Hi all,

I've created some basic websites and whatnot. But I'm about to undertake a pretty big production. I work in market research and am planning on opening a market research directory website. I will most likely have thousands of listings, is SQL the best way to handle that, I know very little about SQL, but I know I can't just make a webpage with all the listings. Basically I want people to be able to search the DB using comp name, city, country, or services as the criteria. Is SQL the best man for the job, does anybody have other recommendations?

Thanks,
andrew

Well, it's a pretty big topic (and project), and I'm sure you will get many opinions on this.
SQL DB's are great, and MySQL is free and works great with PHP coding (also free). The downside is that php does not work on Windows servers, so then you go with ASP, and probably some other form of DB, whatever Windows will allow. The questions to start of will is "who is the web host?" "What type of server?" "Does the hosting plan support what you need re: web space, DB, PHP or other programing?" Things like that.

SQL is fantastic for keeping records, but like any other DB it needs a script to call up the data. Ask lots of questions, and don't be afraid to try out some on-line tutorials to see what suits your skills best before commiting to any one thing.

PHP and MySQL can be installed and ran on Windows Server 2003 and better.

Well, I guess I stand corrected. Please pardon my confusion, but even the CC software states that you should put a checkmark on "ASP" in their settings if you are on a Windows server. I wish someone would have told me this back in 2003

Yes PHP & MYSql can be run on windows servers, BUT....
most web hosting companies offer 2 versions, Linux & Windows where a Linux plan gives you PHP/MYSql and a windows plan gives you ASP/Net/SQL.

Most hosts do not run php on windows servers.

Mike...

Thanks all for the help. It is a Windows server, I'll need to check the hosting company and see what they support and go from there.

You can create a file named phpinfo.php, with this as the code:
<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Then go to your site and select that page (www.mysite.com/phpinfo.php) if it produces any result, you wil have lots of information about the PHP on your host.