HLMCOMPANY.COM

[Buck]

I'm to lazy to search through all of our threads to find where Tannin posted the upgrades for his website, so I'm starting a new thread. Recently I've had these ambitions to update and improve the content of my site, so I added some content to my history of WD and more recently, I uploaded a bunch of definitions for computer terms that I've found helpful. Please let me know what you think.

http://www.hlmcompany.com/hardware.php

 

[timwhit]

There are a ton of definitions there. How about an interface to search for them quickly, especially if the user doesn't know what the definition starts with.

 

[Buck]

Great idea Tim. Can anyone give me a tip on how to start a search function for my site? (Code and idea.)

 

[Handruin]

Maybe there is something in here you could benifit from?

http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Search_Engines/index.html

Is your content stored in a database or static in the html?

 

[Buck]

Maybe there is something in here you could benifit from?

http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_Programs/Search_Engines/index.html

Is your content stored in a database or static in the html?

Database You give me way to much credit. Static all the way m boy. A database would be nice if I knew how to create one and manage it. But now we're getting super complicated.

 

[Buck]

Good information on that site Handy, thanks.

 

[honold]

i really like the look/feel

 

[Handruin]

I think the items in the link I posted are geared more for databases...I didn't look through all of them.

A database may not be too complicated with the information you have, it could be a fun side project. No promises, but let me put something together and see how it works. Your "definitions" setup is nice and that looks like it could benifit from a seach also.

 

[Howell]

Great idea Tim. Can anyone give me a tip on how to start a search function for my site? (Code and idea.)

The easiest way would be to compile all of the pages into an additional super-long single page which could be searched with CTRL-F.

Or instead of a single page you could break it into 3 or 4.

 

[Buck]

Thanks for your compliments and input.

As a note Howell, when all of the static material is together, it takes Mercutio 1:48 seconds to download the definitions. I would prefer something that downloads faster. Maybe I'm just talking jibberish and don't understand what you mean.

 

[Tea]

Very nice work, Buck. The look and feel is great. I really like it. And your focus on WD lets you tell a particular story, rather than jump about all over the place confusing people: that's good too.

 

[Buck]

it takes Mercutio 1:48 seconds to download the definitions

That should read: 1 minute 48 seconds.

 

[Buck]

Thanks for the compliments oh young she-orangutan. One of these days I will have to include the history for another product.

 

[Buck]

Handy, anything new about getting a database together for my definitions?

 

[Handruin]

Sorry buddy. You didn't comment on the idea, (good or bad) so I never started it.

I would need to work out some details with you so that the tool can manage your definitions in a way that makes sense to your website and also in a way that doesn't cause you pain to enter them.

I see your page is using php now, are you managing the data through the use of includes? Do you happen to have a master list of the words and definitions I could use? If not, I can borrow some of the data you have now. I might need to see (once I have something done) your website framework in order to make this script incorporate into your design.

 

[blakerwry]

why dont you add the google search?


http://www.google.com/searchcode.html



you can easily have it search your entire site... and just your site. very nifty.

 

[Handruin]

I was thinking more along the lines of managing the definitions. Searching is one thing, but adding and managing new definitions is another thing. It looks like Buck is addeding them into individual php files for each letter of the alphabet. If it can be done, why not make a query to a database and extract the data for a given letter based on a url path.

definitions.php?def=a
or
definitions.php?def=b

and so on...

In the php you would make a variable for def ($tmp=$_GET[def]) and then query the data accordingly.

I'm working on both right now. The searching will be the hardest part IMHO.

 

[Buck]

Glad to have you on the job Handy. As you mentioned, finding a better way to manage and add definitions is my first concern. Searching is second. Presently I have a separate php file for each letter of the alphabet. I have this code on my definitions (definitions.php) page:

<td width=95% valign=top align=left>
<font class="mediumheader">Definitions</font>
<?php $phpbb_root_path = './'; include($phpbb_root_path . 'definitionsnav.php')?>	
</td>

Then in the definitionsnav.php file I have:

