mysql tables

Anon

Hi
Is there a way to have mysql table column as an array like Varrays in oracle8i.
Like this:
Let us have the table test which has the column category.Is it possible like

category arraytype. (like varrays).
Then the category can be defined with the elements like
subcat1 varchar(10)
subcat2 varchar(10)....and so on.

If i asked a wrong question i am very sorry for that.I am new to mysql database.

Thanks
srini

jariizumi

I'm not sure if there is or not so don't trust me about that, but I know of a workaround I use:

Define it as blob:
categry blob;

Whenever I save it:
mysql_query("UPDATE table1 SET category = '".addslashes(serialize($myarray_that_i_want_to_save))." WHERE id = $id");

or something close to that, and to retrieve it,
$myarray = unserialize($r["category"]);

assuming you change the code to fit your needs.

The only problem with this is that it's not really possible to search a certain subcategory (I'm not sure if you can do that with Oci8), but if it can't handle it, it might be a good thing to try out.

Anon

I have created a table test with category as blob type.

As you mentioned i did like this for example.

for($i=0;$i<5;$i++)
{
$category[$i]="value".$i;
}

mysql_query("UPDATE test SET category = '".addslashes(serialize($category))." WHERE id ='$id'");

Here the $category is an array.If not how should i give the value for $category.
I may be wrong in my approach.Can you explain me in detail.

Thanks

srini

Anon

hi dear..
plzzzz i want to understand mysql ,,,is it possible to get thro yoru web ,,,i am searching but i cant understand where to go ...
hope to get yoru help
jalal

Anon

If you really need goto www.mysql.com.

Anon

Many Thanks.
It is working now.The problem is before the sql statement i did the following.
I think before issuing the query i should serialize the value.

$category=array("testval1","testval2","testval3");
$category=addslashes(serialize($category));
Then the update query.

But while retrieving i tried like this to get the $category value.

$stmt=mysql_db_query("database","select category from test where id='$id'");
list($val)=mysql_fetch_row($stmt);
$val=unserialize($val);
while(list($key)=each($val))
{
print("my value ".$key."<br>");
}
For that i am getting the result as
my value 0
my value 1
my value 2

But i am getting the exact values if i do it like this.

for($i=0;$i<sizeof($val);$i++)
{
print("my value ".$val[$i]."<br>");

}
The printed results are

my value testval1
my value testval2
my value testval3

I don't know what is the exact problem when i use while(list()=each()).
If you have any answer for this it will be very much useful for me.

Thanks

srini

jariizumi

Use print_r() to see what kind of an array it returns. As you can see, $val contains something where $val[0] = array(0, "mytestval1") or something like that. There are TWO thing in it, so your list=each should be:

while (list($key, $kval) = each($val))
echo "my value $kval<BR>";

Anon

Thanks.I got the results.As you said I tried using print_r($val) it outputs this.
Array ( [0] => testval1 [1] => testval2 [2] => testval3 )
So while (list($key, $kval) = each($val)) gives the exact array elements.

You mentioned about the problem while searching for the subcategory.What do you mean by the subcategory?.Is it a element in the category array?.
If so,
As of now the one possible way is to extract the elments from the array and then have to check the elements to match with the search criteria.Will it be a possible solution for the problem you mentioned.Otherwise suggest me a better solution for searching a sub category.It will be a great help for me.

Many thanks for your help.

srini