MySQL: insert values from another table into one column - mysql

Question

I am wanting to move items from one table into another using MySQL.
This is what I currently use:
INSERT INTO items_rooms (item_id, room_id,x,y,n)
SELECT id, room_id,x,y,z
FROM `items_phoenix`
This works, however I am wanting to insert multiple values into one column instead of each values in different columns.
For example:
In table items_rooms, I would like values x and y from items_phoenix to be placed into one column in items_rooms.
If x = 5 and y = 2, can I save it into items_rooms like this: one column: 5.2 instead of different columns for each values?
Sorry if this is confusing!

Answer 1

You can use expressions in your SELECT column-list. As long as the columns in the select-list and the columns in the destination table match in number and data type, you can do something like this:
INSERT INTO items_rooms (item_id, room_id, x_dot_y, n)
SELECT id, room_id, CONCAT(x,'.',y), z
FROM `items_phoenix`

Answer 2

You definitely can do this. See the helpful answers on this. However, you should consider whether this is a good idea. Once you denormalize distinct columns into some kind of string expression in one column, you've created something that is very difficult to maintain and also to query against. You are making your data less usable to yourself in doing this.

Answer 3

You can use a concatenation for a simple case, e.g:
INSERT INTO items_rooms (
item_id,
room_id,
x_and_y,
n)
SELECT
id,
room_id,
CONCAT(x, '.', y),
z
FROM `items_phoenix`

Answer 4

Yes, if the column can store text information
Just CONCAT or CONCAT_WS the values
INSERT INTO items_rooms ( item_id, room_id, my_value, n )
SELECT id, room_id, CONCAT_WS( '.', x, y ), z
FROM `items_phoenix`
SQL Fiddle DEMO

Answer 5

$table_To_Get_From = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM items_phoenix (id, room_id,x,y,z)");
if($table_To_Get_From){
$table = mysql_fetch_assoc($table_To_Get_From);
$values = array($table['id'],$table['room_id'],$table['x'],$table['y'],$table['z']);
mysql_query("INSERT INTO items_rooms (item_id, room_id,x,y,n)
VALUES ($values[0],$values[1],$values[2],$values[3],$value[4])");
}
I didn't make them strings, so you may need to use '$values[num]'
This will insert it like you wanted, if there is any values.