Combining results into one if multiple - codeigniter

Question

I have these two functions below
public function get_posts() {
$this->db->select('p.post_id, p.reply_id, p.user_id, u.username');
$this->db->from('post as p');
$this->db->join('user as u', 'u.user_id = p.user_id');
$this->db->where('p.post_id', $this->input->get('post_id'));
$this->db->or_where('p.reply_id', $this->input->get('post_id'));
// $this->db->group_by('p.user_id');
$query = $this->db->get();
return $query->result_array();
}
Results Output
SELECT * FROM `post` WHERE `post_id` = '1' AND `reply_id` = '0' AND `user_id` = '2'
SELECT * FROM `post` WHERE `post_id` = '3' AND `reply_id` = '1' AND `user_id` = '1'
SELECT * FROM `post` WHERE `post_id` = '5' AND `reply_id` = '1' AND `user_id` = '1'
Total Posts Function
public function total_posts_by_user($user_id, $reply_id, $post_id) {
$this->db->from('post');
$this->db->where('post_id', $post_id);
$this->db->where('reply_id', $reply_id);
$this->db->where('user_id', $user_id);
// $this->db->group_by('user_id');
$query = $this->db->get();
if ($query->num_rows() > 0) {
return $query->num_rows();
}
}
The total_posts_by user gets the number of post shown in image below
Question As you can see there are 2 admin row results showing. But I
would like them to be combined so it will just say row for admin and 2
posts.
I have tried using group_by() on get_post but dos not work
Controller
<?php
class Who_replied extends MX_Controller {
public function __construct() {
parent::__construct();
}
public function index() {
$data['posts'] = array();
$results = $this->get_posts();
foreach ($results as $result) {
$data['posts'][] = array(
'username' => $result['username'],
'total' => $this->total_posts_by_user($result['user_id'], $result['reply_id'], $result['post_id'])
);
$this->total_posts_by_user($result['user_id'], $result['reply_id'], $result['post_id']);
echo $this->db->last_query() . '</br>';
}
$data['total_posts'] = $this->total_posts();
return $this->load->view('default/template/forum/categories/who_replied_view', $data);
}
}

Answer 1

Use left join in first method because current it is using inner join. After that use group by
public function get_posts() {
$this->db->select('p.post_id, p.reply_id, p.user_id, u.username');
$this->db->from('post as p');
$this->db->join('user as u', 'u.user_id = p.user_id','left');
$this->db->where('p.post_id', $this->input->get('post_id'));
$this->db->or_where('p.reply_id', $this->input->get('post_id'));
$this->db->group_by('p.post_id');
$query = $this->db->get();
return $query->result_array();
}
and try. If still face same issue double check whether there are same TWO username admin
** Have you tried DISCTINCT?
hope it will help

Answer 2

I have found my solution from here using COUNT(p.user_id) AS total
public function get_posts() {
$this->db->select('p.post_id, p.reply_id, p.user_id, u.username COUNT(p.user_id) AS total');
$this->db->from('post as p');
$this->db->join('user as u', 'u.user_id = p.user_id');
$this->db->where('p.post_id', $this->input->get('post_id'));
$this->db->or_where('p.reply_id', $this->input->get('post_id'));
$this->db->group_by('p.user_id');
$query = $this->db->get();
return $query->result_array();
}