I'm such a confirmed database user, and databases have so many virtues and advantages, that I firmly believe the fight to get one is *always* worth it. Now, with that out of the way, don't the Berkely DBM tools provide database-like access to text files? Have a look at http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.dba.php There is limited access to .dbf files in PHP, but their usage seems surrounded by large doses of caution. It really is worth the wrangle to get a relational database in place; development will be faster and performance will be incredibly better, unless your database is tiny. For example a SELECT on an indexed field returns results almost instantaneously, rather than having to open a file and sequentially read its contents. Updates to and inserts of data are easy, you have built-in primary key mechanisms, etc., etc. On top of that, support is vastly superior. If you have a problem with any of the major database - MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Db2 you will get an answer quickly, or it will be a known problem and you'll find the answer in the archives, either here or on lists devoted to those products. Finally, please don't cross post - let's try and contain the discussion. I've removed all the cc info, and replied only to PHP-DB. Regards - Miles Thompson At 08:59 AM 10/22/2002 -0700, Negretti, John (CCI-San Diego) wrote: >Hello All, > > I am somewhat new to PHP and I have a question relating to FLAT > FILE databases. First let me give an introduction to my question. > >I used to work at a company (www.miva.com) where we developed our own >scripting language "Miva Script", so my only experience with PHP was for >comparison and such. The company was not doing so good and was barley >afloat, so I left. In my efforts to find a new scripting language I >choose PHP over ColdFusion, even though Miva Script was so similar to >ColdFusion. I am loving PHP, I never realized just how extensive PHP >is. Now I am at a big company where "red tape" has to be dealt with >before I could get access to a database server. With the Miva Script >language it has it's own built-in database (dBASE-DBF), so databases were >never a problem with web development. So, I am stuck with either using >PHP and finding a solution "or" reverting to Miva Script, which I do NOT >want to do, of course I want to stay with PHP. I have been doing some >research on google.com and such and have not found too much information on >PHP with Flat File or DBF databases. I did find some PHP scripts working >with Flat File databases, but not really what I need. Does anyone have >any suggestions, or is PHP mostly just for MySQL and such. > >I am developing some PHP classes/functions that are utilizing "file()" and >"array()" to read and edit my flat files. It's not perfected yet and I am >running into difficulties here and there and this is why am I asking for >any opinions or comments on available resources. When I get done with it >I'll post it for free at www.ideablue.com (my personal site). Well, I do >give thanks in advance for any help. > >NOTE: I think PHP is a great language and I do hope to stick with >it. There are many great resources like www.phpbuilder.com, >www.phpbeginner.com and the extensive documentation at >www.php.net. Thanks to all that help us new PHP developers. > > John Negretti > Web Applications Developer > Cox Communications www.cox.com > > >-- >PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php -- PHP Database Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
