Script for matching products together - advice needed

elemelas

Hi guys

I'm currently building up a projector lamps shop. I need to get all of the world's existing projectors (makes & models), all of the available lamps for them and then tell which projector matches what lamps.

My idea was to go to a similar website and grab all the makes & models from it's source, which would give me list like that:

<option  value="CP 2000X (4500W) (CDXL-45)-vprf.html">CP 2000X (4500W) (CDXL-45)
<option  value="CP 2000X (6000W) (CDXL-60)-vprf.html">CP 2000X (6000W) (CDXL-60)
<option  value="CP S1024-vprf.html">CP S1024

... etc

Then replace html tags with MySQL syntax, so that everything can be injected into database straight away. Do the same then with lamps, and finally create a MySQL table "compatibility" which would contain 2 fields - projector_id and lamp_id - which would then pair the lamp with the compatible projector.

Now my question - is there any easier/smarter way to do it? Any advice on any part would be greatly appreciated.

bradgrafelman

elemelas;11022017 wrote:
My idea was to go to a similar website and grab all the makes & models from it's source

... in other words, you're going to steal information that others have gathered and probably only provide for purposes outlined by a ToS/AUP (which probably don't include commercial considerations, e.g. starting your own for-profit "projector lamps shop")?

That sounds like grounds for a lawsuit in the country where I live.

dalecosp

It's not easy.

Whether or not its smart you can argue with Brad.

But it sounds like you've got a workable idea.

Derokorian

If you're selling lamps from a producer, I'm sure they can provide you with all the specifications on the products you're selling.

sneakyimp

Derokorian;11022057 wrote:
If you're selling lamps from a producer, I'm sure they can provide you with all the specifications on the products you're selling.

You would need them in electronic format, of course. Also, each producer would probably have a different format. If you are lucky, you might talk them into giving you the compatibility list in the format you want.