Where value in column list problem

Hi guys,
I'm facing an issue with the following query.

select * from table where form.value in (column.list)

Usually the way queries are set up is the other way around
meaning :

select * from table where column.value in (list)

is there something i can do to make the query work or is there something wrong with my logic?

your logic is fine

... WHERE somevalue IN ( list, of, columns )

this is valid and will work

@r937
thanks for the reply. one thing perhaps wasn't clear is that column.list is not a list of columns.
it's a list stored in one field in the DB.

so it's where 2 in (12,3,4,5,2)

2 is coming from a form.
12,3,4,5,2 is stored in the field.

very poor design

you neglected to mention which database system you're using

if it's mysql, you may use the FIND_IN_SET function, but be aware that it requires a table scan and your query will get slower and slower the more rows you have

if it's some other database system, things progress downhill, you may have to use a patchwork involving SUBSTRING, and, like mysql, it won't scale

i'm using MSSQL.

I'll see what i can do to change the db design.

thanks

that's the best strategy all around

meanwhile, i;ve moved the thread to the MSSQL forum