I want multiple entries IF.....

Manat

Hello all

I will be creating a form where the user will have to enter his info, and if he enters a particular promotional code, suppose 3243, his entry will be entered 3 times as opposed to just one like the users who don't enter this promo code.

What is the best way to do this, obviously:

if $promocode=3223
x=0
Do while x<5
{insert into bla bla bla bla bla}

else //if no promocode or wrong promocode
insert into // just once

Is the above the best way to do it?

Can anyone let me know if there is a better way of doing this?

Thanks
MK

laserlight

why not set another variable, say an integer, that is set to 3 when that code is entered?

having 3 duplicate entries would be poor DB design.

Manat

Hi All

Yep, it would be poor design, and I've told that to my superiors, lol, they told me the decision is mine.

However, after I have all the entries after like a month, the table will be exported to .csv format and imported into Excel via PhpMyAdmin, and having an integer field would be the best DB solution and would have less of a performance hit, however would require more manual work. The excel file will be sent to our Marketing guy, and having it with an entry(int) defining whether it's one entry or 2, or the promo code, our mktg guy said it's more manual work for him. Not sure how, lol

Anyhow, what would be the best course of action?

Thanks
BK

Pig

Sounds like your data isn't normalized. Can you give us specifics?

Manat

Nope, my data isn't normalized, and it shouldn't be, or else i'll be having exporting problems.

And also, I don't think a simple temporary form deserves more than one table, anyhow, if I normalize it, in PHPmyAdmin, I cannot export into .csv through an SQL Join statement, it's only on a per-table basis with no filtering whatsoever, it exports everything, it cannot export only the data returned from an sql statement.... unfortunately.

Thanks
BK

Let me know your thoughts.

Pig

You are correct, but you could still easily export it by building a query using a function to export it (don't recall the name, but it's on php.net somewhere). It is your choice of course, but I would normalize the data.

Sxooter

How about you make a function that "inserts entries into the contest" and does so by adding some variable semi-random number so each one is uniqueliy identifiable (microsecond time stamps or something).

Better yet, if you're keeping information on each person, save that in one table, and "enter them to win" in the other one x number times, using thier ID from the user table as a key.

This is one instance when normalization probably isn't as important as randomness. If you're entering someone for something where you're saying you'll randomly pull their name out of a digital hat, it's better to actually have them appear three seperate times than to try and use a weighted selection system.

My guess is that you have two things going on, harvesting information, and entering users in a contest. solve each problem in it's own best domain.