string based custom ordering in active record

[eluser]TheFuzzy0ne[/eluser]
Aaah, now I see how it works.

The active record class is designed for simple queries. Is there any reason you can't just stick to a manual query like you did before?

You could probably do this:

Code:

$this->db->select('i.id, condition, description, created_at, updated_at, category, latitude, longitude, status,          
    d.device_token, d.facebook, d.preferred, d.email, d.phone');
$this->db->select("CONCAT('$url', `image_url_original`) AS `image_url_original`", false);
$this->db->select("CONCAT('$url', `image_url_mid`) AS `image_url_mid`", false);
$this->db->select("CONCAT('$url', `image_url_thumb`) AS `image_url_thumb`", false);
$this->db->select('FIELD(`category`,
    'Auto & Accessories', 'Couch', 'Bed', 'Desk & Office', 'Bike & Scooter', 'Tools',
    'Leisure', 'Iron & Wood', 'Cabinet', 'Kitchen & Accessories', 'Refrigerator & Appliances',
    'Toys & Games', 'Chair', 'Table', 'Garden & Terrace', 'TV, HIFI & Computers', 'General Item') AS `sort_col`', false);

$this->db->from('item as i');
$this->db->join('device as d', 'i.device_id = d.device_token');

$this->db->where('created_at > DATE_SUB(UTC_TIMESTAMP(), INTERVAL 24 HOUR)');
$this->db->where('i.status', 'shared');

if($language === 'nl_NL') {
    $this->db->order_by('sort_col', 'asc');
} else {
    $this->db->order_by('category', 'asc');
}

I haven't tested it, but it should work if there are no syntax errors.

Please let me know how you get on.