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I have a Settings table:

CREATE TABLE `Settings` (
  `Id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `Code` varchar(100) NOT NULL,
  `Name` varchar(250) NOT NULL,
  `Description` text NOT NULL,
  `Default` varchar(30) NOT NULL, <<<<<<<
  PRIMARY KEY (`Id`)
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1

The Default value may however be integers, booleans, text, enums etc. etc. I have set it to varchar right now, and when retrieving the setting, I will know what setting it is, e.g Send me daily emails - True/False, and do a case at the application level given that I know the type the value should be for that particular setting.

Is there a better way of doing this?

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  • In contrast to my answer to your other question, where I suggested a model that looks like EAV, in this case... danger, your long-term interests may not be served by this approach. Columns of the appropriate types are likely better.
    – Michael - sqlbot
    Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 12:51
  • @Michael-sqlbot is this what you mean programmers.stackexchange.com/a/163607/59685
    – Lee
    Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 15:37

1 Answer 1

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The approach you are proposing is workable but informal. A more formal approach can be found in my answer to this question.

The basic pattern is called a Property Bag.

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  • Very interesting, are there any books written on this sort of thing (patterns such as Property Bags and so on)
    – Lee
    Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 13:04
  • @lee - There are lots of good books - too many to be on topic for StackExchange. Try Googling around for technical books that include the word "Cookbook" in the title. That's a good indication that it's a collection of patterns/applications/best practices.
    – Joel Brown
    Commented Jan 13, 2014 at 19:27

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