[SOLVED] how do you store array in db?

[bobocheez]

So I have a random number script, but I'm not sure how to store the array values in once cell. Then query the db again and set individual variables for each number.

I would just make 5 cells for each number, but more numbers will be added so I don't want the table to get too big.

 

$max = 5;
$min = 1;
$amount = 5;
$x = 0;
$numbers[0] = 0;

if (($max - $min) > $amount) die('$amount is larger number than $max - $min');

while (count($numbers) < $amount) {
        $ranvar = rand($min, $max);
        while(in_array($ranvar, $numbers)) {
                $ranvar = rand($min, $max);
        }
        $numbers[$x] = $ranvar;
        $x++;
}
echo "$numbers[0]<br/>";
echo "$numbers[1]<br/>";
echo "$numbers[2]<br/>";
echo "$numbers[3]<br/>";
echo "$numbers[4]<br/>";

$query_rand = "UPDATE hits WHERE id=2 SET order='something', ";
mysql_query($query_rand);

[lemmin]

You should probably make a new table and relate the numbers to your other table. Otherwise, you can implode() the array before you put it in your database and explode it after you grab it back.

 

http://us.php.net/manual/en/function.implode.php

http://us.php.net/manual/en/function.explode.php

[Goldeneye]

Method 1: Use serialize on the array you want to store in the database and then use unserialize when pulling that same value from the database

 

-- or, as lemmin suggests --

 

Method 2: implode the array before inserting it into the database. And then explode that string when pulling it from the database.

[bobocheez]

I'll go with a new table, for now, since I don't know much about the other methods.

Thanks