php mysql database structure

I am working on using php and mysql to create dynamic web pages and I am
working on planning my database structure. The issue I have is how to
structure the tables for various product attributes I have (i.e. sizes,
colors). These will vary as some products have 2 sizes and others may have
7, some products may have 1 color and others may have 8.

First, I planned on having separate tables for the sizes and the colors.
How should I structure these tables? Does the following make sense?

ProdID Size1 Size2 Size3 ........ Size 8
Shirt S M L XXL

Now for many products Size 4 - Size 8 may be empty. Is structuring a table
with so many empty fields a problem? Or should I structure the table as
follows:

ProdID S M L ........ XXL
Shirt Y Y N N

With colors I have probably 12 or so total, but very few products use more
than 3-4, and a couple of colors are only used on 1-2 products.

Any advice appreciated.

Rob aka Johnny

"Tom Thackrey" <tomnr@creative-light.com> wrote in message
news:wOpOa.239$TO.25054403@newssvr14.news.prodigy. com...
>
> On 7-Jul-2003, "Johnny Bagadonuts" <rob_robster-AT-hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I am working on using php and mysql to create dynamic web pages and I am
> > working on planning my database structure. The issue I have is how to
> > structure the tables for various product attributes I have (i.e. sizes,
> > colors). These will vary as some products have 2 sizes and others may
> > have
> > 7, some products may have 1 color and others may have 8.
> >
> > First, I planned on having separate tables for the sizes and the colors.
> > How should I structure these tables? Does the following make sense?
> >
> > ProdID Size1 Size2 Size3 ........ Size 8
> > Shirt S M L XXL
> >
> > Now for many products Size 4 - Size 8 may be empty. Is structuring a
> > table
> > with so many empty fields a problem? Or should I structure the table as
> > follows:
> >
> > ProdID S M L ........ XXL
> > Shirt Y Y N N
> >
> > With colors I have probably 12 or so total, but very few products use
more
> > than 3-4, and a couple of colors are only used on 1-2 products.
> >
> > Any advice appreciated.
>
> Database normalization is a pretty big topic. There are lots of tradeoffs
> between speed and flexibility. Here's a place to start:
>
> http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/M...al1/page1.html
>
> --
> Tom Thackrey
> www.creative-light.com

At first glance looks like a decent site. Thanks - I'll check it out in
detail.