Databases without a database?

[Anon]

I've got a flat-file database of users I'd like to convert into a more convenient format. Right now, I've got around 3900 users, all in seperate files in a directory... that's 3900 files... and I'd like to figure out a way to organize the whole thing into one file, and be able to access it, add, modify entries.

Trouble is, I don't have a database set-up on my web host. Are there any libraries out there, or built-in PHP modules that could allow me to work with a large ASCII text file, either comma, tab, or line delimited that wouldn't require a lot of server load to parse the thing every time?

Thanks in advance!
-g

[sarahk]

Sounds nasty. I'd be inclined to "simulate" a database by having a different file for each "table".

However... have you considered xml? It sounds like just what you need.

[greg252]

Change hosts.
NOW!
Before your data set gets too large and your visitors get fed up with how slow your site is.

I am not affiliated with them, but webhostit.com has a good deal on mysql hosting. Check em out and tell em greg sent you- it's who I use.

[tomhath]

If your host doesn't support any DBMS I agree with Greg, get a new host.

If they do, but you don't want to set up a database, I can only comment that any other alternative will be a lot more difficult than managing your data with a database management system...