Re-populating checkboxes from array

[bradbice]

Here's my set-up:

Tables:
products
- prod_id
- productname

statements
- statement_id
- author
- description
- prod_id

I have a "New Statement" form that, when someone fills it out, they can check one of the checkboxes that are listed in front of the productnames from the 'products' table.

I have it set up now where when someone checks one or more checkboxes, the values (named prod_id) go into the statements.prod_id field seperated by commas. So I might have a field with a value of 1,2,3,4 if someone checks all 4 displayed products.

My question is, I have an edit form where the author and description are all populated according to whatever statement_id is called form the statements table. How can I also check the checkboxes according to what prod_id numbers are in the statements.prod_id field?

How can I check to see if the products.prod_id that's being listed with a checkbox is in a record's statements.prod_id field? And check it for each product in the products db?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Houdini]

You would find answers quicker if you provided the actual code that you have for your form, then it might be possible to help you solve your problem. It seems from your post that apparently you are putting up to four values from a form into a product_id field but you do not specify what data types that this field is expecting, and how you are entering the data to that field. Giving more information would be of great help