Multiple Flags not sure what to do

VTJustinB · July 17th, 2003, 9:34 AM

In my database of users they have 6 privledges that I can either set or unset. That leaves 2^6 combinations so I don't really want to establish a "level" system since there isn't any logical hierarchy of user privledges -- pretty ad hoc.

My convention in a situation like this would be to whip out my old C trick of using a hexadecimal number with 6 of the bits (ranging from 0x01 to 0x37) and storing that with a binary &, then pulling the fields out with a binary |.

Is there a better way to do this while storing these values in the MySQL database? Having 6 enums in the database seems a bit inefficient, but it might have some advantages with using SELECTS against certain privledges.

Just wondering what some experienced MySQL people thought.

**patrickb** · July 18th, 2003, 12:32 PM

Im not really experienced in mySql, but I think that ENUMs are just a fancy string object. All you would really be doing is storing 6 more string fields in the database. Shouldn't hurt size much at all, and if you use some form of session tracking, you would only need to make that query for the user only one time for each session. Besides, I think the scripting that you do to manipulate the data will take more resources than doing the query..

Just my 1.5 cents worth.

July 17th, 2003, 9:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
VTJustinB Registered User Seasoned Poster Joined in Jul 2003 Lives in Research Triangle Park, NC / Blacksburg, VA 57 posts Gave thanks: 0 Thanked 0 times	In my database of users they have 6 privledges that I can either set or unset. That leaves 2^6 combinations so I don't really want to establish a "level" system since there isn't any logical hierarchy of user privledges -- pretty ad hoc. My convention in a situation like this would be to whip out my old C trick of using a hexadecimal number with 6 of the bits (ranging from 0x01 to 0x37) and storing that with a binary &, then pulling the fields out with a binary \|. Is there a better way to do this while storing these values in the MySQL database? Having 6 enums in the database seems a bit inefficient, but it might have some advantages with using SELECTS against certain privledges. Just wondering what some experienced MySQL people thought. __________________ "I tried to go to Target but I missed" ~Mitch

July 18th, 2003, 12:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
patrickb the one who was Super #1 Joined in Jul 2003 Lives in Memphis 1,967 posts Gave thanks: 0 Thanked 3 times	Im not really experienced in mySql, but I think that ENUMs are just a fancy string object. All you would really be doing is storing 6 more string fields in the database. Shouldn't hurt size much at all, and if you use some form of session tracking, you would only need to make that query for the user only one time for each session. Besides, I think the scripting that you do to manipulate the data will take more resources than doing the query.. Just my 1.5 cents worth. __________________ Patrick Warnings: The program(s) might crash unexpectedly or behave otherwise strangely. (But of course, so do many commercial programs on Windows.) --www.gimp.org

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)