Exact query in database column

Anon

Hello,

I\'m searching for a specific MySQL query command with which the script can check if a number is contained in a column or not. I have a forum that allows multiple categories for topics, so I\'m storing the category integers in a single column, seperated by comma (like this: 1,4,7)

So when calling up the page it looks e.g. like this way: www.domain.com/forum.php?category=3

After trying with LIKE \'%category%\' without success (or with wrong results) I hope to find some helpful advice here. Is this the best method I\'m doing to allow multiple categories?

Thanks

Anon

seems like a better solution would be to store the related categories in another (related) table. Then you could simply search that table with a JOIN and pull the stuff you need.

Anon

Ah, I hear I can learn something new 😉 Could you explain the JOIN query to me or give example codes?

Thanks

Anon

you set up two tables:

first your existing table: 'table1'

eliminate the categories column and put in an ID column (call it 'id')

second table: 'categories'

columns: table_id, table1_id, category

these tables have a one-to-many relationship: each entry in table1 will have many entries in the categories table. So, instead of storing your related categories in a column in comma separated list (1,4,6) you have three rows in the categories table - one for each related category.

then you can pull out rows from both like so:

"select table1.* from table1 left join categories on table1.id=categories.table1_id where categories.category=4" (or whatever category you want).

read this: http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/barry20000731.php3

it will help.