Question

I have a problem how to store some data in mysql.
I have website which when link is pressed pass some data to php file which read this data with get and write in database(mysql). I’m passing campaign_id and unknown number of parameters.

http://domain.com/somefile.php?campaignid=1&parameter1=sometext1&parameter2=sometext2&parameter3=sometext3,....etc..

I don’t know actual number of parameters because user make them in some sort of cms. The problem I’m facing is how to store them in database. I was thinking to make it like this below but i’m not sure if it’s the right and the most effective way:

Combinations Table
-combination_id (Primary key and auto increment)
-campaign_id
-parameter1
-parameter2
-parameter3
-parameter4
-parameter5
-parameter6
-parameter7
-parameter8
-parameter9
-parameter10

In this example I assume that user will not add/use more than 10 parameters(which I think is lame, but I can’t get better solution)

Also if I use this design I assume I need to check in this file where is get them from passing and write to database, if each parameter exist(if it was passed).

Answer 1

You have to normalize your schema.

Assume the following tables:

Entity: id, campaign_id, other fields.
Parameter: id, entityId, parameterValue.

This is a Many-to-One relation.