Can PHP/MySQL do this?

Pretty basic billing, balance, student list, etc.

[casey133]

Hello, I am helping a friend out who owns a martial arts school, he wanted me to help him create an online database that he can input information into such as a standard online form and it will upload to that students section… here is what he wants to be able to change:

Current months balance
Student list of students
Overdue payments

Now I didn’t have access to his SQL management on his server so needless to say I was unable to create a REAL database, I did a very crude replacement the best I could with what I had to work with… here is how I did it:

I made a folder for each student and within that folder I created a mini site if you will, I more or less made smart use of iFrames and ftp uploaded. So he could edit the pages that he wants to change in Word, Excel, Etc. and just upload them to that student’s folder… and because that page he just uploaded is in the iFrame, it will show up on the student’s site. He says he loves it and he also says the students/instructors love it but I am sure I can give this guy something better… does anyone know of a cheap or free sql package already put together for something like this? If now how hard would it be to create it and what resources do you think I should look into (how to guides, tools for creating, etc.)

Thanks in advance

[txbakers]

There really is nothing premade, and it's a great project. You'll have to write it to his specs. Then you can sell it to other Karate shops.

Go For it!

[roldar]

MySQL / PHP would be ideally suited for this.

In fact, you could probably make his job even easier than it is now. For instance, you could set up PHP to automatically flag students' accounts that are overdue. A basic IF statement could separate those with an oustanding balance and no payments within the past 30 days, and could even get as sophisticated as sending an email reminder to the delinquent students.

As long as he entered his accounting info, enrollment changes, etc. directly into the database via forms, he could eliminate an awful lot of work.

[roldar]

As for prebuilt solutions, I don't know of any that will do exactly what he is looking for. Anything out there would probably have to be tweaked a bit. Regardless, you'll probably need to learn some PHP (which isn't a bad idea).

I'd recommend you pick yourself up a book like "PHP & MySQL for Dummies" or another comparable book which gives you an intro to each of these technologies and the interaction between the two.

You can also get a basic introduction to them at w3schools.

Good luck.

[edited by: roldar at 5:19 am (utc) on Jan. 31, 2005]

[casey133]

thats just what i am looking for... however i have never really did anything in MySQL, i am looking on HotScripts right now for something to get me started, maybe something i can edit to fit his needs but so far not much luck. if anyone knows of a place i can download a php script or some sql info i would be very greatful, not asking for an easy way out... just something to get me started and i will edit the rest... trial and error :)