Best way to arrange data

[nilson]

I'm helping to administer a gaming clan (I do the tech stuff mostly) and I'm needing to arrange a pyramid of the ranking hierarchy in the clan, which will potentially consist of hundreds of data elements (usernames, recruitment links) and I need to know if I should use MySQL to store this and what table/colum structure would suit me best here.Also, what would probably be the best way to display these data on an HTML document?

[nilson]

Well since no one answered I asked elsewhere and forund out. :shifty:Anyways, I will probably have more questions, so does anyone know anything about MySQL here?

[Guest LilBambi]

Sorry, nilson ... didn't see this question till today.For internet data display, MySQL and PHP are a great way to go -- as long as you keep current on security updates -- as you have already found out PHP is a one of the most flexible ways and powerful (only limited by the imagination) to incorporate data into webpages dynamically -- and you are already familiar with some of it from your blog building.I don't know what others have said because you didn't post the answer you received elsewhere, but I believe these are very good choices, particularly on Linux/UNIX servers (although they also work on Windows servers).There is almost never 'one' way to do things. It depends on what you have experience in, what platform you will be working on, even browsers can make a difference as we have all seen.RE: MySQL -- definitely go take a peak at the MySQL manual on the development pages -- great info on these pages for building databases. Also, phpMyAdmin is great for working on databases online:

phpMyAdmin is a tool written in PHP intended to handle the administration of MySQL over the Web. Currently it can create and drop databases, create/drop/alter tables, delete/edit/add fields, execute any SQL statement, manage keys on fields.

I love being able to use existing Excel spreadsheets and/or Access then importing to MySQL with a third party program like DBTools locally:http://www.dbtools.com.br/From their website:

DBTools Software  is pleased to announce the most advanced application for MySQL and PostgreSQL management. DBManager Professional. This version is not only a new GUI, but lots of new features. if you are a previous DBManager user (1.0.15 version or older) you will love the new application. Why upgrade to the Professional version? Check it out here.Download the FreeWare Edition and preview the power of the Enterprise Edition.

Hope this helps.

[SonicDragon]

I love being able to use existing Excel spreadsheets and/or Access then importing to MySQL with a third party program like DBTools locally:

I don't really know much about MySQL (or PHP for that matter), making a spreadsheet and importing it to MySQL sounds nice.But, that won't work if you want the content to dynamically update... i don't know exactly what your looking for. Are you looking to change everything by hand, or have member ranks (or whatever is in the game table, points, etc) update automatically when they change?I have heard of phpMyAdmin... it seems to be the popular way to administer MySQL databases.

[Guest LilBambi]

There are many ways to do data.But if you have already have historical data and you want to start with the historical data then it's good to start with a jumping point to get the data in the form you need ie MySQL. That's where Excel, Access and DBTools can come in real handy.From there you would use dynamically generated PHP web pages to query, display and update for future dynamically generated data.What can you do with PHP? ... anything!

[nilson]

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=38096 .... that's the thread where I got the answers.

[Guest LilBambi]

Cool ... read both pages .. looks like you are definitely getting a handle on it and have some help from folks that have some experience with the actual front end in PHP.Glad to hear you were able to get started on it all.Good luck!

[nilson]

there are already about 20 members. I'm expecting hundreds of users.