Inserting multiple data into 1 field

[Samvh]

Hello, I'm trying to insert multiple data into 1 field.

 

My table is called 'members' with a couple of fields in it, One of them is friends.

So I've made a little community system where you can add a friend.

 

The problem is that I'm trying to insert the id's from the friends into 1 field.

for example: 1,2,3,4,... So later on I can select all the ID's from that field and display them.

 

At the moment I simply use: (UPDATE members SET friends='$friend_id' WHERE id='$userid').

But everytime I click on "add friend" it replaces ID's (pretty normal).

 

I heard it's possible using arrays. (I dont know alot about arrays so keep it simple  )

 

Thanks in advance

[AyKay47]

well if you want to store them as an array in one row, use serialize and unserialize

 

However I would recommend that you insert each id separately, but i'm not sure exactly how your table is set up

[Samvh]

Thanks for the quick response.

My table is pretty basic

 

id - fullname - country - email - password - friends

 

1 - Ben Vletren - Belgium - ben@hotmail.com - 123 - 0

 

So as you can see under friends is 0. If you add a friend it should become the id of that friend (example 5), add another friend (with id 12) and it should become 5, 12 (and so one).

 

If there's a better way to do this please let me know.

[Pikachu2000]

You'll want another table to store the friends relationships. Storing multiple pieces of data in one field makes querying against that data rather a pain.

[Samvh]

A simple table like? :

 

ID  -  Friend

1      2

4      6

3      4

9      5

 

 

[AyKay47]

yes something like that, more information can be added but that is the basic concept...normally using the serialization methods with databases is a pain in the butt

[Samvh]

Oke, problem solved. Thanks for the helpful responses!