How to?: Multiple Field Entries (eg: A, B, E, G = one field cell contents)

[Jeff Sabarese]

My inexperience is going to show through here. Okay... here goes...

My database is going to have several different table-sets. by "table-set", i mean, i have a set of 3 related tables (maybe 4 or more by the time it's all over) per each of 17 items. so, i'll have A_table1, A_table2, A_table3, B_table1, B_table2, etc., and so on., and each respective schema is identical as well.

one important aspect of these tables is a field which allows entry for whether that item is related to any of the others. (for example, A_table3.Col_2 = B, D, G; B_table3.Col_2 = A, C, F; C_Table3.Col2 = B, D, E; etc).

my obstacle: develop a method of entering those multiple entries into the db w/out offering a simple <input type="text"> field, but instead offering a multiple choice style selector so there's less chance for human-input error, and thereby a greater liklihood for more accurate feedback.

but w/ my lack of experience, i must i guestion - would it be better to have separate table fields for this, or to let a VARCHAR handle a multiple choice option/select box entry? i just can't look at it from the other side and know why one way of going would be better than another, so i'd appreciate any help you can offer. thanks!!

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2005 10:56PM by Jeff Sabarese.