can some disucuss this with me?

If you have specific questions this is the place to ask. Not only will you get different opinions but also you’ll get a lot of combined experience.

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Adam
AIS Internet Solutions
[email protected]
www.aisinternet.com

Double OK,

Unfortunately I have no time for ICQ at work, I could, but then I would end up chatting to long and eventually get fired because I'm not meeting my deadlines, and I enjoy getting a paycheck!

I'll try to generalize. Integrating a db into your site is becoming an easy and cheap thing to do. In the old days (3-4 years ago ), it was a lot harder since most of the server-side languages were still in their infancy. Because it wasn't to common, it was also an expensive option.

But nowadays using ASP,PHP,CF, etc, it's much easier to use databases in your site. Due largely in part to all the help sites on the Internet (I try to help to, when I can!).

It's also much, much cheaper these days adding a db to your site, whether it's an Access, mySQL, or SQL 7 db, the prices have come down dramatically. Sometimes on a UNIX/LINUX host mySQL is included with your basic account.

In the end it's really up to you whether or not using the features of a db will benefit your site, enriching the browsers experience and making your life easier.

Regards,
Peter J. Boettcher

I agree with Adam, discuss it here instead of privately via ICQ. 27 heads are better than one and debate on issues can often lead to solutions or suggestions that would not come up in a private conference.

In general, if you have to ask whether or not you need a database, odds are that you don't. But, if you store any appreciable amount of data on your site, like products listings, account info, customer names or forums (or millions of other things) and have a need to access that data quickly, easily and efficiently, then looking into a database is a good idea. It might mean having to learn some new things like SQL itself and the scripting language to communicate with it. But as Peter pointed out, it's not exceedingly difficult to get started. I just began converting some aspects of my site from flat file storage to MySQL. While my knowledge at this point is still rudimentary at best, I've found the learning process to be fun. Databases are pretty cool once you understand the kharma behind how they work.

Thank you all, im going to go do some reading up on this and then ill start asking questions.

Maverick- i can identify with you, but i believe that i may need to use a database on my site because currently my member list is in flat file storage, i would like to include it in so that my scripts willl work with a database, for ease of use and saving time doing i now rather than in the future when there are alot more things to change.

Thank you all

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How easy would it be to modify my current perl scripts to use a database? which database program should i use?

my database is going to include only my members list, that includes, usernames passwords etc. im switching over in hope that by using this database when i have more members, my sripts will function faster because of easier access to member files than through flat file storage.

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Fact: Over 2500 left handed people a year are killed from using products made for right handed people!

Join The Rest Of The Webmasters On The Net!!
Are You Chicken?
http://www.DoubleOK.com
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DoubleOK, you first need to find out what, if any, database options your host has available to you. If you're on Unix odds are that you'll have MySQL, mSQL or none at all. On an NT host it might be SQL or Access or something else. There's no sense in delving into one system if you don't have access to it.

My host allows me to have 5 mysql databases, php, asp and a bunch of other features, i think i have access to everything i need!

Seeing that you originally referenced mySQL I assume you have that installed. If so you may want to download the manual from http://www.mysql.com/download_documents.html

Using Perl with mySQL is defiantly possible. However you can do so much more dynamic type work with PHP. Take a look at http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/PHP/Introduction/ for a good intro to PHP and mySQL.

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Adam
AIS Internet Solutions
[email protected]
www.aisinternet.com

[This message has been edited by adam (edited 07 May 2000).]

Thanks adam, WOW i really like php3 i think im gonna learn it.......ill try.

Yes you should get into PHP, and especially if you want interaction with MySQL

You can integrate your perl scripts with MySQL on a linux box with the use of the DBI module, and it is pretty easy if you have that installed, but keep in mind that the perl scripts are not made to talk with the database in that way, when PHP was.

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