Quick question for the database gurus here. I'm designing a site with a lot of objects to be described. Best thing I can think of to use as an example is a catalog or online shopping cart for car parts. Each part does different things, and has different specifications. Now of course since they're all car parts, some objects have similar specs. For example, a 1/2 inch hose connects to a 1/2 inch clamp. Ok maybe not, but I don't know jack about cars lol!
Now of course because this example is a shop, it'll have parts made by various manufacturers. Organizing the generic names of parts into categories isn't hard. For example, a muffler is in category X and made by manufacturer Y.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to organize the SLEW of specs that are involved. I'd guess there's at least 100 different specs, of which a part could have any number of specs, and then of course they have a certain value for that spec (hose size, etc).
Any comments on the best way to do that? Examples (pseudo code is fine) or links to previously executed projects like this would be greatly appreciated.
Note: 2nd level of this would be to have compatibility lists set up, so that someone doesn't try to connect a 1/2 inch Toyota hose to a 50mm BMW clamp. Majority of that should be simple table comparisons, but any comments on this as well would be appreciated as well.
Note: Yes, I posted a couple weeks about something similar to this, but something's nagging me in the back of my head about it. Dunno what though 🙂
