Making your flat file online database
You need to understand how to construct one and know how to link it to a script..
- Make
a textfile database.
You can easily make the database in 'Notepad'. Separate the field by commas etc and the records by line breaks as below.
Stocknumber,Make,Model,Price,Mileage,Colour,Year,Description ID1,Ford,Mondeo,£4999.00,44999,Yellow,1999,Clean example of popular model ID2,VW,Beetle,£10995.00,4587,Blue,2003,Cult car Great condition |
- Now
Link it to a script
Perl database scripts are complex and are available from third parties. Some are free and others need to be purchased.
Some scripts can pick up the field headings and others do not. Some scripts require the first field to be a key unique fields (record number ID1, etc)
- Make the database searchable
The ability to search the database is a major asset. This can be achieved using serverside scripts (usually Perl)
- Some scripts allow you to link to search routines.
- Build HTML templates to control the output
- The search page can be quickly built using Dreamweaver. - a normal html page with a search form!.
- The
script will need to be customized and uploaded
It is sent to a cgi-bin on your server ( a conventional place to place scripts)
The database files and templates can usually be uploaded to an HTML folder
- Access
Permissions
You will need to know how to set the access for the files (CHMOD command in UNIX)
A Sample Searchable CSV Database
This site has a simple CSV database system controlled by Perl scripts. The database is held and maintained online and can be searched. (This uses CSVRead and CSVSearch)
The editing and writing interfaces are disabled in this example management page
Some Perl script free database management systems for Flat File databases
| Name of System | Details | Web Site | Comments |
| CSV | Made up of a number of modules integrated together CSVwrite, CSVread, CSVsearch, CSVedit and CSVbackup |
|
A really easy and very useful set of routines |
| IDB
(Item DataBase Manager ) |
Perl program to help you manage a database. Includes search feature, and can be customized using templates. | ||
| Simple-search | Works from one cgi script. Based on the use of 3 HTML templates. Can search and display More sophisticated pay version available | www.cnctek.com | |
| DBMan | A database manager used to handle one or multiple flat file databases through an easy to use web interface | www.gossamer-threads.com | |
| Easy database | This
perl package uses perl5 objects to make it easy for manipulating spreadsheet
data among disk files, database, and Web publishing.
|
Easy Database | |
| Simplex database | A dynamic tool for developing web applications suiting the particular needs of your site. Interface with a flat-file, My SQL or Microsoft SQL Server database. Create forms, queries and reports to interact with your database. | Download from Hotscripts |
Lite version is free. The firm will install it for you! |
| Rilax | A sophisticated search facility for your database | www.risearch.org | Zip |
** Recommended choice **
Some sources for database script downloads
Find out about dynamic serverside processed database pages