--- Kim Briggs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > David, > > In reading through miscellaneous database design > text on the web, I > read just the other day that you should not try to > include meaningful > data in your key values. I assume there will be > some kind of "lookup" > tables for species, phylum, whatever. Trying to > make your key field > "smart" seems like way too much overhead and > complexity. I'm > wondering why, if the database is enormous, are you > being so short and > cryptic with the "user-friendly" values?
Primarily because I want to make it easier to work with. If I create a new page that focuses on the king salmon, I'd rather type in $MyID = 'onc'; than $MyID = 'Oncorhynchus'. Or if I create an array, I'd rather list rhi, hip, equ than Rhinocerotidae, Hippopotamidae, Equidae. In fact, I'll have to discard big chunks of the animals database I received on a CD, as it's way to big (several MB) and includes living things I won't cover (bacteria, viruses, etc.). I'm also trying to decide on my URL structure. I could follow tradition and map out the lion like this: mammals.geobop.org/carnivora/felidae/panthera/leo/ ...but I'm thinking of shortening the URL's: mammals.geobop.org/car/fel/pan/leo/ I'm just trying to come up with something that's more user friendly. 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]
