Possible to Add Option Value via Database?

[Boggled]

I'm in Attribute Hell.

Not sure how to explain what I'm hoping to do, but here goes...

I need to add an Attribute Option Name. No problem.
But...that option name will have 367 option values.

Is there a way to add these values without doing them one by one manually?

I'm hoping it can be inserted into the database via phpMyAdmin, but I don't know how or what I would need to put in a SQL file to do it.

I already have several other Option Names set up with values, so I don't want to risk losing those either.

I have the list of values saved in a Notepad file.

Any help or suggestion is greatly appreciated!!!

[Ajeh]

What in the world are you doing that you need 367 values on 1 Option Name?

As a human I am not going to be able to browse such a huge list ...

[Boggled]

I know!! Unfortunately, it's necessary in this particular instance.

This is a candlemaking supply site which offers 367 different fragrances on several of the products.

[Ajeh]

Unless you have a well optimized server, this will not be able to load on the page ...

It wouldn't work to break up the fragrances in some manner on a few Products so you don't have the customer struggling to find a fregrance among 376 Option Values?

[kuroi]

I'm in Attribute Hell.

... and then some> How are you going to present 367 values to visitors? That's a very long pull down menu, or a lot of radio buttons.

[kuroi]

Could you do something creative. I'm guessing that fragrance isn't a field being used for stock purposes, so could you instead put the fragrances on an information page, and ask the customer to type the name of the one they want into a text attribute (and even leave blank for a random choice). Although that wouldn't normally be a great user interface, in this case it would be easier on the visitor than expecting them to find the one they want in such a long list.

[Boggled]

Could you do something creative. I'm guessing that fragrance isn't a field being used for stock purposes, so could you instead put the fragrances on an information page, and ask the customer to type the name of the one they want into a text attribute (and even leave blank for a random choice). Although that wouldn't normally be a great user interface, in this case it would be easier on the visitor than expecting them to find the one they want in such a long list.

It does make for a very long dropdown list!
Luckily, most Candlemakers usually know what fragrances they need/want to order and as long as the list is alphabetical, they don't have a problem finding what they want.

Thank you for that suggestion! I may have to go that route. I know I personally hate having to type stuff in, but it may be the only solution.