I think what you are searching for is database design or more specific database normalization.

I think you're right. The common advice so far seems to be "put it in a database, then..." I'm OK with that, but I'm still groping in the dark a bit - not seeing my way to a solution yet - although what you suggest certainly seems like a step in the right direction.

I have to say that "normalization" seems to be the key here. I've heard it as a term of the art before, but I'm completely ignorant of how it's done (except for having done stuff like this myself, albeit on a smaller scale and without much thinking about it.)

I'm guessing that you mean something like this: 

v_id    vendor
001     NGK
002     DENSO
003     BECK-ARNLEY
004     AUTOLITE

[download]

Then

id       v_id    plug
00001    001     ABC095
00002    001     XYZ096
....
00123    002     ZZZ000
....
04567    003     AAABBB999
34291    004     FOO-12

[download]

And then... I'm not sure what happens then. I thought I had it, but I've lost it. :( Help?


--
"Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about."
-- B. L. Whorf

In reply to Re^4: Organizing and presenting a cross-reference by oko1
in thread Organizing and presenting a cross-reference by oko1

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