Thread: text and numeric

Looking for an expert advice :

I have to store in a table records like (param_name, value)with value as
text or numeric.

Has someone experience what will be the "best" solution

a--------------
param_name        value(text)
'length'        30
'color'        green

with type casting on the queries or

b--------------
param_name        value(text)        value(numeric)
'length'                    30
'color'        green

with some function for the choice of the column ?



___________________________________________
Jacques Massé
Tel. 33 (0)5 57 89 08 11 - Fax 33 (0)5 57 89 08 01

we use (b) with additional column VALUE_TYPE to give u a hint where the data
actually is


>
> a--------------
> param_name value(text)
> 'length' 30
> 'color' green
>
> with type casting on the queries or
>
> b--------------
> param_name value(text) value(numeric)
> 'length' 30
> 'color' green
>
> with some function for the choice of the column ?
>