Help me create a quotes database please?

[sygyzy]

Hi,

I have a bulleted list of quotes here and I was wondering if one of you gurus could help me create some sort of database for it? What I would like is a way to track duplicates, delete, add, etc.

I have alot of fancy ideas for it but would settle for even a simple one. I want to be able to visit my site and add a quote whenever I feel like. Maybe there can be different fields like: author, quote, date added, category, etc.

It would mean alot to me if someone can help me get this organized. I guess I would initially need some sort of program to parse the file and spit it into a database.

 

[igowerf]

Well if your site supports PHP/MySQL, it'd be pretty easy to set up a database and some control panel for you to add/remove quotes.

 

[kt]

What kind of resources do you have access to or is available to you? That would help a great bit if we knew. Something like what you are asking for is quite simple to create. Probably take anyone with enough knowledge to create in 15 minutes.

 

[Mitzi]

I use something similar on my personal web site though its much simpler (I don't have any admin controls). Basically I wrote a PERL script to pick a random quote out of a file (one quote per line) and display it on the page using SSI in a 'Strange but true' box on my web page.

You can see it working here.

 

[sygyzy]

Thank you all for replying. Some more information.

1. My site supports everything you suggested. CGI, MySQL, PHP. The only problem is I really don't know how to code. I mean I understand basic tags and can tinker with stuff to suit my needs but database programming is not my forte. I was hoping someone could create a system to help me and then I would just maintain it by adding, deleting quotes.

2. What kind of resources? I don't understand your question. I have a website and it supports various things as mentioned. And I cannot code (well). I was hoping someone WOULD help me create it.

3. Mitzi - Can you tell me more about your script? Does it have to read it from a plaintext file? Could you share the code?

And last but not least...

I got an email with an attachment in my Inbox today. Some kind soul took my Cool Quotes list, parsed it, and put it in an Access Databse. Then created some forms and queries for me! I don't know much about Access but I am quite excited. My most important goal is for simple maintainance, searching, and publishing (on the web). Hopefully Access can somehow easily integrate into PHP/MySQL. Would be nice to have a web interface so I can add stuff remotely.

 

[notfred]

I will create a database for you. For $35/hour.

If you want it for free, learn to code, we'll be happy to answer questions about specific problems you're having, but most of us have our own projects to work on in our spare time.

 

[nickaskew]

Hi

What you wish to do isn't that difficult at all providing you have the right tools for the job (I know, you knew that..). You may not know what it is you want though, so lets shed some light on it:

You need a web page designer that is easy to use and works seamlessly (or as close as you're gonna get) with a MySQL (free) database.

Ok, the web page designer you should really try to get your hands on is: Dreamweaver MX (US$399) - The ease of use and extremely rich feature set can more than account for the price.. if your time is worth $30 an hour, it'll take you more than 10 hours to do anything basic in another package that looks anything like the results you could get from Dreamweaver in 1 hour.. honest (after a small learning curve.. as with anything) - http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/dreamweaver/php.html

Next you need to make sure you are running either PWS (personal web server) or IIS on your local PC to ensure the following two items (MySQL and PHP) run properly (at all..).

Next you need the online database engine to store your data, MySQL is a great (free) choice - http://www.mysql.com/

The web server 'language' of choice to use when using MySQL is PHP - this is also free to use - Dreamweaver can create web pages for you containing the necessary PHP code to parse/update a MySQL database without you having to type a single line of code... sold yet? - http://www.php.net/

Other Info:
How do you get your data from your LOCAL pc onto your REMOTE web server? - Easy, you install the MySQL database onto your local pc and populate it with data. When you want to put it onto your Web server you can use one of several tools provided for use with MySQL that effectively 'synchronise' your local copy with the internet copy (both ways, so if Joe Bloggs added 1200 new quotes on your web server, you wouldn't overwrite it with your local copy.. your local copy would be updated with the remote copy.. check out the MYSQL.com link above.

How do you upload your Dreamweaver web/data pages? - Just tell Dreamweaver where your webspace is.. it does the hard work for you - or you can happily use an FTP client if this is your preference.

Your web space provider gives you access to MySQL and PHP - MAKE SURE you know what version of each it is running.. you need to ensure you develop for the correct version of each on your local pc (example: don't download the latest version of MySQL onto your local PC if your web space provider is using an older version, ensure they match - MySQL and PHP give links to the older versions for this reason)

Good Luck!

Regards

Nick

 

[sygyzy]

I have both a host and MySQL so we are set. I am using PHP/MySQL for my forums and catalog (just a test). Both haven't been updated in a while but they definitely work.

Will Access know how to populate the tables in SQL? The initial problem I can think of is if I populate the tables (say info = 1, 2, 3), then I change data offline in Access, how will SQL handle it? What if the new information is now (1, 2, 3, 4)? Will it know to just add 4? Or will it add it as (1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4)? Or what if I changed it to (1, a, 2, b, 3, c)?

Lastly what tool do I use to "convert" the access data to the sql data?

Thanks again. P.S. Nick - I think you helped me with my SMC router's setup page.

