mutliple sql inserts vs arrays

[serap]

Probabyl its a fairly easy question, Im new to PHP/Mysql and have problem with the following:
How can I get all this into a single line of code, instead of using $date_from1, $date_from2 etc. Ive tried with some arrays but the SQL gets messed up and I cant get out of it. I know that I need to get my values defined by an array but the think I get problems with the SQL syntax??

Thanks,


/* Insert query into the Database*/
$sql = mysql_query("INSERT INTO activities (ref_num, act_type_id, date_from, date_to, activity_place, activity_contact, insert_date)
VALUES('$r_num','$act_type_id','$date_from1','$date_to1', '$activity_place', '$activity_contact', now())") or die (mysql_error());

$sql = mysql_query("INSERT INTO activities (ref_num, act_type_id, date_from, date_to, activity_place, activity_contact, insert_date)
VALUES('$r_num','$act_type_id','$date_from2','$date_to2', '$activity_place', '$activity_contact', now())") or die (mysql_error());

$sql = mysql_query("INSERT INTO activities (ref_num, act_type_id, date_from, date_to, activity_place, activity_contact, insert_date)
VALUES('$r_num','$act_type_id','$date_from3','$date_to3', '$activity_place', '$activity_contact', now())") or die (mysql_error());

[wim]

I assume you want to enter three rows into your table, so I would stick with running the statement three times. I can imagine you can get a workaround to do it with one line of code but debugging it later would be much harder.

[serap]

in fact I want to do it 15 times depending on what comes from the passing page - so this is possible yes and works, but I dont like the method - and if you had - say 100 possible inserts....it would be messy

[r937]

one of the nice things about mysql is that it allows this syntax --

insert into mytable ( foo, bar ) values
( 1, 'curly' )
,( 2, 'larry' )
,( 3, 'moe' )

one statement, multiple rows inserted

[serap]

ok this is working if you know the number of rows what if you dont know the incomiing number of rows, how can you use that syntax then?
thanks,

[r937]

you would construct the query statement "on the fly"

(not sure i know what you mean by "incoming")

just keep appending , (values)

when you have no more incoming stuff, then submit the query string to the database