[thelist] MySQL database optimis(z)ation

[kris burford [midtempo]]

hi all,

just trying to structure a MySQL database for a cms and wanted to ask a
optimis(z)ation  question...

if i've got a set of different story types (news, reviews, events, etc)
which all have the same content structure (title, body, image, external
link, internal link, author, id), is it best to:

1. have different tables for the different story types

2. have the same table for all stories, and a separate table with id and
story type (so i do my sorting through the second table, before pulling the
content down from the first)

3. something else entirely...

thanks.

kris

oh, and i probably owe a tip by now...

<tip type="company essentials" author="kris burford" locality="uk, but
probably pertinent elsewhere">

if you've set up a company to operate as a freelance, or have gone down the
small business route, *don't* forget to do the boring stuff. namely, send
in your accounts to company's house (or your regional equivalent). they get
really upset if you don't, to the point where, if they don't hear from you,
they will wind your company down.

now, this becomes a real issue when the bank find out about it and freeze
your account. you can't get access to your money (or cash any of those big
cheques you're earning) *until* you have (a) resuscitated your company, (b)
paid nasty fines, (c) paid lawyers, (b) paid accountants to sort out your
accounts, (d) got letters from the government to prove you've paid
everything you were supposed to.

somewhat difficult when all your money is sitting in your frozen account...

</tip>