php/mysql time

[mikewigg]

I have looked through the archive and can't find the answers to my question - so:

I'm updating a site for an art gallery which has a different "show" each month.

I want the client to be able to update the site themselves, adding data for forthcoming shows in advance.

I have created a mySQL table "shows"
This table includes a date field "display_after"

I want archive.php to pick up all past shows, coming_soon.php to pick up all forthcoming shows, and index.php to pick up only the current show.

The plan is for mySQL/php to check the dates in the "display_after" field. The row containing the most recent date before the current date (server time) must be the current show. Rows with earlier dates are past (archive) shows, and those with later ones are "coming soon". This way, old shows "move" to the archive automatically, and the current show updates even as the pictures are being taken down.

Bearing in mind the client will be entering the date in some sort of ddmmyy format(they have not heared of unix time), and that they may not enter forthcoming shows in chronological order, the questions are:

What is the best format to enter and best way to check these dates and thus determine what record(s) to display?

I want the client database editor to show the dates in an understandable manner.

Any ideas/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Mike

[bastien]

Hi
I do the same thing on one of my sites. What I have the client do is enter the start and end dates of the show in the correct format...they may not like it, but they will get used to it, particularly if you code to validate the dates and return errors if they screw up....

Then I run a sql script against the end date, which queries for all end dates greater than now() (current date) and return the values....

It then automatically adjusts to drop shows that expire, new shows are show in order..

hth

Bastien

[mikewigg]

Bastien

so simple!

thanks everso

Mike