creating a "universal" database

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 17:00:35 GMT, Win Day
<winday.RemoveThis@REMOVETHISwordsplus.net> wrote:

 >On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 07:47:27 -0700, lemurian<none.RemoveThis@abc.def> wrote:
  >>
  >>My proposed plan is to load all the products and images
  >>into a MySQL database now, a really big job, and when
  >>that's done, test out the most likely cart packages.
  >>
  >>I'd like to know what features the database needs
  >>in order to work with a shopping cart system.
  >>Although the database structure can later on
  >>be changed if necessary, I don't want to
  >>leave out anything important.
  >>
  >>Thanks for your thoughts,
  >>J.




 >If it were me, I wouldn't create the database until you choose a
 >shopping cart package.
 >
 >I evaluated a number of different ones before my client chose the one
 >we're using. The structure of the associated databases was so
 >completely different that had we settled on a certain structure, it
 >would have been almost impossible to switch.
 >
 >The general requirements of all the database (and all the shopping
 >carts, for that matter) were the same. But the internal structures,
 >the field labels and how they interrelated, the style of coding, were
 >copmletely different.
 >
 >Win
 >------------
 >Win Day, Multimedia Developer
 >Words Plus
 >http://www.wordsplus.net
 >winday@REMOVETHISwordsplus.net

Ouch!
Thanks, Win. I will change my approach.
J.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: creating a "universal" database 

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 07:47:27 -0700, lemurian<none RemoveThis @abc.def> wrote:

 >I'm in the dark over which shopping cart package to pursue.
 >We do know that it will have to interface with a database
 >(over 1,000 items in our existing retail store).

Howdy,

You probably do not want just a "shopping cart". You'll find they are
generally very limited in the way your catalog will be displayed and good
luck on the quality of their manual. Hit <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://bizycart.com" target="_blank">http://bizycart.com</a> for a list of
things you might enjoy having available.

 >My proposed plan is to load all the products and images
 >into a MySQL database now, a really big job, and when
 >that's done, test out the most likely cart packages.

It's a royal pain to move data from a MySQL base to another application and
that's one of the reasons BIZyCart uses an Excel compatible base. I can
probably convert your site and existing data base to use BIZyCart for less
than it will cost you to rekey your catalog into MySQL.

 >I'd like to know what features the database needs
 >in order to work with a shopping cart system.
 >Although the database structure can later on
 >be changed if necessary, I don't want to
 >leave out anything important.

Hit
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://bizynet.net/BIZyCart.ASP?GROUP=CatalogBase&NEXTPAGE=Instruction-3.htm&CLIENT=Manual" target="_blank">http://bizynet.net/BIZyCart.ASP?GROUP=CatalogBase&NEXTPAGE=Instruction...htm&CLI</a>
for the definitions of the columns I've found are necessary for maximum
flexibility. Then you need to keep track of orders and your customers in
additional data bases. Click the CONTENTS button and you can take a look at
those as well.

Try <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://barsupplywarehouse.com" target="_blank">http://barsupplywarehouse.com</a> for some examples of the kind of pages
BIZyCart can template for you from its data base.

Thanks, Chris <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bizynet.com" target="_blank">http://www.bizynet.com</a>
BIZynet Coordinator cgunn RemoveThis @bizynet.com
Moderator of biz.general, biz.marketplace.discussion, biz.healthcare,
biz.marketplace.web-design, biz.marketplace.international & others<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: creating a "universal" database 

Worth having a look at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.comersus.com" target="_blank">www.comersus.com</a> its open .asp script which uses
either MS Access, MS SQL or MySQL.

