Title: Multiple db
Last modified: August 27, 2019

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# Multiple db

 *  [teebark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teebark/)
 * (@teebark)
 * [6 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-db/)
 * In the example you use for multiple databases, you use 3 groups; contact, player,
   and parent. All 3 groups are separate records, right? So, how are they connected,
   i.e., how does contact A connect to player B, instead of player C? When you use
   the shortcode [pdb_signup groups=”contact,player”], how does the right contact
   link with player?
    And how can I list all contacts, vs. all players for each 
   group? On the admin screen, not via a shortcode. Do I have create a template?
   Also, in the newest version of the plugin, I can’t find the column display and
   order checkboxes.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Roland Barker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [6 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-db/#post-11876634)
 * This is a technique explained in an article on the developer’s site called [“Multiple Databases” with Participants Database](https://xnau.com/multiple-databases-with-participants-database/)
 * What we are trying to do with the “multiple database” simulation is keep more
   than one type of record in the single database. We tell them apart using a database
   field (called “type”) that tells us what kind of record it is. In the example
   there are two: players and parents. So in each record, the “type” value will 
   be either “parent” or “player”
 * If you want to see all the players in a list, you need to filter the “type” value
   with “player”
 * The “groups” are groups of fields in the database. We use the groups as a convenient
   way to manage the fact that each type of record is going to need some different
   fields. The “contact” group is common to all types, and the other two groups 
   are specific to each type.
 * So, for example, when we want to see a list of the players info, we only need
   to show the “contact” and “player” field groups.
 * If we are showing a parent’s info, we will show only the “contact” and “parent”
   groups.
 * This is controlled in the shortcode as explained in the article.
 * The new user interface for managing database field is explained here: [Managing the Database Fields](https://xnau.com/work/wordpress-plugins/participants-database/participants-database-documentation/the-manage-database-fields-page/)
 * The global list display column settings are now on the Manage List Columns page
   in the plugin admin.
 *  Thread Starter [teebark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teebark/)
 * (@teebark)
 * [6 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-db/#post-11876985)
 * Yes, I think I understand now, the contact, parent and player are not separate
   records, they just represent groupings within the same record.
 *  [fredalvrez@gmail.com](https://wordpress.org/support/users/fredalvrezgmailcom/)
 * (@fredalvrezgmailcom)
 * [6 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-db/#post-11887700)
 * HI Xnau
    This post doesn’t look ‘solved’, so hopefully it’s ok to post here with
   regards to multiple DBs. I have a slightly different requirement – I think. We
   are a car club, and want to have a membership DB under our WP website. But we’d
   also like a DB of member’s cars, linked ot the member but it seems to me that
   a DB of cars is going to be seperate? The cars would link to the member, but 
   if a car gets sold to another member, then it would link to the new person, but
   we’d also like to be able to see the ownership history. Another scenario is that
   the car is sold to someone who’s not a member, and we’d need to accont for that
   too. Is this product able to do this?
 * Many thanks!
    Fred Alvrez
 *  Plugin Author [Roland Barker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * (@xnau)
 * [6 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-db/#post-11888712)
 * Usually it is best to start a new thread when you have a question so it’s easier
   for other users to find answers.
 * So, to answer your question, something like this is not currently possible with
   Participants Database. The “multiple databases” this is thread is discussing 
   is more like two side-by-side databases, while what you need is a “relational”
   database, where a number of records can be associated with a single record.
 * If you were to use Participants Database for something like this, you would have
   your club members be WordPress users, then you can use Participants Database 
   to catalog the cars and associate each car with a user. It takes a bit of work,
   though, it doesn’t do this automatically. Take a look at this article:
 * [Using Participants Database with WordPress Users](https://xnau.com/using-participants-database-with-wordpress-users/)

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Multiple db’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/participants-database/assets/icon-256x256.jpg?rev=1389807)
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## Tags

 * [multiple](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multiple/)

 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Roland Barker](https://wordpress.org/support/users/xnau/)
 * Last activity: [6 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multiple-db/#post-11888712)
 * Status: not resolved