[Resolved] Which part PHP, which MySQL?

ArtistRich

I'm working with a version of osCommerce called CRE Loaded 6.1a. I want to add in some functionality that I am going to try to develop. In short, I am needing to know if the MySQL database is strictly static data or if MySQL performs any calculations. Specifically, I want to show a table on each product page which has an incremental quantity that the customer will make their choice to "Add to cart" from. The increments are various and many for the whole site, but only 1 for each product. (i.e. widgets are available in quantities of 6, 12, 18, 24... and gizmos are available in quantities of 10, 20, 30, 40...)

I'll not post anymore details here since this may not be the best suited place to inquire, but if anyone is interested in lending a helpful hand, I'd be more than happy to explain more.

Thanks,
ArtistRich

P.S. - I'm reading "Beginning PHP 5 and MySQL: From Novice to Professional" by W. Jason Gilmore [Apress] right now to further gain an idea of what's involved.

Roger_Ramjet

Yes, mysql can perform calculations. Take a look at the functions in the manual.

Sxooter

Before setting out to use MySQL for ecommerce, you might want to read this:

http://sql-info.de/mysql/gotchas.html

I would recommend firebird or postgresql over mysql for ecommerce. MySQL is a fine content storage database, but I don't trust it for maths.

Roger_Ramjet

Nice link Sxooter, thanks.

By the way, your sig says that PostgrSQL 8 is out now, but all I find is the Beta test version. Is it still in beta, or am I looking at an out-of-date mirror?

Sxooter

It's in release candidate status (Although it's passed rc2, I need to update my sig.) So it isn't available from the "stable" links on any of the servers. I understand it is mere days, or at most weeks, away from final. In other news, Firebird is also releasing a new version soon, with SMP support. For smaller sites, I think it's quite likely that firebird, with its much lower administrative overhead, would be a VERY good choice for ecommerce. heck, even SQLlite probably is better at gettng maths right than MySQL is.

The winders version of postgresql is currently hidden away in a sub-sub-sub basement here:

[url]ftp://ftp5.us.postgresql.org/pub/PostgreSQL/projects/pgFoundry/pginstaller/[/url]

Note that there are other, probably faster servers, like ftp3 you could substitute for ftp5 in that url.

csn

The Postgres hackers just sent out an announcement for RC4 and they think Postgresql 8.0 final should be out by Jan. 15th.

ArtistRich

The ecommerce package I'm using is a "Loaded" version of osCommerce called CRE Loaded 6.1a distibuted by Chain Reaction Web. As far as I know MySQL is the only database handler that is available to CRE Loaded, as well as osCommerce for that matter.

Can the database handler be changed? Would that require a pretty extensive rewrite of the software?

I'm being faced with an ever limited, shrinking deadline from the business ownerand need to make good decisions and implementations quickly.

Anyone who might believe they can point me in the right direction, please respond. I'm open to all commentary.

Thanks Again,
ArtistRich

Sxooter

I tend to question the quality of any piece of software (especially software that does accounting) that only supports MySQL. I don't know what to recommend in it's place, however. I've always written that kind of stuff myself for customers.

ArtistRich

So far, and I'm sure this looks extremely basic to those who know... but hey, that's why you get the big bucks, I've managed to get some "middle" functionality to the code I've written.

The "front" end of this code needs to pass the price from the MySQL database to the loop, no problem there I figure. And I need to ADD a database field to the Admin (product details) area to allow for the input of a custom $minqty for each item.

Also, I figure I need to find how to express the $price and "Pieces" columns as aligned left and 2 decimal places. I'm not clear on this at all yet.

The "rear" needs to make the resulting selected (either by checkbox or hyperlink, maybe?) Price/Quantity pass to the shopping cart.

Lastly there is the mater of getting the whole thing nice and pretty looking and visible on the appropriate page.

Later modifications hope to include:
"Must be an increment of $minqty to be valid." OR
"If not an increment of $minqty, is invalid."
For those who want to declare a quantity themselves.

Anyone willing to give advise in these endeavours will recieve my highest praise and lifelong indebtedness... Just like saving a Native Americans life!

My code thusfar:

<?PHP
$price = 2.50;
$count = 1;
$minqty = 6;
$perpkg = $minqty;

for ($count = 1; ; $count++) {
	if ($count > 5) break;
	echo "$perpkg Pieces = $ " . $perpkg*$price . "<br>";
	$perpkg = $minqty+$perpkg;
}
?>

Big, Big Thanks!
You've all given me excellent brainfood.

ArtistRich

csn

Heh, maybe Enron and Arthur Anderson used mysql with their accounting program. 😉

ArtistRich

The chart is coming right along.

I really wish this thread would be moved to CODING soon.

Here's the latest code:

<?PHP 
$pieceprice = 2.50; //2.50 becomes $v_price
$count = 1; 
$minqty = 6; //$minqty is added to products details in admin
$perpkg = $minqty; 
setlocale(LC_MONETARY, 'en_US');

for ($count = 1; ; $count++) { 
    if ($count > 5) break;

$pkgcost = $perpkg*$pieceprice;

print '<a href=http://www.WEBSITE.com/THE_PAGE.php?category=80&products_id=777&qty=' . $perpkg . ' > ' .$perpkg . ' Pieces = ' . money_format('%(#10n', $pkgcost) . '</a><br>'; 

$perpkg = $minqty+$perpkg; 
}
?>

And here's the link to see it:
http://www.housewarewarehouse.net/shop/min_qty_chart.php(Originally posted bad link, fixed.)

The link construct is working, but just for this cPath and ProductID, I think. I'll need to devise a way to pull the complete product url from the current page and then append it with the quantity as chosen by the table.

That's an odd thing, and maybe someone can enlighten me here, I'm getting the proper quantity values to each url even though the whole thing is one simple loop. I guess the server creates the link one at a time as it passes through the loop and writes the links to html so I don't have to store these at all???

Sure would like some feedback.

ArtistRich

Roger_Ramjet

Yep. Every time php hits a print or echo it outputs to the html stream immediately. You would have to use output buffering to prevent this if you needed to. But in that case why use the echo or print in the first place?

ArtistRich

A Mock ADMIN page for this osCommerce mod is loacted at:
http://www.housewarewarehouse.net/shop/min_qty_chart3.php
A Mock Customer page for this is at:
http://www.housewarewarehouse.net/shop/min_qty_chart4.php
(Only displays correctly in 1280 x 1024, Maximized)
I'm taking feedback through this weekend before I begin implementation.

Thanks for looking.
ArtistRich