Database suggestions

bschwarz

We have a client coming up who want to be able to get their product inventory (access database).

They want to be able to login and basically hit "upload" and that updates the inventory to their website, a searchable database on the website.

Should I:

A) Try using the access database in php?
😎 Try making access write some xml for me, parse that and convert it into a lovley mysql db

C) Somehow use XML as the 'database' (this sounds like a bad idea, slow, yuk etc)

D) Your suggestion----

bastien

convert it to mysql...no need for xml...there are a few utilities made esp for this typ eo f conversion google it

bschwarz

From what I've seen its quite a messy database to start with.

These guys are just selling stuff.. they aren't database people (and for the larger part, either am I, although I do have much more of a clue then them)

Thanks for your suggestions. Anyone else?

bschwarz

Do you have any examples of where I can find a converter (written in PHP)

I need for the client to be able to login, choose and file and hit 'upload' to update the database.

I'm guessing XML is going to have to be the way to do it?

bastien

Doubt you find a complete solution because of the need to map the fields from the remote to the local db...your best bet is to upload some kind of text file (xml or straight text) and have a php script that will handle this for you...

In rereading your posts, something along the lines of creating an access module (if they don't screw up the db much) or a vb app that can create the export (comma, tab or pipe separated file) and either FTP or interface with a php script to upload a file...

This way you can control the file layout and make mapping easy, though maintenance may be more problematical in the long run...

Another option is to have the php script upload the entire mdb file and then use COM to open it (would require Windoze OS on the server) and then try to map the fields dynamically to the mySQL db. Again new fields and maintenance might be problematical...

I would suggest that you make the mysql db once and then create an entire admin area with php. This can then allows the users to upload new photos, text etc...

Its more complex a site to build, but then you can take the code with you to sell to others....