Forums - One table or two?

[arpowers]

Hey guys,

quick question...

is it better to have one db table or two in your design of forums?

 

I can see advantages to both approaches..

 

Thanks

Andrew

[Barand]

I'm subscribing to this thread purely out curiosity - how you plan on doing it with either option

[phpSensei]

Wait, what do you mean by design of forum? You mean the structure/framework of the application or as in a forum template/skin?

[JayBachatero]

Are you talking about the topics/messages tables?  If so two tables would be better than having 1 large table with the topics and the messages.  The topics table would be all numeric.  The messages table would have a reference column for the id_topic.  I suggest you look at other forums and get an idea on how they do it.  Some even split it into 3 tables to optimize things but 2 tables is enough.  The 3rd table would be just a reference to the id_message and the actual post itself.

[kts]

I would suggest writing out a flow chart on paper and you'd be surprised on how easily you can answer your own questions.

[cooldude832]

Let see for forumns I'd use about 15-25 tables.

Just to name some

Users

Threads

Thread Data

Views/Un Viewed

Borads

Moderator Levels

Profile Data

etc. etc. etc

 

Make a bit more sense?

[arpowers]

Thanks for the replies...

yes it makes more sense:)

 

sorry I should have clarified, but what I was looking for was the 'threads and replies'  ...

 

I wasn't thinking about the table for forums and categories

 

thanks again.>.

Andrew