Best way? Users enter data then search on it.

Newbie needs ideas for where to start researching

[katherinez]

Hello web gurus! I have several Mom and Pop sites and want to try something new. My example - a reader can fill in a few fields to tell the best place in their area to fix a widget. Includes zip, widget repair co name, type of widgets repaired and a field for general comments. I'm talking four fields at the most.

Then other readers can come in, put in their zip and type of widget they have and get a listing of places they can get a widget repaired, plus read comments made about the place.

I don't have (any!) money to hire someone so I am keeping it basic. I have cpanel tools and a few web packages (ex dreamweaver). I've looked at some good postings here on WebmasterWorld and have a few ideas. Would this be a form and a sql database? What do you think would be the best and easiest route for me, being self taught but smart and motivated :) I can do either php or html, either/or.

Can you give me a cyber-point in the general direction of my best route? Thanks everyone!

[Quadrille]

Add a field for URL, and I think it's called a 'directory' :)

There's plenty of 'off the shelf' software already built, including several 'free' ones.

But you'll need to check out the competition - there's a fair few around already. And you'll need to start with a fair few entries yourself - people won't submit to an empty directory.

[katherinez]

"Add a field for URL, and I think it's called a 'directory' :) "

:) Oh my goodness I could never compete with a directory - wish I was that web savvy! :) Actually my example isn't quite what I am doing, but it is close enough that the answer to that example will be the answer to what I want to do. Maybe software written "for" a directory would actually work...

Quadrille, when you say I can get some free on the web, do you mean scripts? Forms? Sorry to make this so basic.. I want to be sure I'm searching for the correct thing.

Thank you for your reply!

[Quadrille]

scripts, forms, complete directory scripts.

Even if you are just providing a service for your own town, there's several directory scripts that you could use, free of charge.

But there's also all manner of forms that may suit your purpose.