Assuming you're using text fields, just include paragraph breaks
normally ("\n\n") within the field entry. If you're outputting with
HTML, you'll definitely need to replace those with <p> tags, but if
you're simply e-mailing the contents plain text, or outputting in some
other fashion, it should be straightforward to keep the the formatting
intact.
Adding a separate table just for the paragraphs seems like more work
than necessary, but would certainly work as well.
Jelle Ferwerda wrote:
> HI all,
>
> Just a week or so ago I started testing PHP and MySQL databases. Testing is over. I
>have figured out the basic controls etc. and it is time for the construction of the
>database and the PhP scripts to get the site up and running. The general layout of
>the database and its tables is more or less clear to me, except for one important
>point, for which I would like some advise..
>
> How do you generate multiple paragraphs as output, if they do not have specific
>characteristics.
> Say: I am building a database about a sensor, and this page covers like 2 pages of
>A4 text. Obviously I'd like to make more then one paragraph and add some
>layout&imagery between paragraphs. How do you put it in a database? (Say: Like this
>message: The sender is me, the subject is multiple paragraphs, so you should be able
>to select the message. How do you get the formatting in different paragraphs, since
>it is not with a specific title, intro paragraph, main text and footer text). Any
>number of paragraphs and images is possible, so I cannot just create a field for each
>paragraph.
>
> Do you put all text as one entry in one field, with HTML to format the paragraphs? I
>think it would work, but it doens't seem like it is THE solution..
>
> Or should I add a table in which you put the paragraphs, which you select through
>your main database, and then sort by paragraph number?
>
> Like:
>
> Table sensors
> [Sensor][compagny][country]..[sensor_ID]
>
> Table Contents
> [Sensor_No][Para_No][Content]
>
> The answer is probably obvious to you, but for a newbie like me... My
>database-design book is unfortunatey not made for building databases for the web, and
>do not explain this sort of structures. Unfortunately: SQL queries fail miserably in
>my brain.. Probably need a mental upgrade here..
>
> Hope you can help!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jelle.
>
>
>
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