Forms & multiple col values

[BEFOR]

I have several forms to make [no usernames/passwords or any established tables with users yet, so no Inserts into multiple tables are possible ] & I want to stick with a single page form.

Since I have many different values for the user to select from, for each of these forms, I'm considering doing multiple Inserts into columns.

When this is done, such as by checkbox, and multiple checkboxes are selected at once, assuming the Insert places all combined values in the same column -- a) will the Insert add spaces between the values and b) is it okay to have numbers with decimals and c) is it really necessary to have csv. (although I realize the downside of later working with "combined" col values)

<input type=checkbox name="form.col" value="189"> Sample Insert>
<input type=checkbox name="form.col" value="190"> Next Sample Insert>

If no spaces are added I could see where this could get confusing if some ending characters are the same as other starting ones.

I assume there is no problem for Inserting strings of text combined in the same column;

<input type=checkbox name="form.col" value="Watching the stars"> Watching the stars <br>
<input type=checkbox name="form.col" value="Moving the Planets"> Moving the Planets<br>

With of these all adding to the same column, right? Its a single part form & all Insert needs to go in the same single table which I'm trying to keep it to.

[Kudose]

You need an [man]array[/man]

your form would be

<input name=\"form1.col[]\" etc...>

[BEFOR]

I went over the documentation, Thanks Kudose.

I've only used arrays once, and knew I'd have to get more familiar. Could you please verify, to make sure I'm on the right track:

a) If doing an Insert from a single page form - I'm looking at arrays, right, this is the option? If I Insert to a second table this means a second page form?

b) The array would Insert in the col as csv?

c) Down the line, when applying SELECT statements on the column containing the array for retrieving or matching values, will then be using a LIKE wildcard, is that right? [don't know about a verification page -- where the user sees his or her values before the Insert is actually done)

I guess I could echo values on dynamic drop downs but the check boxes seem better suited toward a hand code approach.

[Kudose]

I am not sure I am following what exactly your doing. I am sure I would be more help, ifyou could explain exactly what your trying to do. I re-read your post, but I am dumb sometimes.

Before you ever code anything for a website, get your database setup.

Build your site around your database. Look into Normalization

After you have your database setup, then you can do just about anything. You may or may not need multiple tables for your data. If you do, it isnt a big deal, you can use JOINs and many other nice MySQL features to get the job done.

When it comes to array's and your forms, what is the user inputing?

Create a mock form for me will you, or a mock script....I can be of more assistance that way.

Thanks
-Travis

[BEFOR]

Kudose.

The structure of the tables are set up, no values yet.
There is a basic 'category table';

id cname
1 technical writer
2 comics writer
3 paperback writer

and a 'writer table'

id wname
1 Verity
2 Rocco
3 Micki

[gaining a many to many table elsewhere, and but I want to have the 'writer table' serve the purpose of SELECT's on other areas of the site]

My question is, if we can ignore the above for a moment, when users submit forms as checkbox's, any number of selections from the 'writer table' -- to be stored in the table col as an array, csv?:

<input type=checkbox name="form1.col[]" value="1"> Verity>
<input type=checkbox name="form1.col[]" value="2"> Rocco>
<input type=checkbox name="form1.col[]" value="3"> Micki>

Won't I need something like checkALL at the end?

Most forms will have (1) section like this example, but some will have two or three seperate sections on them (covering classifications within different categories). How is this organized?

Later, on this table column the values are Inserted in, can I do a SELECT on these stored number values (the id's) with "=" and not "LIKE"?

[BEFOR]

Also - what happens if I removed the [] brackets.

I do see it done this way -- does this remove the array and Insert as values?