Please help, table design!

[Mark Putnam]

Hi all,


Please help it's driving me insane, I'm really hoping someone can help me with this. I have a MySQL database which shows companies that cover certain postcodes (zip codes) within the uk.

My first table "members" contains member_id, company_name, contact_number and email address.

I need to design a second table to contain the post codes they cover (there are nearly 3000 in the uk). I am really struggling on knowing how to lay this table out and need your advice please! Eg should I have a column for each postcode and write the member_id in that column in a new row if they cover that postcode?

Basically i am clear on the first table but I don't know how to lay out the second table for postcodes and how I would link the member_id to the postcodes they cover (some companies will cover 20 post code areas and I understand I can't just have multiple postcode areas in the same column/row.?

I just need a clear advice on how that postcode table should be laid out and linked to the first members table so that when a user types a postcode in to the search page e.g SW1 the companies covering that postcode appear.

Many thanks in advance! Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Mark