[url="definitionsa.php"]A[/url]
[url="definitionsb.php"]B[/url]
[url="definitionsc.php"]C[/url]
[url="definitionsd.php"]D[/url]
[url="definitionse.php"]E[/url]
[url="definitionsf.php"]F[/url]
[url="definitionsg.php"]G[/url]
[url="definitionsh.php"]H[/url]
[url="definitionsi.php"]I[/url]
[url="definitionsj.php"]J[/url]
[url="definitionsk.php"]K[/url]
[url="definitionsl.php"]L[/url]
[url="definitionsm.php"]M[/url]
[url="definitionsn.php"]N[/url]
[url="definitionso.php"]O[/url]
[url="definitionsp.php"]P[/url]
[url="definitionsq.php"]Q[/url]
[url="definitionsr.php"]R[/url]
[url="definitionss.php"]S[/url]
[url="definitionst.php"]T[/url]
[url="definitionsu.php"]U[/url]
[url="definitionsv.php"]V[/url]
[url="definitionsw.php"]W[/url]
[url="definitionsx.php"]X[/url]
[url="definitionsy.php"]Y[/url]
[url="definitionsz.php"]Z[/url]

Then nested within each of those references is the static data. It might seem that I've really made this more complicated then necessary, but it has made the data very flexible and easy for me to change layouts and formats for the higher-level pages.

 

[Handruin]

Ah... I see how it works now. Almost like a plug-in. Tricky...I like it. I'm going to be out tonight, so I may not get the time to work on this, but tomorrow I should be able to.

 

[Buck]

Ah... I see how it works now. Almost like a plug-in. Tricky...I like it. I'm going to be out tonight, so I may not get the time to work on this, but tomorrow I should be able to.

No worries Handy, I'm not pressing you for time, just looking for a little assistance when it is available.

 

[Buck]

Oh yeah, one more level deep in the code. When the Anchor tag references something like definitionsa.php, on that page the code includes:

<td bgcolor="#aaaadd" cellspacing=2>
<table bgcolor="#aaaadd" border=0 cellpadding=10 cellspacing=2>
<?php $phpbb_root_path = './'; include($phpbb_root_path . 'a.php')?>
</table></td>

So, it is deeper then I had originally posted.

 

[Handruin]

If I were to write the code, how would you like to include it into your existing site?

So let me talk this through:

Your main page file named "definitions.php" includes "'definitionsnav.php'".

The "'definitionsnav.php'" file includes the individual lettered files named "definitionsa.php through definitionsz.php".

Then the last level is "definitionsa.php" includes "a.php" and likewise for the remaining files.

Have I understood so far?

Also...do you have a phpbb for install? You’re using a variable typically defined from phpbb.

Keeping the current format, would you like to alternate the table color of definition entries? (kinda like how this forum does with each post)

Let me work out a static (non-database) example to see if you can make it work with the existing design. Adding the database element will not be a problem afterwards.

 

[Buck]

If I were to write the code, how would you like to include it into your existing site?

So let me talk this through:

Your main page file named "definitions.php" includes "'definitionsnav.php'".

The "'definitionsnav.php'" file includes the individual lettered files named "definitionsa.php through definitionsz.php".

Then the last level is "definitionsa.php" includes "a.php" and likewise for the remaining files.

Have I understood so far?

Indeed you have.

Also...do you have a phpbb for install? You’re using a variable typically defined from phpbb.

My host uses php, I just copied their examples of the include statement.

Keeping the current format, would you like to alternate the table color of definition entries? (kinda like how this forum does with each post)

Yes, that would be nice.

Let me work out a static (non-database) example to see if you can make it work with the existing design. Adding the database element will not be a problem afterwards.

That sounds great, thanks for your help Handy.

 

[Handruin]

I've got more work to do, but here is the progress I've made so far. Right now it is reading information from a database. I found a normalization issue in the database, so I have to rescript it tomorrow night. I'll let you know when I have more info.

Also, I've only entered a few items for letters "a" and "b", so don't worry about the other letters, they have no data to disply. They are, however trying to access the database, so it's only a matter of entering the information. (web form will be in part 3 or part 4 of development) I've also accounted for your script to grow if you ever want to include definitions that start with numbers. All you have to do is update a simple array.

