querying mySQL database

[Anon]

i've got a problem with querying my database.
i've got so many tables and fields. what i have to do is check the contents of the input array if it matches the values/entries in all fields of all tales in the database.
example:
-the user inputs female,single (may have different input depending on the user)
-the contents of the array will be
var[0]=female and var[1]male
-i have to check each content of the array if there is a word matching in each field of each table in the database

***it think it would not be adviseable if ...
...WHERE tbl1.fld1=$var[]||tbl1.fld2=$var[], and so on...because i've got so many fields and tables.

thanx a lot!

[Anon]

why dont you sure a set type. so define the set as

('single','married','male','female','irish')

Then you could take the input array and write your sql on the fly

sql = "select * from tab1 where ";

foreach($var as $input_var) {
$sql .= "find_in_set('$input_var', tbl1.set_field and ";
}

dont forget the delete the trailing "and "

Cheers
John