Hi All, I'm really new to the database game. I have some experience by way of the Wordpress back-end, but no serious database creation experience. I've had an idea to create myself a little web-based database of products and a means for friends of mine to upload their recommended products, basically creating an easy to navigate reference catalogue (in this case, building materials). With my limited experience, I figured I would want users to log-in, submit their info into a simple form, and then after moderation by me, have it submitted it to the database. I was previously recommended Filemaker Pro as a starting point for creating the database. I've been messing around with it for a few hours and it seems quite user-friendly and easy to understand (at least at a superficial level). I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that I'm going about this in a logical way for a beginner. I have an uphill climb ahead of me, as my PHP knowledge is limited at best. I was hoping someone could lay out a few starter steps of essentials for getting this type of thing started. Is it easy to create a robust, searchable, cross-referenced database with Filemaker and have a web-friendly end result? I know this isn't the clearest set of questions, but any advice would be really appreciated! Cheers!
Google user systems for the whole logging in and out process and make sure you do it securely! As for the database, make sure you know what tables, columns and data you want to have beforehand. I usually organise it on paper: -- Table --- Column ---- Data ---- Some More Data --- Another Column Etc.. Just be clear before you start otherwise it'll become a long arduous task and you'll regret ever even having started. As for the php work, PM me, I do a lot of php so we might be able to work something out Dom,
Hey! Thanks a lot for the response. I've done quite a bit more exploration since the OP, and have established a working record on Filemaker. Let me know if this makes sense: 1 Table (Product Information) 15 Fields (Columns in SQL I guess) including Name of Manufacturer, Materials, Contact info, etc, etc. I want to try to get going with Filemaker Server so that I can update the SQL database (and thus the active website) directly from Filemaker once the PHP is going strong. I've never heard of Google user systems with regards to login for webpages...can you point me towards some documentation? I originally planned on building a custom wordpress theme to get'r lookin sharp. It would also make it easy to integrate a blog into the site down the road if I'm so inclined. I've come to really like some of the available plugins and widgets. Any thoughts on this would be really appreciated! With regards to the PHP, it's definitely a bit intimidating, but I've gotten a little sharper through designing a couple WP themes, so I might try to tackle it myself and see how far I get. Maybe silly, but nothing like the deep end to learn how to swim! If I get overrun I'll be in touch though! How do you recommend I deal with uploading images? I just skimmed through an article advocating the benefits of having the images become part of the database as blobs, but I also hear the argument that this quickly makes the DB very big if the site happens to get popular. Best, Mike
When I said Google user systems, I meant actually searching through Google and using it to find one. If you have the time, however, I would recommend pulling apart radiPanel (demo: http://demo.radipanel.com) and using the usersystem built into there - I could help with that if you liked. I know what you mean with the whole jumping in at the deep end analogy, I kind of did that when I started and still do! As for Wordpress, it's definitely a really useful tool, but depending on what sort of functionality you need from this site, it may be easier to start from scratch with it, but WP is a solid starting point. As for images, I looked into this a while ago and came across a very good article that went into detail on the subject and also gave you code to elaborate and build on.. 2 seconds.. Ah: http://www.namepros.com/webmaster-tutorials/81935-upload-image-to-mysql-database-php.html Have a read through that and a play around. Before all this though, I would recommend that you have a clear course of action if you are very set on doing this properly as it comes across to me that you seem to be a little all over the place and are unsure of which to do first. Regards, Dom.
Hi again, Thanks a lot for the clarification. You're absolutely right about me being scattered (a personality flaw I've never been able to skake )...I'm gonna get to work creating a PHP form which accesses a dead simple SQL database...point blank. No formatting or anything. Once I'm somewhat confident with that, I'll begin worrying about the user experience...I won't have any users to worry about if I don't get the basic functionality down! I'll send you a PM when I have the first big step out of the way for a bit of critique if you don't mind, it would definitely be reassuring if a more seasoned set of eyes could look over the ground-work. Thanks again for your time!
Absolutely fine, mate. I'm more than happy to assist and watch over to whatever extent that you feel comfortable with. Just let me know when you get some stuff done and we'll go from there, huh? Dom,
Before creating your first Database you should have the basic knowledge of database related terms which are mostly used in the whole process. 1.Definition of Database 2.Tuples 3.Primary key 4.DBMS ..... Many more will be required to better understanding the database .Whether you are creating or Designing.
Thanks a lot for that suggestion, Jaffary, and I completely agree. I've thrown myself at a big thing with maybe a little too much excitement. I'll make an effort to get some foundation work sorted out before I post anymore questions.