Most efficient way to store simple data in drupal 6 and share with views?

Question

I have a simple form that allows users to select an option from a select menu and then save it in the database. I need to store the full name so that views can use it. So the table in my database might look like this:

nid | uid | type
------------------
1   | 2   | 0
2   | 2   | 3
1   | 3   | 5
3   | 1   | 4

and so on... I was thinking of doing a basic one to many relationship table like:

tid | name
----------
0   | random name 1
1   | random name 2
2   | random name 3
3   | random name 4

but I only have 6-7 types at the most, so I'm not sure if that is efficient. Maybe simply storing the full name instead of an ID would be better in that case? Another way might be to use variable_get, but then I also need the custom field module that allows php code in views. Any better way to do it in drupal? Thanks.

Answer 1

I would do this by putting the terms in a taxonomy and using that taxonomy in a CCK node type. Turn off the body field by clearing the body label and turn off the title field with auto nodetitle. That leaves your node add form for that type as just a select list of the taxonomy terms, and all saved nodes are exposed to views and filterable by user and/or term.

That'll give you a database that looks a lot like what you described, with an extra bit of overhead that you'll never notice because Drupal caches everything.

Answer 2

It's better, because require less supporting "after some time"... And perfomance i think will not so differrence, than keep it in field. Also you save memory, because stings store only in little table, and referencing numbers require not so much place...