Product Categories

Suggested reading for category databases

[loneregister]

I am starting a re-design of our websites category system. Currently it is a tree/leaf structure starting at the trunk, and branching out. It's programmed such that any category node, can jump to another.

However, it's statically programmed. I.e. node C is a child of Node B is a child of Node A and knows nothing about Node E which is a child of Node D which is a child of Node B

I am looking for resources on different methods of categorizing products/items, and relating them all together such that a customer can browse around in these categories.

Anyone have suggested reading or reference?

Thanks!

[bhonda]

In the words of Manuel from Faulty Towers...

Qué?

[solly]

You posted this in the database section, so I assume you are looking for those types of resources (as opposed to HTML coding help or product specific help)...

Here are some things to read about hierarchies in SQL databases:

[artfulsoftware.com...]

Joe Celko's book "Trees and Hierarchies in SQL For Smarties"

[dev.mysql.com...]

You need to consider a nested set design or an adjacency list model, depending on if you have frequent reads or inserts, respectively. Good luck!

[loneregister]

Ah!

No easy/quick way to do it programatically - but by building an adjacency table before hand, I can make it as quick as I like.

Gotcha! I think that will solve the problem I am after.

Kevin