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#1 2003-01-16 6:32 pm
- bray
- Member
- From: Montreal
- Registered: 2000-05-25
- Posts: 156
Need advice... database or not!
A question for you web pros out there; I've been asked to do a web site for a small telephone equipment company and I need some advice as to the best method to publish their catalogue. I'm quite knowledgable in HTML but not very experienced with databases (I actualy hate working with them).
The site will have a company profile/history, there will be no online purchasing at this time, contact information and a search engine (Atomz probably)
They have about 1,000 products some with pictures, most without, that would be updated on a monthly basis by them.
Basicaly they want customers (two types, two prices, accessed through the use of a password perhaps? or maybe simply two different web pages) to view the list of products online, they would then place an order either by email or telephone.
Can this kind of site be done without the use of a database (they use Filemaker Pro on a PC)? Or is this a job that realy should be done with a database?
Since i'm not good with databases I could easily work around this and do the site using HTML and maybe ASP or Perl.
Any advice? 
Thanks in advance.
It' begining to and back again.
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#2 2003-01-16 7:15 pm
- skymt0
- Member
- From: Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
- Registered: 2002-10-23
- Posts: 1195
Re: Need advice... database or not!
A question for you web pros out there; I've been asked to do a web site for a small telephone equipment company and I need some advice as to the best method to publish their catalogue. I'm quite knowledgable in HTML but not very experienced with databases (I actualy hate working with them).
The site will have a company profile/history, there will be no online purchasing at this time, contact information and a search engine (Atomz probably)
They have about 1,000 products some with pictures, most without, that would be updated on a monthly basis by them.
Basicaly they want customers (two types, two prices, accessed through the use of a password perhaps? or maybe simply two different web pages) to view the list of products online, they would then place an order either by email or telephone.
Can this kind of site be done without the use of a database (they use Filemaker Pro on a PC)? Or is this a job that realy should be done with a database?
Since i'm not good with databases I could easily work around this and do the site using HTML and maybe ASP or Perl.
Any advice?
It really would be better with a database, but if it would be easier for you, work around it.
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#3 2003-01-16 7:28 pm
- bray
- Member
- From: Montreal
- Registered: 2000-05-25
- Posts: 156
Re: Need advice... database or not!
It really would be better with a database, but if it would be easier for you, work around it.
Can FileMaker Pro do this type of thing?
It' begining to and back again.
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#4 2003-01-16 9:38 pm
Re: Need advice... database or not!
Yes, it can.
Look here:
http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmu_features1.html#
So, just when did this place get Private Messages? YIKES!
Gippy Pages | Fuzzy Coconut XHTML Widget | PuppyCam
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#5 2003-01-16 9:57 pm
- lostghost
- Member
- From: Chicago
- Registered: 2001-07-08
- Posts: 496
Re: Need advice... database or not!
To host a site running off of a Filemaker Pro database requires Filemaker Pro running on the server. There are some specialty web hosting providers that host Filemaker Pro database sites, but they are not widely available. (I have never been impressed with Filemaker's Web capabilities.)
A more common configuration would be ASP with an Access or SQL Server database or PHP with a MySQL database.
On the other hand, it should be fairly easy (with the right tools) to transfer your data from Filemaker Pro to any other database.
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#6 2003-01-17 7:49 am
- bray
- Member
- From: Montreal
- Registered: 2000-05-25
- Posts: 156
Re: Need advice... database or not!
Just to clarify something here, the client does not have his product list on Filemaker Pro yet, the list at the moment is on a word doc that he converts to PDF to distribute. It's just that he's familiar with Filemaker Pro.
It' begining to and back again.
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#7 2003-01-17 5:35 pm
Re: Need advice... database or not!
using the Filemaker Pro "push-button" web solution requires having the software running on the host server which in my mind makes that feature useful for intranet use only. i haven't seen a web host anywhere that has the Filemaker package running on their server. sure it sounds great but . . . .
seems the consensus here is that PHP and MySQL is the way to go. i'm looking at making a complete overhaul to a site that would allow my client to modify their site content using PHP and MySQL to upload content to the site and change text information. i just purchased PHP and MySQL Web Development by Wellington and Thompson which looks like it is exactly the kind of resource that i need. the book includes a cd-rom with real world solutions for Content Management and eCommerce. frankly, i'm a little intimidated (i've never done dynamic site content before) but excited about the prospect of learning some new techniques.
bROCKNESS MoNSTER
"The Fates lead he who will; he who won't, they drag." - Seneca
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#8 2003-01-17 8:25 pm
Re: Need advice... database or not!
If he creates it in FM that's fine, you can export it to a csv and translate or import it to any other database. MySQL or MSSQL would be the best options. (though MSSQL is expensive if you don't have it already)
You can create an .mdb in Access and drop that into the site and ASP can use that. However, it does not handle multiple connections well and will dog very quickly in heavy use.
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#9 2003-01-25 2:37 am
- ilovefie
- Member
- From: Gent, Belgium
- Registered: 2000-08-07
- Posts: 1236
Re: Need advice... database or not!
the best method to publish their catalogue.
The site will have a company profile/history, there will be no online purchasing at this time, contact information and a search engine (Atomz probably)
They have about 1,000 products some with pictures, most without, that would be updated on a monthly basis by them.
Basicaly they want customers (two types, two prices, accessed through the use of a password perhaps? or maybe simply two different web pages) to view the list of products online, they would then place an order either by email or telephone.
Can this kind of site be done without the use of a database (they use Filemaker Pro on a PC)? Or is this a job that realy should be done with a database?
Heh, think ahead. A DB would be the bet solution in the long run.
So I think your best bet is to build the web site the best you can now, without DB, but from the beginning inform the client they'll need a DB.
Get the info and contract on the DB work done already, build the site and at the same time learn up loads of stuff wrt using a DB. That way you provide the client with a working site now, plus you provide the client also with an upgrade path, so his investment doesn't go to waste.
There's a great introductory article over at mysql.com.
Good luck.
(edit: post 1234! I can die a happy man now 
)
quote: Originally posted by Miss Trish: Eh..cram it, ya Belgian waffle!
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#10 2003-01-25 3:07 pm
Re: Need advice... database or not!
Use a database. It would be incomprehensible to edit HTML files to change your products. And don't use FileMaker; MySQL and PHP are much better suited for your task, and they're free and easy to use. The documentation at php.net is more than enough to learn how to use the language, and there's plenty of support here and many other places for questions you might have.
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