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 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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