Android Question database field with multiple values

Hi doogal,

it´s a matter of design. I´d use a sqlite-database instead of csv- thus giving you much more possibilities of seleceting/sorting stored informations.

You may start here: http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/sql-tutorial.6736/

Fatman

Thank you for your reply Fatman.
Maybe I wasn't real clear with what I needed. I have a csv file and I can convert it to sql database with no problems. What I am having trouble with is displaying and searching the DrugBrand field since it has multiple fields/entries. My current project doesn't have this problem, but it also doesn't have the extra information I want in this update. Here is a screenshot of my current project as an example.



As you can see I can search this just fine. I would like to do the same with the new database, but just unsure how to deal with the DrugBrand field.

Thank you.
Douglas

Your application is best suited using the SearchView class. You can continue to use your csv file to search through or preferably convert it to a SQLite database. See link below:
http://www.b4x.com/android/forum/th...native-to-autocompleteedittext.19379/#content

Sorry for the long delay. I'm so busy, I do this as a hobby, and don't get much time. Anyway, I tried the SearchView class and its not going to work for what I need. I still need to break up the DrugBrand field values first. I have converted the csv file into a sql db file as I always do so sorry for the confusion in that. Everyone still calls it a csv file, its not. The layout however, is still the same:


I want to search either the DrugBrand or DrugGeneric fields. DrugGeneric field only has one entry and I have no problem with that one, its the DrugBrand that has one, multiple or even none at all that's giving me a fit. How do I break up the DrugBrand field in order to display it properly?

I have tried selecting semicolon when converting the csv file but that messed up so I left that option out.

Thanks again,
Douglas

Something like:

Search works, but I don't think I can display this like I need the way it is. I'm going to have to work on either finding a new database or work on the one I have. Thanks for all your help.

I think you should redesign your table.
Create 2 tables, Drug and Brand.

Drug table, contains all field as sample except for DrugBrand.

Brand table, contains drugid, brandname.

I am taking a database class right now and having multiple pieces of information in a single field is bad. Incendio is absolutely correct in advising to create more tables. This is one of the steps in database normalization.

I understand having multiple pieces of information in a single field is bad. This is what is frustrating, but I didn't create this database. I downloaded it from here and told the site what info I wanted in the database; however the first column cannot be changed it has to be the Generic Drug and that is what is messing the whole thing up. I would like it to be Brand name. I don't know how to fix this to make it work in my app. separating by semicolons didn't work.

After looking at the site, I better understand your frustration. They offer A LOT of data but the tools for getting it are cumbersome. I even used their 4.0 Beta search tool and it looks no better than the link you sent. I would really be interested in transforming the information to a proper RDBMS but unfortunately my school commitments do not leave me with much time at the moment. I suggest contacting this guy to see if he can offer a solution to get the data in a sqlite friendy format.
http://www.wishartlab.com/members/craig-knox

Maybe better to use this. http://feedback.wishartlab.com/?site=drugbank

Good luck!