[Resolved] Is this the best way of doing this thing?

bodzan

I'm not sure whether this is right place to ask this sort of question but I have to ask...

I am to make a database based web site for a friend of mine who owns a shop...

Well I know how to make it but there is a glitch: he wants to award buyers some credit points for every bought product for purpose being able to reward them like Who first buys for 1000 $ gets a free DVD player or something similar...

The thing I was going to do is like this:
1. To make one or more tables where items in his shop are stored
2. To make one table where details of a users are stored
3. To make a field in this second table where details of purchases are stored

He asked me to do the following: to make possible to make a list where he can see who both the most of certain item: like a top list of a sort...

So I was going to make the field for purchases text like where I would store data like
number of points:item id|number of points:item id|...
and so on...

The I would use double explode to extract data from that field and then sorting it out to make a list for each item if needed...

No need to point out that it seems like a rough solution but it was the first (and for now the only) one that came to my mind...

I was going to do it like this because there is no telling how many items he is going to have in his store so I can't be limited in this writing this system and this way it seems I wouldn't...

Does anybodu have a better idea? If any extra explanation is needed I will be more than happy to offer it...

Thanx in advance for any fresh ideas...

AstroTeg

Ouch:

Originally posted by bodzan

So I was going to make the field for purchases text like where I would store data like
number of points:item id|number of points:item id|...
and so on...

The I would use double explode to extract data from that field and then sorting it out to make a list for each item if needed...

You NEVER want to store ANY data in a database that you have to use explode on. It means you're not storing your data properly in a database. To work aroudn this means adding more tables and fields. It sounds scarey, but its the right thing to do. You'll have better performance, an easier time maintaining queries and your code, and it'll be a lot more flexible.

On a side note, have you thought about an off-the-shelf solution?

I'm a fan of Zen-Cart and there appears to be an addon module called Customer Loyalty (scroll down a little on the page). I doubt it'll fit 100% perfectly to your client's needs, but it might give you an awesome start at getting the project going... Just a thought.

bodzan

..the main trouble is maintaining this stuff...

I just don't want to be stuck with it for God-knows how long... Because, my friend has no computer knowledge... He still uses terminology like "I can't enter the computer on my own" and such...

But, hey, I would try this thingy you've pointed out... Thanx a lot for the tip...

Roger_Ramjet

Start by reading this article from this site. Simple easy to follow giudelines on how you will design the database you will need to do the job for your friend. Remember, if you set it up right in the first place your friend will not be coming back to you all the time to fix things.

bodzan

This one is a eyes opener!!!

Thanx Roger. You are right. If you design it good there shouln't be any problem but seems to me that's my weak spot... :queasy:

Definitelly aded to my list of things to do in 2005...

Thanx again for the answers they we're very helpfull and educational...

bodzan

This article that Roger pointed out to me is a blast!!!

Not only that it made my life much esier but also made my code much faster and much easier to debug and to use...

Everyone should read it before they start coding simillar stuff or any complicated database design...

Thanks again Roger...