Which database method would be best? All opinions welcome!
Hey all, I hope it's ok to post this question here...if not, please move to the appropriate forum.
I'm beginning a new site for a client and they are not very computer savvy, none the less web savvy. As a quick summary: The site is informational and needs to tie into a database so that what is in the database is posted on the web. There are a dozen or so fields for each record and the idea is that the information gets requested by the web pages. So, it's dynamic, but the user is not selecting what information is displayed, that part is programmed into the page. They want to be able to update their site on their own once it has been created. It has to be very basic thus, no FTP, no web creation software, etc.
I am learning PHP so that I can hopefully build the html pages and then place in the php where needed for the dynamic part. My question is this: In the long run, which of these two would be easier to use for the database: MS Access or MySQL? I know a bit of Access, and not very much about MySQL. Whichever it is, I was hoping that I could create "admin" html pages where the owners can update the data in the database to update the website. I think this would be the easiest way since they are very non-technical people.
I first thought it would be easier to create the DB in Access and then just use Access Data Pages for them to update the DB, but after playing around with it, I'm no longer sure that's easiest. However, I haven't really used Access Data Pages very much, so I shouldn't judge quite yet.
Any recommendations as well as examples of or links to this type of scenario would be greatly appreciated! I'm sure I'm in for a bigger project than I imagined, but hopefully it won't be too difficult.
I'd recommend MySQL as it's definetly faster than access. THe SQL syntax should be the same for both. The functions might be different though. MySQL has an online manual so it shouldn't be a problem.
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I'm not sure if this was any help, but I hope it didn't make you stupider.
Experience is something you get just after you really need it. PHP Installation Guide Feedback welcome.
MSAccess is useless after a few concurrent connections, it is not suitable for a multi-user environment such as the internet (though fine for small intranets etc)
+ As it happens , if you use PHP there are sqillions of PHP/MySQL examples/tutorials/forums out there to help you along.
MVC is the current buzz in web application architectures. It comes from event-driven desktop application design and doesn't fit into web application design very well. But luckily nobody really knows what MVC means, so we can call our presentation layer separation mechanism MVC and move on. (Rasmus Lerdorf)
There are far more functions availble to you in PHP and mySQL is more of a standard database than Access. Access has it's own little idiosyncracies, probably because it is propriety.
Also, there are far more scripts avialble to use with mySQL and to manage mySQL, such as phpMyAdmin etc.
Mmm...I had a feeling that was going to be the consensus. I didn't find tons of documentation on Access and PHP, but clearly I found a lot to sort through with regard to MySQL and PHP. Thank you marek_mar, firepages, and degsy for your replies! Others are still welcome.
MVC is the current buzz in web application architectures. It comes from event-driven desktop application design and doesn't fit into web application design very well. But luckily nobody really knows what MVC means, so we can call our presentation layer separation mechanism MVC and move on. (Rasmus Lerdorf)
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