Re: Database Structure?

This WebDNA talk-list message is from

1998

It keeps the original formatting. numero = 19294
interpreted = N
texte = Peter & Ken, thank you both so much for your detailed responses!!!! Here isare my counter questions:At 10:17 PM 7/31/98, you wrote:>No problem. I would generate the popups from data (with the summ>parameter). So you do not have to change your code when a category or brand>gets added or removed.>I suggest to use two different forms for brand-search and category-search,>do not allow searching for both at once. Of course, this might add a step>in your workflow, but avoids zero-results if the user chooses two>nonmatching parameters: there is no mask from MacDonalds, for example.>Each form sends the user to a different template to continue:>CatSearch.tpl and BrandSearch.tpl - I think one of your>[showif]-problems is now solved either...That's what I was thinking; two different forms would add an extra step butprobably save me from a huge messy file.>>If Client chooses say, Masks from the Search by Category>>pull-down menu, it will take them to the Search.tpl where they can further>>narrow the search by checking boxes of mask brands they're interested in,>>weather they have a preference for 2 windows or 4 windows, what kind of>>purge system they'd prefer, and what colors they'd like.>>Okay, that seems normal but here's the catch. In other>>categories, or even worse, if the visitor choose to search by brand>>initially, the fields may need to be entirely different.>>That sounds complicated. Do you have such different descriptions in each>single category?>I cannot find fields for this information in the database-header you posted:>>>The database I created initial contains the following 24 fields:>>SKU, TITLE, PRICE, WEIGHT, BRAND, CATAGORY, TYPE1, TYPE2, TYPE3, SIZE,>>SIZECHART, COLOR, SEX, TEMPRANGE, HASIMAGE, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE, LIMAGE,>>DESCRIPTION, FEATURES, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1, OPPADD2,The DESCRIPTION field contains a paragraph of descriptive text. FEATURESlists key elements and TYPE1, TYPE2, & TYPE3 are for subcategorizing. For example, in the Regulators Category, TYPE 1 will show if the item ispiston or diaphragm. TYPE 2 will show the # of LP ports. TYPE 3 will showthe # of HP ports. Then in the DESCRIPTION and/or FEATURES fields it willsay whether or not the product is adjustable or nonadjustable, balanced ornon-balanced.In the Lights category, TYPE 1 will show if the item is Halogen, Xenon,or Strobe TYPE2, & TYPE3 will always be blank because there is no furthersubcategorizing. See what I mean about tricky?At 10:17 PM 7/31/98, I originally asked:>1. Can I do it all with the one database?Peter says: You can. But should you? I do not know yet. Please tell us thenumber of brands, the number of categories and the individual fields(approximately) for each category.Ken says: Yes.In anser to Peter's request that I post the # of brands, the # ofcategories & the individual fields for each category, I'll try but thedatabase is being buit right now. (All the client gave us was a databasecontaining; sku, brand, title, price, and weight)There are approx. 17 different brands. Some have products in allcatagories, most make products in a only a few.There are approx 11 catagories and these are the fields for each:Suits - TYPE1 full/half suit, TYPE2 wet/dry, TYPE3 sock/vest/hood,SIZE=s,m,l,xl, SIZECHART is a link to a size chart, COLOR, SEX, & TEMPRANGEare all applicable, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes, LIMAGE,DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagory Computers - TYPE1 metric/imperial, TYPE2 PC download/nitrox, TYPE3hosesless/air-integrated, SIZE, SIZECHART, COLOR, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do notnot apply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryLights - TYPE1 halogen/xenon/strobe, TYPE2 wattag, TYPE3 blank, SIZE isin inches, SIZECHART, COLOR, & SEX do not not apply, TEMPRANGE is used forwattage, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryAcceories - has 16 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field,TYPE2, & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE may be in ounces, inches, feet, or S,M,L,SIZECHART, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do not not apply, COLOR applies to some,HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraphof text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 noneapplyDo you really want me to go through all eleven? okay.Watches - TYPE1 waterproof/water resistant, TYPE2 & TYPE3 are blank SIZE,SIZECHART, & COLOR do not not apply, but SEX does, and TEMPRANGE is usedinstead for depth rating, and HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes,LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryWatertight Cases - TYPE1, TYPE2 & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE is in squareinches, SIZECHART, & COLOR do not not apply, but SEX does, and TEMPRANGE isused instead for depth rating, and HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never,LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryOdds and Ends - has 12 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field,TYPE2, & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE may be in ounces, inches, feet, or S,M,L, ornot applicable SIZECHART, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do not not apply, COLOR appliesto some, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 none applyPhotography - has 5 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field,TYPE2, & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE, SIZECHART, SEX, TEMPRANGE, COLOR do not notapply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 some applyReels - TYPE1, TYPE2 & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE reffers to lenght of line infeet or inches, SIZECHART, COLOR, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do not not apply, andHASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph oftext, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 some apply Guns - has 5 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field, TYPE2, &TYPE3 are blank, SIZE reffers to shaft lenght in feet, SIZECHART, SEX,TEMPRANGE, COLOR do not not apply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never,LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 some applyEducation - has 4 (books, CD-ROMS, etc.) subcatagories that are named inthe TYPE 1 field, TYPE2 list the further subcatagories or subjet headers, &TYPE3 is the author, SIZE reffers to # of pages, SIZECHART, SEX, TEMPRANGE,& COLOR do not not apply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE,DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 none applyWHEW!!!My next question were:>2. Do I have enough (or the right) fields to do all the different searches>I need?Peter: I don't think so.Ken: I think so.>3. Is it possible to use *that many* [showif] tags without ridiculous>slow-downs?Peter: Ken: Yes.>4. If it *would* be better to do multiple databases, say one for each>brand, how do I do a search calling up all the catagories listed in all the>databases?Peter: Ken: It is NOT better to split the db. If you do, you will be sorry later...:(Does my somewhat brief description of the fields in each catagory make itmore clear if I should split up the database?Angel J. Bennett ! We want the world and VP / Creative Dir. ! we want it... The WWW Store ! NOW!818-905-6787 ! http://www.thewwwstore.com Associated Messages, from the most recent to the oldest:

