For what it's worth, there are seome cases where I use a varchar to store a CSV list of flags. I do this sometimes when I have no need to query on specific values.
For example, in my CMS, I store permissions to specific modules in such a field, which allows me to add modules without having to change the default db structure for the user table. I use a similar method in a large multipage form that may mutate from time to time over the years. There are 40-50 fields, some of which are multi-select lists, radio buttons, checkboxes. The form could change, but the data doesn't need to be searchable.. so the only things I store in separate fields are basic stuff like who made the request, when, an ID, and a report key, plus two fields containing a wddx serialized version of the form scope, and an HTML version of the form data the way the end user sees it after saving the request. It actually works really nicely... when people ask to view their old report, I just yank the HTML out of the field and display it. Rick ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:235678 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
