[RESOLVED] MySQL storing text based files

scambro

Hello,

I need some advice on the best practices for the following. Currently in my database I store a link to a text file on the same server. Each record has a corresponding text file, they're actually checksum files. The directory that holds these text files is 10 MB, so quite a few. I'd like to be able to write a php page to prompt the user for a checksum, then bring back the corresponding record in the database.

My thought is that I should redesign my database to hold the contents of the file instead of a link to the file. Two questions:
1) Is the best practice to store these as text fields in my database, or blob data?
2) Is there an easy way to automatically read the information for the ~2500 records and files currently on the system? I'm guessing I should build a php page just for migrating the data - show the user (me in this case) the record, the file, and the new record with the file contents, then save and go to the next one, 2500 times....

Thanks for your thoughts!

bradgrafelman

scambro wrote:
1) Is the best practice to store these as text fields in my database, or blob data?

If the files contain nothing but text, then I don't see why you wouldn't want to use a TEXT column.

scambro wrote:
I'm guessing I should build a php page just for migrating the data - show the user (me in this case) the record, the file, and the new record with the file contents, then save and go to the next one, 2500 times...

Why would you need to view each record? Why not just make the process automatic?

scambro

bradgrafelman;10952729 wrote:
Why would you need to view each record? Why not just make the process automatic?

I suppose you're right. My fear in doing this is just that I'm not entirely sure I believe the data is 100% accurate and passing through it might help to see errors. Of course, there are probably better ways to do that.

Thanks for the help!