 

[jonmullen]

Access is an SQL database...a crappy one, but kinda one none the less, what you want it really not hard to do, if you are serious and would like to hire someone webhostingtalk.com has a forum for this stuff or you can PM me or one of the other members code it for you.

 

[igowerf]

I have something very similar on my website, except I use it to store links to other websites. I even wrote a little web interface to let me, add/remove/edit the entries. I'll help you set it up, but I won't have time until this weekend.

I'll do it for free, of course. I don't know why there have been mentions of charging for this. It's pretty simple to set up. In fact, there are probably free scripts available.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: igowerf
I have something very similar on my website, except I use it to store links to other websites. I even wrote a little web interface to let me, add/remove/edit the entries. I'll help you set it up, but I won't have time until this weekend.

I'll do it for free, of course. I don't know why there have been mentions of charging for this. It's pretty simple to set up. In fact, there are probably free scripts available.

No one said anything about charging. We simply imply that what he wanted to do is so simply he is probably better of just learning how to code with PHP. Anyone capable of reading the PHP online manual should have no problem coding this little application. I would rather help him understand how to do it on his own than doing it for him. You know what they say, give a man a fish it feeds him for a day, give a man a fishing rod it feeds him for a lifetime.

 

[nickaskew]

Hi,

Yeah, but most people really would just want the fish.. the day is short there isn't any time to do anything else 😉

Regards

Nick

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: nickaskew
Hi,

Yeah, but most people really would just want the fish.. the day is short there isn't any time to do anything else 😉

Regards

Nick

I oughta smack you with the fish instead! 😀

 

[sygyzy]

igowerf Could you please show me the example on your website? A direct link?

I am going to try to figure out how all the forms and categories in Access works tonight. Then I am going to ask how to get it onto my webpage. I think with help from you and nickaskew I am going to have a very nice addition to my website.

Thank you all for your help, it means alot.

Edit: kt - Actually two members mentioned charging. Maybe you just missed it.

 

[jonmullen]

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: igowerf
I have something very similar on my website, except I use it to store links to other websites. I even wrote a little web interface to let me, add/remove/edit the entries. I'll help you set it up, but I won't have time until this weekend.

I'll do it for free, of course. I don't know why there have been mentions of charging for this. It's pretty simple to set up. In fact, there are probably free scripts available.

No one said anything about charging. We simply imply that what he wanted to do is so simply he is probably better of just learning how to code with PHP. Anyone capable of reading the PHP online manual should have no problem coding this little application. I would rather help him understand how to do it on his own than doing it for him. You know what they say, give a man a fish it feeds him for a day, give a man a fishing rod it feeds him for a lifetime.

Well actually notfred did imply it and I hinted at is but I dont think I was serious. Any way here is a script I did in about 15min thats should work for you its very simple and not polished but it should do what you want. Here it is.

 

[Mitzi]

Originally posted by: sygyzy

3. Mitzi - Can you tell me more about your script? Does it have to read it from a plaintext file? Could you share the code?

The source code (all 10 lines of it!) is available from here. It does indeed just read the quotes from a plain text file (quotes.dat). The Perl script simply loads each line of the text file into an array and picks one at random to print to the screen via SSI. The script is obviously not exactly what you want...it displays a random quote and provides no means to administer the quotes remotely (you have to edit the text file manually). The code is also pretty ineffecient - it reads the whole file everytime someone visits the page but hey, for low-traffic sites such as mine it fits the bill perfectly.

I do agree with the others though, learn PHP and get a mySQL database installed if possible and write something yourself.

 

[sygyzy]

Thanks Mitzi. I could end up using your script at least until I figure out how to get my db up and running. Thank you!

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: jonmullen

Originally posted by: kt

Originally posted by: igowerf
I have something very similar on my website, except I use it to store links to other websites. I even wrote a little web interface to let me, add/remove/edit the entries. I'll help you set it up, but I won't have time until this weekend.

I'll do it for free, of course. I don't know why there have been mentions of charging for this. It's pretty simple to set up. In fact, there are probably free scripts available.

No one said anything about charging. We simply imply that what he wanted to do is so simply he is probably better of just learning how to code with PHP. Anyone capable of reading the PHP online manual should have no problem coding this little application. I would rather help him understand how to do it on his own than doing it for him. You know what they say, give a man a fish it feeds him for a day, give a man a fishing rod it feeds him for a lifetime.

Well actually notfred did imply it and I hinted at is but I dont think I was serious. Any way here is a script I did in about 15min thats should work for you its very simple and not polished but it should do what you want. Here it is.

When you submit a quote, where does it store it? In mysql?

 

[chuckieland]

Originally posted by: notfred
I will create a database for you. For $35/hour.

If you want it for free, learn to code, we'll be happy to answer questions about specific problems you're having, but most of us have our own projects to work on in our spare time.

usually how long do you take to do one
main feature i'm looking for
1) individual account (login/pass)
2) i can assign which account see what at what price
3) easy update on the photo (photo of product i sell)
4) search engine (say they type in dragon, and all the dragon related product show up)
5) shopping cart
6) i recieve email of customer information and their order when they click summit the order