I've also tried to secure the URL parameter when you click on a letter. since "d" becomes the variable, I've tried to clean out any malicous code. I'm not perfect, so you might want to play around with it and try some combinations of characters. (typically slashes and quotes can ruin a script if entered in the correct configuration)

http://projects.handruin.com/buck/def_script.php

ps don't mind the crude formatting, it will change once I get the script going. You will be able to apply your CSS and design to this script.

 

[Buck]

Thanks Handy. The functionality seems to work real well. I'll forward to the next chapters.

 

[Handruin]

More delays. I'm having trouble with writing a select statement that incorporates a left join.

Does anyone know how to write a select statement that pulls related data from two tables?

The joys of a relational database.

 

[Handruin]

Yippie, it works:

SELECT def_words. * , def_words.def_group_id
FROM def_words
LEFT  JOIN def_group_type ON def_group_type.def_group_id = def_words.def_group_id
WHERE def_group_type.def_group_name = 'a'

I'm still trying to figure out WHY it works, but it does exactly what I need...

 

[Will Rickards WT]

I think you have your join reversed?
You want all the words with a group correct? Where the words are in def_words and the groups are in def_group_type?

That would be (In SQL Server SQL):

SELECT def_group_type.def_group_id, def_words.*
FROM def_group_type LEFT OUTER JOIN def_words
     ON (def_group_type.def_group_id = def_words.def_group_id)
WHERE def_group_type.def_group_name = 'a'

A left outer join takes everything from the table on the left and returns what it can match with the table on the right. If a match isn't found on the right, nulls are returned. This ensures you aren't excluding any rows from the left table because there is no corresponding entry in the right table.

 

[Buck]

A left outer join takes everything from the table on the left and returns what it can match with the table on the right. If a match isn't found on the right, nulls are returned. This ensures you aren't excluding any rows from the left table because there is no corresponding entry in the right table.

:eekers: I hope Handy understood that.

 

[Handruin]

I think you have your join reversed?
You want all the words with a group correct? Where the words are in def_words and the groups are in def_group_type?

That would be (In SQL Server SQL):

SELECT def_group_type.def_group_id, def_words.*
FROM def_group_type LEFT OUTER JOIN def_words
     ON (def_group_type.def_group_id = def_words.def_group_id)
WHERE def_group_type.def_group_name = 'a'

A left outer join takes everything from the table on the left and returns what it can match with the table on the right. If a match isn't found on the right, nulls are returned. This ensures you aren't excluding any rows from the left table because there is no corresponding entry in the right table.

Yes...in my basic English I want to:

Select all the words, definitions, and time from my word.table when a specific group is specified.

Tables:
	def_group_type
		def_group_id [int(11) auto_increment]
		def_group_name [char(1)]
	
	def_words
		def_id  [int(11) auto_increment]
		def_name  [text]
		def_description  [text]
		def_create_time  [int(11)]
		def_update_time  [int(11)]
		def_group_id  [int(11)]

In order to normalize the database, I've separated the groups into their own table. (def_group_type) When I run my select, I was trying to figure out how to select the correct group name (def_group_type.def_group_name) based on the integer value in the def_words table. (def_words.def_group_id)

Is a left outer join (in your example) what I need for this task? I'm new to querying relational information, so any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. I'm going to try your example to see what the results are. Thanks for your help.

 

[Handruin]

Will, I tested your join and it gives me the same data, except now the table output is different. (as expected)

I read your comment several times and when you say "This ensures you aren't excluding any rows from the left table because there is no corresponding entry in the right table.", there should never be an instance when I need a row that doesn't match, so I would want it to be excluded.

Each and every word will be required to have a "def_group_id" which I think is setup as my foreign key. Therefore, the ID can only exist in the def_word if it exists in "def_group_type".

 

[Buck]

I recently updated my personal website too. It is not completed yet, but most of the functionality and some of the content are available.

mittelsman.net

 

[Buck]

Beware dial-up users, there are frames and images!

 

[Buck]

The 2003 ATA news for Western Digital has been added to my website, if you are interested.

http://www.hlmcompany.com/hardware.php

 

[Buck]

My summary for WD during 2004 is available:

http://www.hlmcompany.com/wd-2004.php

 

[Mercutio]

I can summarize Western Digital drives in 2004 with a single word.

 

[JKKJ]

peachy?