Their "Lite" version is free and can be upgraded with various bolt-ons, but
the database structure is the same for the "Lite" as well as the full
featured one

I'm just implementing it now here in the uk and it seems to have loads of
features and with me not being a whiz in programming, I can still find my
way around the back office bits

Like I said its worth a look the Lite version will give you a look and feel
about the product and even when you want to upgrade the full version costs
US$370



Dave O'Connor



"lemurian" <none DeleteThis @abc.def> wrote in message
news:krdlov0jqkf3g38jf8gmai5h7qis16sl7i@4ax.com...
 >
 > Hi,
 >
 > I'm in the dark over which shopping cart package to pursue.
 > We do know that it will have to interface with a database
 > (over 1,000 items in our existing retail store).
 >
 > My proposed plan is to load all the products and images
 > into a MySQL database now, a really big job, and when
 > that's done, test out the most likely cart packages.
 >
 > I'd like to know what features the database needs
 > in order to work with a shopping cart system.
 > Although the database structure can later on
 > be changed if necessary, I don't want to
 > leave out anything important.
 >
 > Thanks for your thoughts,
 > J.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: creating a "universal" database 

Chris Gunn <cgunn.TakeThisOut@bizynet.com> wrote in message news:<dp5rov4ej2p91cd0jjtkdrr3ddg48jgk76.TakeThisOut@4ax.com>...
 > On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 07:47:27 -0700, lemurian<none.TakeThisOut@abc.def> wrote:
 >
  > >I'm in the dark over which shopping cart package to pursue.
  > >We do know that it will have to interface with a database
  > >(over 1,000 items in our existing retail store).
 >
 > Howdy,
 >
 > You probably do not want just a "shopping cart". You'll find they are
 > generally very limited in the way your catalog will be displayed and good
 > luck on the quality of their manual.

I take it you're joking?

The manuals that accompany the Actinic product range are excellent.
The OsCommerce documentation might be a little lacking, but the
thousands of contributors to the oscommerce forums more than make up
for that. Help is usually minutes away - and FREE.

 > Hit <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://bizycart.com" target="_blank">http://bizycart.com</a> for a list of
 > things you might enjoy having available.

A proprietary hosted solution with no exit path should the solution
not fit, Chris and his company go belly up, or fail for any other
reason.

 >
  > >My proposed plan is to load all the products and images
  > >into a MySQL database now, a really big job, and when
  > >that's done, test out the most likely cart packages.
 >
 > It's a royal pain to move data from a MySQL base to another application


No it isn't. You have native mysqldump - many providers (including
us) provide phpmyadmin or similar interfaces - all of which dump the
data into a format that can be switched to CSV in minutes. CSV can be
imported into just about ANYTHING.

and
 > that's one of the reasons BIZyCart uses an Excel compatible base.

You're joking right? Excel? That's a SPREADSHEET - not a database.
Why doesn't this surprise me?

 > I can
 > probably convert your site and existing data base to use BIZyCart for less
 > than it will cost you to rekey your catalog into MySQL.

We converted a client's 5,000+ products into osCommerce a couple of
weeks ago for about a $1,000.

 >
  > >I'd like to know what features the database needs
  > >in order to work with a shopping cart system.


to OP: If you don't know the answer.... you probably need someone to
do it for you.

  > >Although the database structure can later on
  > >be changed if necessary, I don't want to
  > >leave out anything important.
 >
 > Hit
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://bizynet.net/BIZyCart.ASP?GROUP=CatalogBase&NEXTPAGE=Instruction-3.htm&CLIENT=Manual</font" target="_blank">http://bizynet.net/BIZyCart.ASP?GROUP=CatalogBase&NEXTPAGE=Instruction...htm&CLI</a>>
 > for the definitions of the columns I've found are necessary for maximum
 > flexibility.

Using EasyPopulate for osCommerce, you have a similar input format.

EasyPopulate can be found here:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,500" target="_blank">http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,500</a>



Then you need to keep track of orders and your customers in
 > additional data bases. Click the CONTENTS button and you can take a look at
 > those as well.

