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POPHP/MySQL syntax to insert into multiple tables (many-to-many structure)
 

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  1. POPHP/MySQL syntax to insert into multiple tables (many-to-many structure)
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    <p>I am trying to insert data from one form into multiple MySQL tables (using MYSQL syntax, although I will be migrating the application MYSQLi at some point - this probably isn't relevant right now, but thought I'd say it to stop the "<em>you should be doing this in MYSQLi</em>" comments that inevitably follow - I know I should, and I will be... soon... but for a number of reasons out of my control, I can't yet, and we still need this working).</p> <p>Essentially, I am inserting into a "many-to-many" table structure (i.e. instances that can be part of many categories, and categories that can include many instances). The main table <code>Instances</code>, has all of the main pieces of data (in this case, places on a map - for example 'Acme Cafe', 'Lakeside Picnic Area', etc); another table <code>Categories</code> includes all of the possible categories for all of the places in the <code>instances</code> table - for example, 'Cafe', 'Pub', 'View Point', etc; and a joining table <code>Instance_Categories</code>, connects the places in the <code>Instances</code> table to the categories in the <code>Categories</code> table.</p> <p>The PHP form has the following fields:</p> <ul> <li><code>Reference</code> (a 9 digit randomly generated identifier used to identify the instance with it's many categories in the <code>Instance_Categories</code> table)</li> <li><code>Name</code> (text box)</li> <li><code>Address</code> (text box)</li> <li><code>Phone</code> (text box)</li> <li><code>Tick-box</code> fields for each of the categories (8 of them).</li> </ul> <p>The <code>Instances</code> table has the following columns</p> <ul> <li><code>ID</code> (unique for the table)</li> <li><code>Reference</code> (see form input above)</li> <li><code>Name</code></li> <li><code>Address</code></li> <li><code>Phone</code></li> </ul> <p>The <code>Categories</code> table has the following columns</p> <ul> <li><code>ID</code> (unique to the table)</li> <li><code>Category</code> (varchar)</li> <li><code>Category_Ref</code> (a number to identify the reference in the connecting <code>Instances_Categories</code> table)</li> </ul> <p>The <code>Instances_Categories</code> table has the following columns:</p> <ul> <li><code>ID</code> (unique to the table)</li> <li><code>Instance_Ref</code> (from the form input above)</li> <li><code>Category_Ref</code> (relating to the <code>Categories</code> table above)</li> </ul> <p>How do I formulate the <code>INSERT</code> statement in order to insert the data into my database? Can I just formulate an insert command for each table and run them one after the other from the same "Submit" button? And how would I get the insert command to dynamically insert more rows into the <code>Instances_Categories</code> table depending on how many category tick-boxes have been selected? I'm tearing my hair out!</p>
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    1. COYou create one insert for each. You'll need to use `mysql_insert_id` to get the values for the FK. http://php.net/manual/en/function.mysql-insert-id.php
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