Database entry help!

[pacitto513]

Hello ,

 

I have a database and in this database there is a table called 'circles'. This table consists of a field/column called 'subscribers' and in this column there are multple arrays (e.g., '5', '6', '7'....) that I can explod in php. Now, my question is there a way where I can use the mysql_query("UPDATE") code in order to add another array value onto the end of the existing array list inside the 'subscribers' column? If so, how do I do this? Please help all code and examples are welcome.

 

Thanks

[Barand]

In a relational database you don't store multiple delimited values in a single column, you normalize your data and problems like this go away.

 

http://forums.phpfreaks.com/topic/273634-best-way-to-set-up-tables-when-multiple-values/?do=findComment&comment=1408360

[pacitto513]

So would you recommend just creating a seperate table called 'subscribers' and just go from there and use that instead? Would this be the most efficient normalized method?

[Barand]

That's right. Each subscriber record would contain

• circle_id
• subscriber_id

Make the primary key (circle_id, subscriber_id) then you can't add the same subscriber twice for a circle.

 

To add a new subscriber for a circle you then just add a record to this table which is a lot easier than what you were trying to do originally.

[pacitto513]

Thanks for your help. In the past Ive used this method that you mentioned many times however I was never too sure what the most efficient way for both the server/mySQL database and website was.