Dynamic ENUMs in MySQL/JDBC -

i design database logging system.

many of string columns have limited amount of values, not known in advance: name of modules sending messages, or source hostnames.

i store them mysql enums save space. idea enums grow encounter new values.

i start column :

host enum('localhost') 

then, in java, load on startup enum values defined hostnames @ time (how do mysql/jdbc ??), , alter enum whenever encounter new host.

do think feasible / idea ? have ever done ?

thanks in advance advice.

raphael

this not idea. enum designed not that. can create separate table (host_id, host_name) , use refference in main table. example:

create table `host` (     `host_id` int(10) not null auto_increment,     `host_name` varchar(50) null default null,     primary key (`host_id`) )  create table `log` (     `log_id` int(10) not null auto_increment,     `host_id` int(10) null default null,     ...     primary key (`log_id`),     index `fk__host` (`host_id`),     constraint `fk__host` foreign key (`host_id`) references `host` (`host_id`) on update cascade on delete cascade ) 

upd:

i think best way storing host varchar/text field. easiest , fastest way. think need not worry space.

nonetheless.

using second table hosts reduce size, complicate writing logs. using enum complicate writing , reduce performance.