Question

In my database there is a table, which has a column of the type text. This column holds a serialized array. This array is read and stored by another application, and I cannot change its format.

The serialized array holds a selection of database names, table names and column names in two different languages.

I would like to write a controller, entity, form, etc. in Symfony2 that is able to modify this serialized array.

There is a script that I can use that can provide an array of all possible db names, table names and column names that each serialized array may contain.

The goal is to present a list of check boxes where users can select db’s, tables and columns. Next, they can do a translation of the names.

Since all data is so volatile, I am not sure whether this is even possible in Symfony2.

An alternative is to make the following entities: { database, table, column } and do it fully OO. And then I could export a selection in a serialized array, to the external application that expects it that way…

Can you guys follow my reasoning? Am I overlooking a strategy here…?

Added:
The array is a nested array up to the fifth degree. Databases contain tables, which contain columns. And every item has an original name and a translated name.

Answer 1

I think you answered your own guestion:

An alternative is to make the following entities: { database, table, column } and do it fully OO.
And then I could export a selection in a serialized array, to the external application that 
expects it that way...

You would start with a master entity mapped to your table.

class SomeEntity
{
    protected $serializedInfo;

    public getDatabases()
    {
        // Process serializedInfo into an array of database objects and return

You then pass SomeEntity to SomeEntityFormType which in turn uses a collection of DatabaseFormTypes. The DatabaseFormType then has a collection of TableFormTypes and so on.

Eventually your form would be posted and SomeEntity would be updated. You then serialize before posting. Should be straight forward. Might be a bit more challenging if you want users to add information but even then it is doable.