Variables in functions?

[Decode]

If i had a function

function tom() {
    if ( $_GET['name'] == "Tom" ) {
        $var = "Tom";
    }
    else {
    $var = "Your name is not Tom";
    }
} 

Can i echo the var out side of the function, becuase at the moment im having trouble doing it, but im not sure if its a problem with my sql code or that lol.

[Jme]

function tom() {
    if ( $_GET['name'] == "Tom" ) {
        $var = "Tom";
    }
    else {
    $var = "Your name is not Tom";
    }
return $var;
} 

That might work? When you want to show the variable, just call the function..

[Dentafrice]

function foo ()
{
    $name = $_GET["name"];
    if ( $name == "Tom" ) {
        $variable = $name;
    }
    else {
        $variable = "Hey! Your name is not Tom!";
    }
    return $variable;
}

$returnVar = foo();

echo $returnVar; 

[Decode]

function foo ()
{
    $name = $_GET["name"];
    if ( $name == "Tom" ) {
        $variable = $name;
    }
    else {
        $variable = "Hey! Your name is not Tom!";
    }
    return $variable;
}

$returnVar = foo();

echo $returnVar; 

Hmm its still not working, maybe its a problem with my sql.

im using the function to set the sql code;

function sqlby($cat) {
    if ( $_GET['order'] == "desc" ) {
        echo "selected";
        if ( $cat == "all" ) {
            $query ="SELECT * FROM games ORDER BY `games`.`dateday` DESC, `datemonth` DESC , `dateyear` DESC LIMIT " . $pagedatastart . " , " . $pagedataend;
        }
        else {
            $query = "SELECT * FROM games WHERE cat = '" . $cat . "' ORDER BY `games`.`dateday` DESC, `datemonth` DESC , `dateyear` DESC LIMIT " . $pagedatastart . " , " . $pagedataend;
        }
    }
    if ( $_GET['order'] == "asc" ) {
        echo "selected";
        if ( $cat == "all" ) {
            $query = "SELECT * FROM games ORDER BY `games`.`dateday` ASC, `datemonth` ASC , `dateyear` ASC LIMIT " . $pagedatastart . " , " . $pagedataend;
        }
        else {
            $query = "SELECT * FROM games WHERE cat = '" . $cat . "' ORDER BY `games`.`dateday` ASC, `datemonth` ASC , `dateyear` ASC LIMIT " . $pagedatastart . " , " . $pagedataend;
        }
    }
return $query;
} 

then im using this to get the $query

        $query = sqlby("action");
        mysql_query($query) or die(mysql_error()); 

And i get this mysql error;

Query was empty

+rep if anyone knows whats wrong with it.

[Independent]

I can't remember if you need to connect functions to the db, try that.

[Dentafrice]

Do you have desc or asc in the URL? ?order=bla

[Decode]

Do you have desc or asc in the URL? ?order=bla

LOL, thanks. That was the problem.

I would give u a +rep but it says i need to spread.