[RESOLVED] Storing same values within same column?

john1704

Hi,

I'm working with my MySQL database and had a question. How would you store two of the same values within the same column? I have three: loginName, id (auto_increment), and Image.

How would I make it so that loginName can store the same values multiple times? Does it have anything to do with primary, unique, and index keys? Becuase I'm in phpMyadmin right now and I'm tempted to start pressing buttons to find out what they do.

laserlight

A better question is: what are you trying to model? While you are thinking of that, take a look at Database Normalization and Design Techniques.

john1704

The problem is that I've looked over 16 different articles about the whole theory of database relations, and I'm still struggling. That's why I asked it here, is because I thought I would get a direct answer to my problem. Sorry for being so picky, I appreciate the help so far.

laserlight

A direct answer would be that you do not have to do anything: unless loginName is declared unique, or a key by itself, you can store the same value into it multiple times.

A better answer would be that you don't. You might have two tables instead:

Table: users
id
loginName

Table: images
id
user_id
image

So, if the loginName for a user is changed, instead of having to change all the rows in the table, you just change a single row in the users table since the user_id foreign key in the images table does not have to change.

john1704

Thank you, I found the problem. You just made my day!