Re: Design question: Using Array datatypes

On 23 Sep 2002, Mr. Tomcat wrote:

> I noticed that PG supports arrays.  I noticed also that one of the rules
> of DB normalization is "no repeating fields".  It seems like using
> arrays would violate that.  I have a particular need that would benefit
> from using arrays.  There will be no need to search elements in the
> array, so it seems like a good place to use it.  What are opinions on
> array usage?  Is it a horrible misfeature, never to be used, or is it
> the right way to go in some situations?  I have never used arrays in a
> db design.
>
> Thanks for an opinions on this.

contrib/intarray is what you need. We use arrays extensively and rather
happy. It's not a "repeating fields", it's a field with "repeating elements"

>
>
> ---------------------------(end of broadcast)---------------------------
> TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ?
>
> http://www.postgresql.org/users-lounge/docs/faq.html
>

    Regards,
        Oleg
_____________________________________________________________
Oleg Bartunov, sci.researcher, hostmaster of AstroNet,
Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow University (Russia)
Internet: oleg@sai.msu.su, http://www.sai.msu.su/~megera/
phone: +007(095)939-16-83, +007(095)939-23-83