[thelist] an array of values in a MySQL table?

[Luther, Ron]

Hi Phil,


I think I'd recommend using multiple rows in your issue_tbl table for
classifying your articles instead of squeezing multiple codes in a single
row/field.

I think:

'All Your Bases', Sports
'All Your Bases', News
'All Your Bases', Internet
'All Your Bases', Human Interest
'All Your Bases', Non-Human Interest
'All Your Bases', Entertainment
'All Your Bases', Food & Dining

... is easier to work with on the reporting end than some 'composite-coding'
system to combine categories into a single "multiple" code.... 'cuz then you
have to decode it in every report you do!

The 'composite-coding' thing can be fun ... IF you are the only one working
with the system and only have to do one or two reports ... after that [IMO]
it gets to be a pain.


HTH,


Ron L.

-----Original Message-----
From: phil [mailto:phil at xlab.co.uk]
Subject: [thelist] an array of values in a MySQL table?

Is it possible to store an array of values in a field within a row of a
MySQL database table?
The scenario is that I have news articles in a table (news_tbl) which are
pigeon-holed using values from another table (issue_tbl).
Each news article may apply to one or more type of issue (as listed in
issue_tbl) so I thought an array of values would work, but I'm not sure if
it's possible, and if so, how to begin.