From: Martijn Tonies
Date: November 28 2005 3:25pm
Subject: Re: Seeking Opinions
List-Archive: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql/192254
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> I did answer my own question, and that's why I said:
>
> > That being said, the point of this post is to ask -- Is MySQL working
> > on allowing the SET limit to increase?  Or is that just too much
> > storage and math?
>
> Using a SET is, I believe, MUCH faster than making a special table
> simply to normalize the data.  I believe in using MySQL's
> functionality to the fullest, and working smarter, not harder.
>
> Would folks use SET to help normalize their data instead of using a
> separate table?  Should I put in a request for the feature I want?  Or
> would very few folks benefit, and it would add too much storage and
> computational cost? (my original question)

Create a separate table.

MySQL is a database engine.

Tables is what database engines do.

Your design should be clear and extendable without having to
modify metadata (adding a category would need you to do an
ALTER TABLE).


--
Martijn Tonies
Database Workbench - tool for InterBase, Firebird, MySQL, Oracle & MS SQL
Server
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