arrays in a database

[Hylian]

say I want to put multiple values in a mysql table field and separate them with some character, lets say "~".

For example, i want to store this information in the table field "items":

"shield~sword~magic meter~boots"

Now how would I recall that field and set each value (separated by the ~) to an array?

Also if the person edits that field and tries to add "shield" to the array, how would I make sure they don't do that if it's already in the array?
(example...they try to buy the shield again, yet it denies them because they already have it)

And if they don't have the item...how would I make it so it get's added to the array?

And how would I remove an item from the array incase the user throws away the item?
(example, they sell the item back to a person, so it would remove the item from the list, no matter what location it was in the list)

Are arrays the right things to use, or is there another function I should use?

[Kerry_Kobashi]

Lots of questions!

You would have to write this code to stuff a "stream" of tokens into this one database field (let's call it 'weapons').

The database field weapons would be a database string array. Make it large enough so that you can add more characters if your game allows more capabilities. This is very important!

When you retrieve this players information you would go fetch the weapons field. Then, do a parsing of this string searching for the delimiter ("~"). Look at the documentation for the function explode().

You will receive on return from the function explode() an array of tokens delimited by the tilde which you will be able to check for weapon existence.

Now when it comes to storing the weapon data, make sure you are keeping a player information. You obviously will store this as a array or class. Rebuild the string using implode(). Then store this back into the database.

Hope this makes sense!

[Hylian]

yep yep...it all makes sense now...i didn't know aboutt the exploded function...thanks agai 😃