Normalize, David. Normalize. Your Regions get their own table. If a country/state can belong to more than one region you will need another table to hold that association.
I can't remember if this was ever recommended to you but I had a chance to re-read it recently and think this could help you to better understand the basic concepts of normalization. http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/articles/intro-to-normalization.html Don't get caught up in the terminology he uses but pay close attention to how he organizes his sample data. Shawn Green Database Administrator Unimin Corporation - Spruce Pine David Blomstrom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on 11/08/2004 09:30:41 PM: > I have a series of database tables focusing on the > world's nations. There are basic tables that give each > nation's abbreviation and parent (e.g. Eurasia) and > other tables that focus on information about the > people, government, etc. > > Now I want to introduce some regional headers. For > example, current displays might look something like > this: > > Denmark > Finland > France > Germany > Portugal > Spain > > Alaska > Arizona > Florida > Montana > Wyoming > > I want to somehow modify my MySQL tables and/or the > PHP scripts I use to display data so that I have the > option of displaying data just like above, OR like > this: > > NORTHERN EUROPE > Denmark > Finland > WESTERN EUROPE > France > Germany > SOUTHERN EUROPE > Portugal > Spain > > FAR NORTH > Alaska > SOUTHWEST > Arizona > SOUTH > Florida > ROCKY MOUNTAINS > Montana > Wyoming > > You can see an example of my ultimate goal at > http://www.geoworld.org/about/guide/world/eur/remote.php? > order=2&direction=0&submit=Submit > I'm designing this page to function as a pop-up > window that stays open as people click from nation to > nation. It uses a PHP script to order the nations > alphabetically or by population or other topics. > > Eventually, I'd like to learn how to modify the switch > so that it can display nations or states with headings > - like ROCKY MOUNTAINS - then if you click another > setting, the nations are rearranged and the headings > aren't even visible. > > Anyway, I just wanted to ask for tips about > incorporating these regional headings into my > database. My first hunch is to simply add them to one > of "basics" tables, like this: > > NAME ID TYPE > United States usa Nation > Rocky Mountains rm Region > Colorado co State > Montana mt State > > That way, I can simply display the entire table as is > - complete with the headins - or I can use PHP to > block every row where TYPE = Region. > > Does this sound like sensible plan, or are there > better options? Thanks. > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > > -- > MySQL General Mailing List > For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql > To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] >
