web Development, PHP display variable from SQL as something else - php

Question

Ok So i have an PHP page and i have a database.
In my database i have a table with a Field one of the fields is called accounttype it is enum('n', 'm', 's')
I am trying to display on my PHP page if the user is N it should say Normal User if the user is E Expert user or S Super user...
How do i go about doing this?
Top of PHP Page
<?php
// Query member data from the database and ready it for display
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM members WHERE id='$id' LIMIT 1");
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)){
$phone = $row["phone"];
$country = $row["country"];
$state = $row["state"];
$city = $row["city"];
$accounttype = $row["accounttype"];
$bio = $row["bio"];
}
?>
Where i am trying to display on the page This is the code. Right now it just puts a blank space.
<span class="admin">Edward</span>
<span class="date">March 19, 2048</span>
<span class="tag"><?php echo "$accounttype"; ?></span>
<span class="comment">166 comments</span>
picture
http://i.stack.imgur.com/KXu9A.png

Answer 1

first make a connection, than dont make a while, make a if like this
if($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)){
$phone = $row["phone"];
$country = $row["country"];
$state = $row["state"];
$city = $row["city"];
$accounttype = $row["accounttype"];
$bio = $row["bio"];
}
and than
$speaking_type = null;
switch($accounttype) {
case 'n':
$speaking_type = 'Normal User';
break;
case 'm':
$speaking_type = 'Expert User';
break;
case 's':
$speaking_type = 'Super User';
break;
default:
$speagink_type = 'none';
//throw new Exception('unsupported account type '.$accounttype);
}
echo $speaking_type;

Answer 2

I think the problem is your scope. Your variables are defined within the while-loop, and so they are unknown further in the document. Try instantiating them on top (before the while-loop) like this:
$phone = null;
$country = null;
$state = null;
$city = null;
$accounttype = null;
$bio = null;
Than the variables will be known outside the while and the values will be remembered when you print them.

Answer 3

I thought u didn't connect to the database first .use following code to the connect with your credentials.That's why you are seeing a blank space
$con = mysql_connect("localhost","peter","abc123");
if (!$con)
{
die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
}
// some code
mysql_close($con);