Re: FN-FORUM: Storing the leading 0 of product codes in MySQL

date posted 11th October 2006 11:40



Tony Crockford wrote:
>
>
> I'm puzzled as to why you're splitting the product code! What
> possible reason could you have for storing a product code in two pieces?
>
>
> sometimes this list baffles and bemuses me to the point of exasperation.
Perhaps the product code is split into something like product category -
product id, so that 123-23F1A might indicate that the product belongs in
category 123 ( cats and other monsters ) and then 23F1A would be a
unique identifier within that category. In that case splitting it up
would just be good normalisation.

Obviously, in that case the leading zero is totally irellevant and it
can just be added on display, but it's a reason that might explain it.

I tend to find when someone is doing something that looks totally
inexplicable to me they often end up having a good reason for it, often
to do with unusual restrictions they are working under. Other times it's
just because they don't have a lot of clue in the field they are asking
about. I try not to make assumptions until I know what the situation is
because nothing makes you look more stupid than saying "why would you do
something so stupid" and then being given a really sensible reason...