PHP mysql categories tutorial

music_man

I was wondering how I would go about setting up a php script where I can post articles into a mysql database that has categories and sub categories.

Is there a good tutorial about?

Cheers

frost110

php.net is a great place to start. Has everything you really need to know about PHP.

If all else fails just do what I did. Find a major software like VB and look at the database class and just steal that access to the database code and make it your own.

Really doing an articles script like that is not too hard and if you like, once I get my computer back up and running I can help ya out via IM. Just click on one of my links. But I will not be back online for a few days (power supply crapped out on me)

--FrosT

Roger_Ramjet

There are 2 scenarios when it comes to categorised data
1) every entry must have all categories and sub-categories set on insert
2) they can be left blank on entry and assigned later.
The first is the most common situation while the second is the special case. It is most often appropriate when you want to allow articles to be entered for which no category has been determined, or maybe the category does not yet exist. We would normally cope with that by assigning a default category that signifies as such.

Also of major importance is how the articles are categorised: are they singular, or can an article belong to more than one category? (likewise with sub-categories)

WinterDragon

If you know the basics of mysql/php, I can give you a table structure example...lets see.

id	|	name	|	level	|	link
1     	 Tutorials	                 main		 none
2      	 PHP		 sub		 1
3	 DHTML		 sub		 1
4               C++		 sub		 1
5	 Links		 main		 none
6	 Free Email	 sub		 5
7	 Hosting	                 sub		 5
8	 Offsite Tuts	 sub		 5

As you can see, the link (if its a sub) tells what it is linked TO, if its a main category then its not linked at all (obviously), or you could even do that if you wanted to get more complex. -shrugs- just a weak example 🙂

thorpe

Nested sets are allways my favourite way of implimenting a hierarchy.