Fetch array value to insert to Mysql table

jya

I tried to improve the following function, by using array to fetch the fields to Mysql table. Any workaround to improve the following code ? ( Not to enter so many insert values, as it is already in the array ).

sql_query("INSERT INTO $table VALUES ('', '$array_records[Phone]', '$array_records[Name]', '$array_records[Date_join]', '$array_records[Date_birth]'

I have tried to play around with serialize() function, but I can't make it work.

The table field has similar array element:
'' -- field 1 ( id auto-increment )
$array_records[Phone] -- field 2 ( Branch )
$array_records[Name] -- field 3 Name)
$array_records[Date_join] -- field 4 ( Date_join)
$array_records[Date_birth] -- filed 5 (Date_birth)

Original code:

function add_record(
) {
global $dbi, $table;

$array_records = $_POST['array_records'];

sql_query("INSERT INTO $table VALUES ('',  '$array_records[Phone]', '$array_records[Name]', '$array_records[Date_join]', '$array_records[Date_birth]'

)", $dbi);

}

dyntryx

So, you want to do something along the lines of...

sql_array_query($table, $array);

And have that insert the array's values into a table.

What I'm wondering firstly though, is why? I mean, does this line appear so often in your code that you feel like you must shorten it? Why not make a quick function that does it instead of trying to add values with an array?

I could code something that works as such if you'd like, but firstly provide me a good reason that you need it. A function just seems more appropriate here. :p

jya

So that I can have a config file to specify the table field. And the code can be easily redeploy to other program.

Something like a config file contains table fields defined in arrays. The main program is very generic code, having standard edit, add, delete change code.

Currently, if I want to re-deploy the program, I have to search thru the edit, add functions to change the fields.

edcellgavin

i agree with dyntryx. make a generic function.
just a thought. Why not create an array to hold the table names and another array for each item in the table array to hold the fields for that particular table and you could pass those as parameters to your function?
also, you can ommit the auto_increment field in your query.