Q:

Mysql multiple values in a cell

I'm trying to figure out how could I have some values that are foreign keys to other table, but I think it can not be done that way. 
Here is my example:
I'm working with some repairing reports. Those reports contains info about what has been repaired and how many components have been replaced. There are some codes that codify the trouble that has been repaired and also for the components. Those codes can be one or several, and I want to store all troubles in a column of my reports table but I think that can't be done.
I've thought that I can create an intermediary table that will contain only 2 columns, Id of the report and then the trouble code, and it will have one entry for each trouble. Same with components.
That way I could know all troubles for each report, but I would need to do 5 querys to print out the report with the troubles and the components.
So I've searched if I can do it in one cell but only info I got is using varchar values and then split them and look for the codes translation in a table ,that has code, description, one by one.
So is this the only way to achieve it or is impossible to create a multi reference from a table to others?
I'm surely your answer will be yes, do it as a varchar, but just to be sure.
P.D: Sorry if it's a bad question, bit new.

A:

It looks like a many to many relationship to me.
You can use a table for reports, a table for troubles and a table report_troubles which holds foreign keys to reports and troubles.
A single query like select * from report_problems where report_id = 2 would give you all the info.

