title: Has anyone used a DECODE table (set of tables) in SQL?
body: <p>Has anyone ever used a series of tables togather called a DECODE?</p>
  
  <p>This is where you have the following types of tables:</p>
  
  <pre><code>WORK_ORDER
  ==========
  ID, 
  WORK_ORDER_TYPE, 
  CUSTOMER_TYPE
  
  DECODE_TYPE
  ===========
  ID, 
  NAME, 
  DESCRIPTION
  
  DECODE
  ======
  ID, 
  NAME
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I don't remember how exactly it is set up, but it is set up kind of like this.  The whole point is to eliminate adding additional tables for each type.</p>
  
  <p>I am looking for a full description including instructions, or a blog posting out there somewhere that I can't seem to find.</p>