Re: Database Structure? (Angel Bennett 1998)
Re: Database Structure? (Peter Ostry 1998)
Re: Database Structure? (Angel Bennett 1998)
Re: Database Structure? (Angel Bennett 1998)
Re: Database Structure? (Peter Ostry 1998)
RE: Database Structure? (Pat McCormick 1998)
Database Structure? (Angel Bennett 1998)
Re: Database Structure? (Peter Ostry 1998)

Peter & Ken, thank you both so much for your detailed responses!!!! Here isare my counter questions:At 10:17 PM 7/31/98, you wrote:>No problem. I would generate the popups from data (with the summ>parameter). So you do not have to change your code when a category or brand>gets added or removed.>I suggest to use two different forms for brand-search and category-search,>do not allow searching for both at once. Of course, this might add a step>in your workflow, but avoids zero-results if the user chooses two>nonmatching parameters: there is no mask from MacDonalds, for example.>Each form sends the user to a different template to continue:>CatSearch.tpl and BrandSearch.tpl - I think one of your>[showif]-problems is now solved either...That's what I was thinking; two different forms would add an extra step butprobably save me from a huge messy file.>>If Client chooses say, Masks from the Search by Category>>pull-down menu, it will take them to the Search.tpl where they can further>>narrow the search by checking boxes of mask brands they're interested in,>>weather they have a preference for 2 windows or 4 windows, what kind of>>purge system they'd prefer, and what colors they'd like.>>Okay, that seems normal but here's the catch. In other>>categories, or even worse, if the visitor choose to search by brand>>initially, the fields may need to be entirely different.>>That sounds complicated. Do you have such different descriptions in each>single category?>I cannot find fields for this information in the database-header you posted:>>>The database I created initial contains the following 24 fields:>>SKU, TITLE, PRICE, WEIGHT, BRAND, CATAGORY, TYPE1, TYPE2, TYPE3, SIZE,>>SIZECHART, COLOR, SEX, TEMPRANGE, HASIMAGE, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE, LIMAGE,>>DESCRIPTION, FEATURES, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1, OPPADD2,The DESCRIPTION field contains a paragraph of descriptive text. FEATURESlists key elements and TYPE1, TYPE2, & TYPE3 are for subcategorizing. For example, in the Regulators Category, TYPE 1 will show if the item ispiston or diaphragm. TYPE 2 will show the # of LP ports. TYPE 3 will showthe # of HP ports. Then in the DESCRIPTION and/or FEATURES fields it willsay whether or not the product is adjustable or nonadjustable, balanced ornon-balanced.In the Lights category, TYPE 1 will show if the item is Halogen, Xenon,or Strobe TYPE2, & TYPE3 will always be blank because there is no furthersubcategorizing. See what I mean about tricky?At 10:17 PM 7/31/98, I originally asked:>1. Can I do it all with the one database?Peter says: You can. But should you? I do not know yet. Please tell us thenumber of brands, the number of categories and the individual fields(approximately) for each category.Ken says: Yes.In anser to Peter's request that I post the # of brands, the # ofcategories & the individual fields for each category, I'll try but thedatabase is being buit right now. (All the client gave us was a databasecontaining; sku, brand, title, price, and weight)There are approx. 17 different brands. Some have products in allcatagories, most make products in a only a few.There are approx 11 catagories and these are the fields for each:Suits - TYPE1 full/half suit, TYPE2 wet/dry, TYPE3 sock/vest/hood,SIZE=s,m,l,xl, SIZECHART is a link to a size chart, COLOR, SEX, & TEMPRANGEare all applicable, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes, LIMAGE,DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagory Computers - TYPE1 metric/imperial, TYPE2 PC download/nitrox, TYPE3hosesless/air-integrated, SIZE, SIZECHART, COLOR, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do