Creating a database of project descriptions

[Dookieman]

Hi,

My boss wants me to create a database of project descriptions for future proposals so they are all in one place and easy to find. I'm a beginner web developer so I'm looking for advice. I have a basic site set up with accordion menus that drop down like so:

Project -> Project Description Type (Each one with an emphases on something we did on the project) -> Actual project description.

Currently I just have all the data placed in HTML with some CSS to make it look nice and easy to navigate. Is this an acceptable way of doing this? Would you suggest a better way?

Thanks!

 

[960design]

I'd keep your HTML / CSS structure but throw all the data in a database ( kinda like your boss asked ). This will make searches easy and fast.

Build a simple front end for the admin ( you ) to update via a web form. All you need is simple CRUD.

Have the page pull the active projects or whatever you need to display. Click on the list link to take you to a details page.

Get rid of the accordion stuff ( that's just a personal design opinion of mine ).

 

[Dookieman]

I'd keep your HTML / CSS structure but throw all the data in a database ( kinda like your boss asked ). This will make searches easy and fast.

Build a simple front end for the admin ( you ) to update via a web form. All you need is simple CRUD.

Have the page pull the active projects or whatever you need to display. Click on the list link to take you to a details page.

Get rid of the accordion stuff ( that's just a personal design opinion of mine ).

Thanks for the info. Do you have any links to examples that I can learn from? I'm not familiar with SQL/CRUD yet. Though, I did sign up for a Udemy course that teaches you SQL.

Thanks!

 

[960design]

Do you have any links to examples that I can learn from? I'm not familiar with SQL/CRUD yet.

http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/php/real-world-oop-with-php-and-mysql/

It was a lot harder than I thought to find. Does anyone else have any good online tutorials?

Lynda.com is bound to have some, but that requires a subscription. Although you can sign up for a 30 day free trial and learn like a zombie until your free trial is up.

There are tons of good books. Check amazon and search with something like beginning PHP.

 

[Dookieman]

http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/php/real-world-oop-with-php-and-mysql/

It was a lot harder than I thought to find. Does anyone else have any good online tutorials?

Lynda.com is bound to have some, but that requires a subscription. Although you can sign up for a 30 day free trial and learn like a zombie until your free trial is up.

There are tons of good books. Check amazon and search with something like beginning PHP.

Thanks! Is PHP still the most recommended language for what I want to do? I've heard Ruby/Python are becoming more popular in the past few years. Just curious.

Thanks!

 

[960design]

Python has been around forever and will probably always be relevant.
Ruby is a fantastic language, but my clients seem to always need PHP work. So my Python skills fallen to the wayside and I never developed into someone with enough knowledge about Ruby to comment fully on it. I can say that I really like it for what little I've done with it.

Most (90%) of my work is PHP based now; ObjectiveC, C++ and Java filling in the rest.

 

[blaster_boy]

A very good book that taught me a lot about php and mysql was the following one : "PHP and MYSQL Web Developement" by Luke Welling and Laura Thomson.

You can find it on Amazon, and in it's days (now I am more into python) it was my bible to do anything PHP / MYSQL related. Quite a hefty tome, but they explained *everything*.

 

[960design]

A very good book that thought me a lot about php and mysql was the following one : "PHP and MYSQL Web Developement" by Luke Welling and Laura Thomson.

I have that exact same book and many others; amazon and lynda.com should be your best friend.

 

[Dookieman]

I have that exact same book and many others; amazon and lynda.com should be your best friend.

Yep, I'm going to buy this book tonight. How big a difference will 4th vs 5th Edition make? I would like to keep it as cheap as possible, so I was leaning towards a used copy of 4th edition.

Nevermind, 5th isn't out till 2014.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Dookieman]

I just bought a copy of PHP and MySQL. Hopefully this will be a nice learning experience so I can add it to my resume.

 

[960design]

It should be a fantastic start. I haven't pulled it off my shelf in over a year, most often if I have to recall any keyword usage I just google it from the PHP online doc ( I'm talking about you DATE ).

If you run into any problems, just create a new thread in this section. There are quite a few VERY intelligent and friendly people here that can help. Don't Panic!