Numeric values as string values

Hello. I have a table with several column, all formatted as INT values. I'd like to know if there is a possibility to use in this table, CONSTANT STRING values instead of numeric value. Each CONSTANT STRING value is defined (like C language "#define" syntax) in another table. For example:

table1:

• CONSTANT1 = 2
• CONSTANT2 = 23
• CONSTANT3 = 12
• CONSTANT4 = 7

table2

• PARAMETER1 = CONSTANT1
• PARAMETER2 = CONSTANT2
• PARAMETER3 = CONSTANT3
• PARAMETER4 = CONSTANT4

Is there any way to do this? Many thanks

That sounds as if you want to create a relationship between a column in table1 and one in table2. If you're on MySQL or MariaDB, you can create a foreign key for that purpose. Both tables must have a column with the same definition (the name of it may differ). Then, in table2 you create a foreign key which points to the column in table1.

In HeidiSQL you use the foreign key editor in the table tab:

Maybe I haven't well explained what I want to do. In the generic cell (MY_CELL) of a particular column (MY_COLUMN), instead of insert an integer value, for example 5, I want to insert a string (MY_STRING), that only visually is a string but internally is treated as integer value 5. I need something similar to ENUM management. I tried to declare MY_COLUMN as ENUM type and assign to the ENUM list the values 'CONSTANT1', 'CONSTANT2', 'CONSTANT3','CONSTANT4' but if I read the MY_CELL value the returned value is not an integer but a string value ('CONSTANT1' or 'CONSTANT2' or 'CONSTANT3' or 'CONSTANT4'). I need to read an integer value.

Well, then you should define the column as ENUM('CONST1', 'CONST2'):

Ok, but there is a problem for me. Reading the cell with 'CONST1' or 'CONST2' value return the string 'CONST1' or 'CONST2'. I need to read an integer value not a string value.

You can't expect the result of an ENUM value to be aware of your integer values. Store these integer constants in your application instead.