {
$error = true;
$message = "Enter a name";
}
else if (empty($_POST["shares"])) {
$error = true;
$message = "Enter the shares";
}
// check if user has the stocks and the shares
$id = $_SESSION["id"];
$symbol = $_POST["symbol"];
$sharesQuery = "SELECT shares FROM portfolio WHERE id = $id AND symbol = '$symbol' ";
} else if (($shares = mysql_query($sharesQuery)) == false) {
$error = true;
$message = "Don't have the stock";
}
// else, if everything checks out, delete it and increment the cash
else {
$deleteQuery = "DELETE from portfolio WHERE id = $id AND symbol = '$symbol'";
mysql_query($deleteQuery);
$incrementQuery = "UPDATE users SET cash = cash + ($shares * lookup($symbol)->price) WHERE id = $id ";
mysql_query($incrementQuery);
//set the variables into session and then redicrect to sell2
$_SESSION["symbol"] = $_POST["symbol"];
$_SESSION["shares"] = $_POST["shares"];
redirect("sell2.php");
}
?>

Answer 2

On line 28:
else if(($shares = mysql_query($sharesQuery)) == false)
You need a bracket to close the current if statement before doing an else if:
<?
// require common code
require_once("includes/common.php");
//check for errors
$error = false;
// check if user has the stocks and the shares
$id = $_SESSION["id"];
$symbol = $_POST["symbol"];
$sharesQuery = "SELECT shares FROM portfolio WHERE id = $id AND symbol = '$symbol' ";
if (isset($_POST["submit"])){
if(empty($_POST["symbol"])){
$error = true;
$message = "Enter a name";
}else if(empty($_POST["shares"])){
$error = true;
$message = "Enter the shares";
}else if(($shares = mysql_query($sharesQuery)) == false){
$error = true;
$message = "Don't have the stock";
}else{
$deleteQuery = "DELETE from portfolio WHERE id = $id AND symbol = '$symbol'";
mysql_query($deleteQuery);
$incrementQuery = "UPDATE users SET cash = cash + ($shares * lookup($symbol)->price) WHERE id = $id ";
mysql_query($incrementQuery);
//set the variables into session and then redicrect to sell2
$_SESSION["symbol"] = $_POST["symbol"];
$_SESSION["shares"] = $_POST["shares"];
redirect("sell2.php");
}
}
?>

Answer 3

It was silly mistake on my part, the declarations for id and symbol should have been at the top of the condition, right after isset,
Thanks for the speedy answers