notnot apply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryLights - TYPE1 halogen/xenon/strobe, TYPE2 wattag, TYPE3 blank, SIZE isin inches, SIZECHART, COLOR, & SEX do not not apply, TEMPRANGE is used forwattage, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryAcceories - has 16 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field,TYPE2, & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE may be in ounces, inches, feet, or S,M,L,SIZECHART, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do not not apply, COLOR applies to some,HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraphof text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 noneapplyDo you really want me to go through all eleven? okay.Watches - TYPE1 waterproof/water resistant, TYPE2 & TYPE3 are blank SIZE,SIZECHART, & COLOR do not not apply, but SEX does, and TEMPRANGE is usedinstead for depth rating, and HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Sometimes,LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryWatertight Cases - TYPE1, TYPE2 & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE is in squareinches, SIZECHART, & COLOR do not not apply, but SEX does, and TEMPRANGE isused instead for depth rating, and HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never,LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 all apply to a few in this catagoryOdds and Ends - has 12 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field,TYPE2, & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE may be in ounces, inches, feet, or S,M,L, ornot applicable SIZECHART, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do not not apply, COLOR appliesto some, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 none applyPhotography - has 5 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field,TYPE2, & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE, SIZECHART, SEX, TEMPRANGE, COLOR do not notapply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is aparagraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 &OPPADD2 some applyReels - TYPE1, TYPE2 & TYPE3 are blank, SIZE reffers to lenght of line infeet or inches, SIZECHART, COLOR, SEX, & TEMPRANGE do not not apply, andHASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph oftext, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1, REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 some apply Guns - has 5 subcatagories that are named in the TYPE 1 field, TYPE2, &TYPE3 are blank, SIZE reffers to shaft lenght in feet, SIZECHART, SEX,TEMPRANGE, COLOR do not not apply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never,LIMAGE, DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 some applyEducation - has 4 (books, CD-ROMS, etc.) subcatagories that are named inthe TYPE 1 field, TYPE2 list the further subcatagories or subjet headers, &TYPE3 is the author, SIZE reffers to # of pages, SIZECHART, SEX, TEMPRANGE,& COLOR do not not apply, HASIMAGE=T, IMAGE, HASLIMAGE=Never, LIMAGE,DESCRIPTION is a paragraph of text, FEATURES is a list, REPLITEM1,REPLITEM2, OPPADD1 & OPPADD2 none applyWHEW!!!My next question were:>2. Do I have enough (or the right) fields to do all the different searches>I need?Peter: I don't think so.Ken: I think so.>3. Is it possible to use *that many* [showif] tags without ridiculous>slow-downs?Peter: Ken: Yes.>4. If it *would* be better to do multiple databases, say one for each>brand, how do I do a search calling up all the catagories listed in all the>databases?Peter: Ken: It is NOT better to split the db. If you do, you will be sorry later...:(Does my somewhat brief description of the fields in each catagory make itmore clear if I should split up the database?Angel J. Bennett ! We want the world and VP / Creative Dir. ! we want it... The WWW Store ! NOW!818-905-6787 ! http://www.thewwwstore.com Angel Bennett

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Re: Database Structure?

1998

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