Application Question re: Inventory

[Vball]

Ok I looked around first but I did not see anything that particularly addressed this question.

I have you typical inventory system being built with LAMP.

I am building into the system a way for the user to ADD additional options/features/parameters to inventoried items such as color or size.

So for now we have some tables like:

inventory

inv_id (primary key)
inv_description
inv_colorID (foreign key)
inv_size (foreign key)

colors

color_id (primary key)
color_name

sizes

size_id (primary key)
size_name

inv_options (for features without parameters like Y or No.)

option_id
option_description

inv_details

inv_id
option_id

What I want to know is, from an application standpoint, what would be the best way to allow for the user to add new colors/feature parameters whatever.

Right now I am using a two step method where the user enters in new colors on an inventory options page and then they can go to a different page to add or edit inventory with Select boxes instead of using a straight text box.

Any suggestions? Comments?

TIA!!

[mourisj]

Yes, good idea.

However, you mioght run into anarchy if you leave selection list update to any user.

You might want do do this user-specific: every item is defined by an item_id and an owner_id. You could have items available for any user (owner_id = 0); the user-defined ones remain user-specific (owner_id == user_id).