[crackingmedia]

Has anyone found any good website software for managing directories of information, by that I mean something that will collect data (which doesn't necessarily need to be entered by the visitor) on a subject and allow for the data to be search or filtered etc.

Essentially then it would need to have a database backend (probably via MySQL), but it could be that all that is needed is to put something together in a CMS. The key is being able to set up means of recording data that can be specified in the design and having a means by which the data collected can be queried based on specific data and the results reported to the website visitor.

Hope that makes sense. Any suggestions on this?

TIA,
Peter

[OldWelshGuy]

give us an example of the search, information requested/displayed. That will help get a better idea.

eg. a bride uploads her photos, includes descriptions etc. Someone comes along, seaches for the venue, her pics appear a related item?

[Mike]

are you suggesting a site scraper?

[crackingmedia]

Hi - no not a site scraper.

An example could be a website which collected information about classic cars in the UK. Ideally the data could be entered by visitors entering information about their cars. Alternatively, if they also wanted to include photos of their car then they could send the data and images via email and the site owner would update it.

As well as entering information about their car, visitors should also be able to search the data stored. So someone might say they want to filter the whole database by MG cars, older than 1975, and located in Cornwall. The level of filtering should be flexible so although 3 different criteria may be enough in many cases, it could be that the visitor would also want to search at a more granular level, e.g. only green cars and only those with 2 doors (these are not real examples but seek to highlight the possible need for multiple filters.

The only other thing to say is that this probably wouldn't be an eCommerce site, more about information sharing.

So would a customised CMS be the best application for this (if so any recommendations) or is there software more suited?

Thanks again,
Peter

[UKSBD]

My main directory works in a very similar way using .ASP and a MySQL
database.

The answer is to have seperate imput boxes for the important data
i.e. (using cars as an example)
Model: ----
Make: ----
Year: ----
Engine type: ---
Engine Size: ---
Colour: ----

By doing it that way you can search by, order by, display by etc.
any of the imputed fields

[crackingmedia]

Originally Posted by UKSBD

My main directory works in a very similar way using .ASP and a MySQL
database.

That's helpful as is your example. So have you designed and written this directory yourself or is this an off-the-shelf system?

[OldWelshGuy]

It isn't a difficult thing to do, it is just a field for each piece you wish to sort for, and a couple of commands plus, and, or etc.

I guess it depends on what you want to spend, but a script like esyndicat will do this. My question is what is the point? what will people putting information in get out of it? and what will people searching get out of it?

Sounds to me like you are putting together a product for sale finder. If this is the case, then a classifieds script might be a better option.

[UKSBD]

Originally Posted by crackingmedia

That's helpful as is your example. So have you designed and written this directory yourself or is this an off-the-shelf system?

I actually bought the main directory about 3 years ago, but have changed
it so much you could almost say it is self built, with the help of a database
developer who helped me move accross from using an Access database
to MySQL (hence why it is in .ASP)

I also use a much changed version on a venues site which is work in progress
http://www.starvenues.co.uk

With that site I have about 50 imput boxes
http://www.starvenues.co.uk/enter.asp
and as long as people enter the info correctly in the right boxes I
can use the data in numerous different ways
typical example here,
http://www.starvenues.co.uk/venue.asp?CompanyID=38083

venue.asp is the actual page but individual pages are then created by the
data imputted in to the database when a venue is added.

If ever I get the time I could set up all my sites like this.

[crackingmedia]

Thank you all for your feedback on this. It has been useful.

Just one thing UKSBD... you mention that you bought your "main directory" 3 years ago. What software was it?

Peter

[UKSBD]

Sorry, don't rally know what you mean by software, but it is VBScript using ADO.
I then simply hand code everthing using notepad.