mysql query convert to mysqli - mysql

Question

I am using the below query with the server setting as mysql in Joomla quite successfully, but can't get it run using the settings as mysqli in joomla Fabrik extension.
$db = JFactory::getDbo();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$sql = mysql_query("SELECT first_name,mobile FROM students WHERE
DAY(dob) = DAY(CURDATE()) AND
MONTH(dob) = MONTH(CURDATE())");
while($row = mysql_fetch_array($sql)) {
//mycode- to - send SMS
}
I have modified the above code for mysqli as below with no success:
$db = JFactory::getDbo();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$sql = mysqli_query("SELECT first_name,mobile FROM students WHERE
DAY(dob) = DAY(CURDATE()) AND
MONTH(dob) = MONTH(CURDATE())");
while($row = mysqli_fetch_array($sql)) {
//mycode- to - send SMS
}
What other changes I need to make in the above query so that I can use it using mysqli settings.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Joomla has it own database class so you don't need to use the likes of mysqli_*. Use something along the lines of the following:
$db = JFactory::getDbo();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$query->select($db->quoteName(array('first_name', 'mobile')));
->from($db->quoteName('#__students'))
->where($db->quoteName('DAY(dob) = DAY(CURDATE())' AND 'MONTH(dob) = MONTH(CURDATE())'));
$db->setQuery($query);
$results = $db->loadObjectList();
foreach ($results as $result) {
your code here
}
For more information in Joomla database queries, read this:
http://docs.joomla.org/Selecting_data_using_JDatabase

Answer 2

I have modified the query partly according to the suggestion by Lodder. My final query looks like this:
$db = JFactory::getDbo();
$query = $db->getQuery(true);
$query = "SELECT SUBSTRING_INDEX(name,' ',1)first_name,mobile FROM students WHERE
DAY(dob) = DAY(CURDATE()) AND
MONTH(dob) = MONTH(CURDATE())";
$db->setQuery($query);
$results = $db->loadObjectList();
foreach ($results as $result) {
$mobile = $result->mobile;
$name = $result->first_name;
//further code
}