Selection Database?

[inuwolf]

I am looking for a way to do the following: Have visitors to my site assume an arbitrary ID, and then fill out a form (CGI, perhaps?) in which the options are a list of existing user IDs. If two users select each other's ID, they (or myself) are notified by means of the form or perhaps an email.

Essentially, I want a tool by which people select each other from a list and are alerted of mutual selections.
I realize this is a lot to tackle as a newbie, just like it is a lot to ask of this forum. But even a simple point in the right direction would be much appreciated.

-- Nick

[wheel]

generate unique new userid
select all userids from table 'members'
start form
for each userid:
output checkbox html with id unique to that userid.
output html asking for email info for new userid
end form{submit}

for each userid submitted
get email of that userid from table 'members
send them an email
create a new record in table 'members', populate it with the information from the above form.
end

Convert to the above to php, use mysql as the database to maintain the 'members' table.
Is that what you were thinking?

[inuwolf]

yes, exactly

[inuwolf]

what might a php script like that look like? (I'm learning PHP online but that surpasses my abilities at the moment)

[wheel]

It looks like 5 hours X $50/hour. Sorry :) I have a developer do that stuff for me.

Pick up a copy of "PHP and Mysql Web Development" by Welling and Thomson. That's an excellent beginner book for this kind of stuff. Easy to read and I believe it will cover everything you need. I use it for reference occassionally to tweak some code when I'm in a rush.

[inuwolf]

I'm working on a free service so I'd like it to cost ME nothing as well. but thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Wheel. before your suggestion I was looking into Perl and that was WAY over my head.