user permissions

[sysadmin42]

I am about to create a new site with some pretty complex user permission work. Previously, I have simply had a table (MySQL) like this example:

id - autoindex
user_id - smallint, linked to the user table with their name and everything
permission_1 - enum(0,1)
permission_2 - enum(0,1)
etc...

then, at the beginning of the pages requiring permissions, just getting the value of the appropriate permission. 0=not allowed, 1=allowed. Also, say there is an office location table and you can let users only see certain offices' info:

allowed_locations - varchar(100) Example value: "1,4,8,9,10"

Is there a more better and/or efficient way to set up permissions in general?

 

[Bastien]

Binary string

10110100101010010100100100100100010010001000

Then set constants to point to each element in the string, 0 = no, 1 = yes

We currently use this method to manage some 400 permissions for our application

Bastien

I wish my computer would do what I want it to do,
instead of what I tell it to do...

 

[sysadmin42]

how do you keep all the places straight and organized?

 

[Bastien]

we use an include file and define the constants for each position

Bastien

I wish my computer would do what I want it to do,
instead of what I tell it to do...

 

[sysadmin42]

oooo. I like it. Thanks very much!