How to get different results from one mysql table? - mysql

Question

I have a user table in the database where all users of the system are stored.
The table has a user_id and a business_name and a first_name.
Some users are merchants and get a business name,
some users are consumers and get a first name.
In a second table I have transactions with a user_id and a merchant_id (which are defining the transaction) and an amount. Both ids reference to user table.
Table users:
user_id bus_name first_name role_id
1 Thomas 10
2 comp1 7
3 Peter 10
4 comp2 7
(role_id is defining with 10=consumer, 7=merchant)
Table transactions:
trans_id amount user_id merchant_id
1 12 1 2
2 23 3 2
3 34 3 4
4 19 1 4
Now I want to have a query with a result as one table:
This table should contain the transaction with amount, user_id, first_name, merchant_id and bus_name.
I want to get this result:
trans_id amount user_id first_name merchant_id bus_name
1 12 1 Thomas 2 comp1
2 23 3 Peter 2 comp1
3 34 3 Peter 4 comp2
4 19 1 Thomas 4 comp2
I have the problem that either I get only the first_name and empty bus_name or I get only the bus_name but empty first_name.
I am using a left join:
...
left join `users`
on(
(`transactions`.`user_id` = `users`.`user_id`)
)
...
But for this I would get for user_id=1 the first_name=Thomas and the bus_name='' would be empty because I only reference to one line in table and not also to different user with user_id=2.
But I want to say something like:
for trans_id=1
get first_name FROM users WHERE transactions.user_id = users.user_id
AND
get bus_name FROM users WHERE transactions.merchant_id = users.user_id
Thanks for your help, I tried so many things but it does not work.

Answer 1

You have to join the user table twice:
SELECT t.*, u.first_name, m.bus_name
FROM transactions t
JOIN users as u
ON t.user_id = u.user_id
JOIN users as m
ON t.merchant_id = m.merchant_id

Answer 2

you could use a duoble join in users table
select a.trans_id, a.amount , a.user_id, b.first_name, a.merchant_id, c. bus_name
from transactions a
inner join users b on a.user_id = b.user_id and b.role_id = 10
inner join users c on a.merchant_id = c.user_id and c.role_id = 7

Answer 3

To join the user table twice worked fine. With "left join users as consumer" I create a kind of a virtual users table called "consumer", this one is joined. Of course in select I had to adjust table name as well. Same for second "virtual" table od users, called "merchant".
select
`transactions`.`trans_id` AS `trans_id`,
`transactions`.`merchant_id` AS `merchant_id`,
`merchant`.`bus_name` AS `bus_name`,
`transactions`.`user_id` AS `user_id`,
`consumer`.`first_name` AS `first_name`,
`cards`.`card_id` AS `card_id`,
`cards`.`serial_no` AS `serial_no`
from (
`transactions`
left join `cards`
on(
(`cards`.`card_id` = `transactions`.`card_id`)
)
left join `users` as consumer
on(
(`consumer`.`user_id` = `transactions`.`user_id`)
)
left join `users` as merchant
on(
(`merchant`.`user_id` = `transactions`.`merchant_id`)
)
)