title: Comparing values from a string in a MySQL query
body: <p>I'm having some trouble comparing values found in VARCHAR fields.</p>
  
  <p>I have a table with products and each product has volume. I store the volume in a VARCHAR field and it's usually a number (30, 40, 200..) but there are products that have multiple volumes and their data is stored separated by semicolons, like so 30;60;80.</p>
  
  <p>I know that storing multiple volumes like that is not recommended but I have to work with it like it is.</p>
  
  <p>I'm trying to implement a search by volume function for the products. I want to also display the products that have a bigger or equal volume than the one searched. 
  This is not a problem with the products that have a single volume, but it is a problem with the multiple volume products.</p>
  
  <p>Maybe an example will make things clearer: Let's say I have a product with this in it's volume field: 30;40;70;80. 
  If someone searched for a volume, lets say 50, I want that product to be displayed.</p>
  
  <p>To do this I was thinking of writing my own custom MySQL function (I've never this before) but maybe someone can offer a different solution.</p>
  
  <p>I apologize for my poor English but I hope I made my question clear.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks.</p>