Database made easy

Has anyone used web databases?

[Lovejoy]

Hi all, after farting about with PHP and MySQL and not getting anywhere quick enough I tried out a couple of services that offer web databases. To my suprise they actually worked as promised, I had a fully functioning database up and running (and making me money) in less than two hours. Anyone else tried these services?

[webdoctor]

Perhaps this sounds like a daft question... but...

What do you actually want to DO with your database(s)?

You haven't really given us any information on what problem(s) you're trying to solve ;-)

[Lovejoy]

Here it is in a nutshell, I sell access to very specific information about collectible widgets for a fee. My customers pay for access to the database that holds this information and images of them.
They just fill out the form, submit, and the information they seek is returned to them.

The problem is I'm a one man show and I'm hard pressed to keep up with all the work,and learn how to get a database up and running on my own.
I have been better part of two years farting around, buying books, reading tutorials that seem to have key points written in Welsh or leave out key information that will twig in my brain.

Part of the problem is the amount of time I have to just concetrate on the learning curve is limited to times when other business isn't pressing ( 2am). I never get to the point where all the bugs are worked out because I have to constantly put the project on hold, then when I get back to it the train of though has left the station ;~)

I've hired people in the past to take over part of the work load so I can concentrate on database construction, or even take a night course on it, but they have been nothing but grief and extra work cleaning up their messes. My domains are hosted with a company that has MYsql and PHPmyadmin loaded, but offer almost no tech support at all regarding database except for links to tutorials I have already tried, hence my trying one of these webdatabase services.

At least with the webdatabase I have my plan up and running now, hopefully it will allow me to take a bit of time off to concentrating on using the databases provided on my own domains and then just swap them over.

[webdoctor]

Pardon me for being blunt, but "a database" doesn't seem to be the solution to the problem you described :-)

What's to stop you having e.g. totally static html pages protected by an Apache username/password, and issuing usernames and passwords to people when they pay you?

If you offer a layman "a database of information" it could be in the form of a ZIP file containing 100 PDFs. A layman wouldn't recognise a MySQL database if it hit him in the face.

You are hoping to sell information to your customers. They don't care what technolgies you use to deliver it to them - so how about a really simple solution? it will save you time and make life easier for your customers...

[Lovejoy]

For one I don't have my own server, or access to its settings, for another a search box for a searchable database is the best option for me and my customers.

I had been using static pages, but customers didn't like having to scroll through 2000 listings, nor do I wish to have 2000 plus static pages for each priceguide to save them the bother. The idea of having to update all those pages on a monthly basis is a nightmare.

The webdatabase I'm using allows me to password protect, send emails to the purchaser and update the entire system with new entries in minutes.

[dauction]

I dont blame you lovejoy.. you're simply using an available tool.

webdoctor is correct though ..you could just as easily make static pages password protected.. but since you really dont want or need the product pages indexed by the se's then your path is perfectly fine.

You can know concentrate on actually running your business instead of trying to sort out databse issues all the time.

do you want to drive or work on the engine is what it boils down too