Flat Text Database

[jopie916]

Overview:
I'm a new web devoloper, and I just picked up a client with a 3,500+ item inventory. The problem is that the prices change every 6 months, and the items are spread out on some 100+ pages. I would like to use php to insert the current price for each item when the page is called.

Problem:
My client's web host does not support any sort of database (mySQL etc...) 🙁

I need help with the php coding to look up an item by part number (field1) and return the price (field 2) and description (field3) from a pipe delemited flat text database. The returned values would be displayed on the page and stored for submission to his shopping cart.

Sample of Database: (assuming quotation marks are required to indicate a string-type value)
"350004ERL"|"6.14"|"-4 Pro-Lite 350 Hose Bulk"
"350006ERL"|"7.11"|"-6 Pro-Lite 350 Hose Bulk"
"350008ERL"|"8.14"|"-8 Pro-Lite 350 Hose Bulk"
"350010ERL"|"9.18"|"-10 Pro-Lite 350 Hose Bulk "
"350012ERL"|"9.87"|"-12 Pro-Lite 350 Hose Bulk "
"350016ERL"|"12.7"|"-16 Pro-Lite 350 Hose Bulk "

Second-Guessing Myself:
With over 3,500 lines, I'm afraid it would take a long time to scan the database. The database file itself is around 200k(yikes!) Is it really worth the trouble, or should I recommend a new provider?

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Thanks everybody in advance, I know this is not a simple request. This is the best php forum in the web!
😃 😃

[toma42]

get a new provider. Doing flat file db stuff isn't worth your time, unless you're making $125/hour, in which case you could not recommend a new provider and triple (or better!) the time you spend on the project.

[jopie916]

Thanks toma42,

Three times the work AND less efficient... Best to just do it right the first time (although $125/hr does sound good).