# Storing arrays in db + model architecture

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-arrays-in-db-model-architecture/134772>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [April 14, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-arrays-in-db-model-architecture/134772 "2008-04-14T23:16:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![comopasta](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@comopasta](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/comopasta)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-arrays-in-db-model-architecture/134772/1 "2008-04-14T23:16:40Z")

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Hi,

My users can select items and define a quantity attribute for those.  
Those items can be selected with checkboxes. And the quantity is a field  
text.

Collecting all in one form; the checkbox selections, and other details,  
the info should be stored in the db. Resulting in a purchase order for  
example. A single user wouldn’t have many purchase orders in the system  
at one time.

My question is how to store the resulting array in the db? I know how to  
get the array of values but what should I use as the container in the  
db, a single row with a sting hash, store each item separately,  
something else? How can I relate the quantity for each item?

The available items are not predefined, and users can create new items  
into the system also.

I think it is pretty trivial stuff but I would like to get the models  
and logic right from the beginning. Any good suggestions/tutorials?

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![comopasta](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@comopasta](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/comopasta)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/storing-arrays-in-db-model-architecture/134772/2 "2008-04-14T23:25:25Z")

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Oppps! This should have gone to the Rails area.  
I will move it there.