Question

I am VERY new to mySQL, please bear with me.

I have an array that is always growing, lets say for now it has 4 items in it. I need the sql to search the table and insert a new row for each item in the array, but only if its a new item (meaning it hasn’t already been inserted). There are 5 columns in the table, and each item in the row needs to be a variable so i can pass dynamic data through.

I know this is way off but what i have now is something like this.

$array_count = array(1,2,3,4);
$var1 = 'value 1';
$var2 = 'value 2';
$var3 = 'value 3';
$var4 = 'value 4';
$var5 = 'value 5';
$sql = "INSERT INTO membership_levels VALUES ('".$var1."', '".$var2."', '".$var3."', '".$var4."', '".$var5."')";

Answer 1

Mysql – ON DUPLICATE KEY

If you database is MySql you can use like Brad Christie has wrote with the Insert On Duplicate. You will need to have a primary key on the 5 columns if you want inserting only if they are all the same value.

Your $sql will change to :

$sql = "INSERT INTO membership_levels(a,b,c,d) VALUES VALUES ('".$var1."', '".$var2."', '".$var3."', '".$var4."', '".$var5."')
               ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE a=VALUES(a), b=VALUES(b), c = VALUES(c), d = VALUES (d);"

Mysql – Replace

You can also use the Replace key word. If the row exist, it will delete it for you and insert the new one.

$sql = "REPLACE INTO membership_levels VALUES ('".$var1."', '".$var2."', '".$var3."', '".$var4."', '".$var5."')";

MsSql

If you database is MsSql (Sql server) it’s 2 queries :

IF EXISTS (SELECT * FROM Table1 WHERE Column1='SomeValue')
    UPDATE Table1 SET (...) WHERE Column1='SomeValue'
ELSE
    INSERT INTO Table1 VALUES (...)"

The best way if SQL Server would be to use Stored Procedure.