MySQL, PHP, XML, Flash - How tough?

programming
1

Long time reader… first time poster.

I am looking at building an online resource for our industry. It would involve the ability for sommebody to login, enter in some data for a month in a numer of key fields.

Then this data would be stored in a database, afterwards it could then be sent out using XML to FusionCharts to graph the results. Obvoiusly adding to it month after month…

While all of this is clear in my head and I have extensive experience with Flash, limited with MySQL, PHP and XML (used to send it to Flash), along with creating user accounts.

For an undertaking such as this - opinions on how tough it would be to do?

2

I would suggest you do NOT use flash. You can use flash, but I think better results can be achieved by simply using xhtml, css, javascript, xml, mysql, and php.

I’d also suggest you clearly, and I mean really clearly, get the idea as to how you want to build the database. Since the DB is the root/main thing of what you’ll be doing, you should start with that. Everything else can just follow… Also, make sure dbs/tables structures are as correct as they can be. Changing things around after people have already started using it is not too much fun. :slight_smile:

How hard is it? I don’t think it’s too hard. DOE though…

(I somehow think I didn’t give you a proper answer though). Anyways, anything more? Feel free to ask.

Edit: Btw, welcome! :slight_smile:

3

Do you know of any resources for developing ‘charts’ that wouldn’t use Flash? I have set up FusionCharts before: http://www.fusioncharts.com/Demos/Blueprint/ and that was somewhat straight forward.

My consfsion lies in setting up login for accounts and then inputting data into a database. While is sounds straight forward, don’t have a lot of experience doing something like that.

4

For the charts, I’d say go with Flash, but for everything else, I’d say don’t use flash… And sorry, I’ve never done charts or anything, so I wouldn’t know.

5

Thanks. How difficult is it to set up a user profile so that they have specific fields for entering data?

6

Not difficult, but again DOE. You just have a page with a bunch of input fields, and you POST it to some page and save the data using php in mysql. Of course, I’m leaving out some details… :slight_smile:

7

Guess that I am still a Rookie… when you say POST is that pretty straight forward using PHP? or can that be done directly from HTML?

8

MySQL, PHP, XML, Flash is the way to go;

9

Check w3 Schools PHP out man.

Sounds pretty simple. Make a MySQL database for user records and allow people to register and login and edit details using PHP get and post etc…

You can download a bunch of free charts from hotscripts. Or search google for making php charts with strings and variables, they will allow you make custom images using GD librarys and other resources using your preset values in your other login classes… simple, using hotscripts etc you can change the others code out, learn from it etc

flash is always good man with xml. clients/people cant be assed downloading it so its always bad on accessibility terms.

already ideas coming through man, could do crons for the montly script. etc.

I would start small on php and simple connections and edits, then work around maybe ajax and smooth flow. Then tweak a css in and sounds good

10

If I start with a register script with login - could I simply add additional fields to include other data to be collected?

11

^Yes. You would then add those fields to the database also.

12

Does anybody have any idea on where to get good registration scripts?