If you need to migrate customer information into oscommerce, none of
the existing tools can do this - we can by hand - it's mySQL inserts
after data manipulation - any oscommerce consultant can do this.
 >
 > Try <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://barsupplywarehouse.com" target="_blank">http://barsupplywarehouse.com</a> for some examples of the kind of pages

The site is a little "old" looking - but perhaps that's intentional -
the lime green bars and cerise buy buttons are very early 90's design
features. The design actually improves when you get into the cart -
but by that time, you've lost the majority of search engine spiders -
anything except google won't follow the URLs into the

The biggest problem with the site is that search engine issue.
Something that Bizycart just can't get around. At least with
oscommerce you can turn on the "search engine safe" mode - which DOES
work.

For pure search engine findability, you can't beat the Actinic product
range - their static HTML page approach is vastly superior for search
engine penetration. You can import into Actinic Business from any
access, excel or other source that supports OLE linking.

Search for: dodge viper superchargers
using: Google.com

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=dodge+viper+superchargers" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=dodge+viper+superchargers</a>

Top 2 results: 4redlinemotorsports.com
From: 6,370 results

Why? Because the Actinic store we built has superior search engine
penetration.

Is this a fluke? NO!! There are literally thousands of search they
rank well for... primarilty because of the store building technology
chosen. I'd like to see a bizycart site that ranks well for searches
for their products. It appears to be an area that MOST cart system
producers have completely overlooked.




 > BIZyCart can template for you from its data base.

use a sig separator please Chris.

Greg Hewitt-Long
--
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.webyourbusiness.com" target="_blank">http://www.webyourbusiness.com</a> - Web Design for Results!
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://aaabusinesshosting.com/" target="_blank">http://aaabusinesshosting.com/</a> - Hosting and E-Commerce Solutions.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: creating a "universal" database 

On 17 Oct 2003 06:16:44 -0700, in alt.ecommerce you wrote:

  >> You probably do not want just a "shopping cart". You'll find they are
  >> generally very limited in the way your catalog will be displayed and good
  >> luck on the quality of their manual.
 >
 >I take it you're joking?
 >
 >The manuals that accompany the Actinic product range are excellent.
 >The OsCommerce documentation might be a little lacking, but the
 >thousands of contributors to the oscommerce forums more than make up
 >for that. Help is usually minutes away - and FREE.

Howdy Greg,

I made a general comment that applies to a broad span of shopping carts. I
take your comment zooming in on Actinic as an indication of some insecurity
with that product.

 >A proprietary hosted solution with no exit path should the solution
 >not fit, Chris and his company go belly up, or fail for any other
 >reason.

Exit path is already well planned. BIZyCart's data bases can be imported
into virtually any other data base scheme and there are two companies
trained and on-line to pick things up if anything should happen to me.

BTW, BIZyCart also has a static page option so a site can be converted to
hard coded pages. That's also available to resolve search engine problems
with dynamic pages. Porting a site from BIZyCart is really very easy.

 >You're joking right? Excel? That's a SPREADSHEET - not a database.
 >Why doesn't this surprise me?

I said "Excel compatible" and you keep leaping to erroneous conclusions.

 >We converted a client's 5,000+ products into osCommerce a couple of
 >weeks ago for about a $1,000.

Appreciate knowing BIZyCart is more cost effective and that you are
concerned about the potential competition. Personally, I'm not worried
about the various shopping carts. BIZyCart is an "Ecommerce Server" and
does far more than just letting people click order buttons.

Hit <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://bizycart.com/BIZyCart.asp?ACTION=Manage&CLIENT=Demonstration" target="_blank">http://bizycart.com/BIZyCart.asp?ACTION=Manage&CLIENT=Demonstration</a> and
log in with "Guest" and "1000" and see if you see any comparison with a
"Shopping Cart".

Thanks, Chris <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.bizynet.com" target="_blank">http://www.bizynet.com</a>
BIZynet Coordinator cgunn.RemoveThis@bizynet.com
Moderator of biz.general, biz.marketplace.discussion, biz.healthcare,
biz.marketplace.web-design, biz.marketplace.international & others<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: creating a "universal" database