quick question on enum field

[sfullman]

I've never used ENUM before as a fieldtype. I know you could store values like 'AK','AL','AR','AZ','CA',... etc.

However, what query would you use to get the allowed values of that ENUM into an array (so I could create a dropdown list for example)?

Thanks, and what are your feeling on using set and ENUM vs. just having a dependent table by a foreign key?

Sam Fullman
Compass Point Media

[PurpleMonkey]

well, when I've used it, I've only really used it with reference to selection statements. e.g.

...
 /* enum column can any name remember, not just what I've called it in my example below */

if($row['enum'] == "1") {

 $msg.="Enum cloumn has a value of 1";
} else {
 $msg.="Enum column has a value of 0";
}
...

If you just want to strip the value from the returned array, then simply join its value to the string your creating:

while( $row = mysql_fetch_array($qr) ) {
 $msg.="<option>".$row['enum']."</option>";
}

Its that simple!

[bubblenut]

That's not what the guy's asking, he want's to know how to retrieve a list of possible values on an enum.
A flick through the MySQL Docs threw up this (a user comment on the ENUM type page)

Posted by Willem-Jan van Dinter on May 24 2003 6:14pm

If you want to get an array in php with all possible values for an ENUM or SET column, you should use: SHOW COLUMNS FROM table_name LIKE 'enum_column_name' (with or without %-wildcards), and parse it with the following php script:

$result=mysql_query($query);
if(mysql_num_rows($result)>0){
$row=mysql_fetch_row($result);
$options=explode("','",preg_replace("/(enum|set)('(.+?)')/","\2",$row[1]));
}

Now $options is an array with all possible values

Hope it helps.

Remember, manuals are not evil! 😉