Description:
I would like to suggest the addition of a new Index type to MySQL. I am an ADABAS DBA and have
always enjoyed the concept of the Adabas "Superdescriptor" indexes (as well as sub-descriptors).
Basically these indexes combine several fields (or partial fields) together to make a single index.
They are really usefull for sorting and searching complex data. They differ from the multi-column
indexes in MySQL in that the descriptor can be accessed like a field and can be used directly in a
WHERE clause. I would really like to see a "Super Index" (and sub) Index type added to MySQL.
Here is an example of a use for this new Index in which MySQL does not have the functionality I
need:
I have a help system in which each help topic is assigned a section code, a chapter code, and a
sub-chapter code. For example "005" "010" "025" for the Introduction section. The codes allow
me to sort the help topics to
produce an automated table of contents for the help file. What I would like to be able to do is
combine these fields into a single Index like "005010025" in order to do SELECTS that can read
forward and backward from the current topic using the ORDER BY clause. Currently, I am forced to
combine the fields into a single field in MySQL in order to accomplish this, If I also wanted to
search on these fields arranged in the reverse order (from sub-chapter, chapter, to section) I would
have to
duplicate and reverse the field ("025010005") in the MySQL table instead of simply creating a new
superdescriptor with the fields reversed in it.
There are a lot of other uses for an Index type like this in MySQL.
Thank you for the consideration.
Jon C. Koerber
President
ClassJuggler.com
How to repeat:
See Description
Suggested fix:
See Description
Description: I would like to suggest the addition of a new Index type to MySQL. I am an ADABAS DBA and have always enjoyed the concept of the Adabas "Superdescriptor" indexes (as well as sub-descriptors). Basically these indexes combine several fields (or partial fields) together to make a single index. They are really usefull for sorting and searching complex data. They differ from the multi-column indexes in MySQL in that the descriptor can be accessed like a field and can be used directly in a WHERE clause. I would really like to see a "Super Index" (and sub) Index type added to MySQL. Here is an example of a use for this new Index in which MySQL does not have the functionality I need: I have a help system in which each help topic is assigned a section code, a chapter code, and a sub-chapter code. For example "005" "010" "025" for the Introduction section. The codes allow me to sort the help topics to produce an automated table of contents for the help file. What I would like to be able to do is combine these fields into a single Index like "005010025" in order to do SELECTS that can read forward and backward from the current topic using the ORDER BY clause. Currently, I am forced to combine the fields into a single field in MySQL in order to accomplish this, If I also wanted to search on these fields arranged in the reverse order (from sub-chapter, chapter, to section) I would have to duplicate and reverse the field ("025010005") in the MySQL table instead of simply creating a new superdescriptor with the fields reversed in it. There are a lot of other uses for an Index type like this in MySQL. Thank you for the consideration. Jon C. Koerber President ClassJuggler.com How to repeat: See Description Suggested fix: See Description