this has been in our minds for a while now.

we have an initial design page up at this address.

the idea is that people come to the page, and get options at the top, and a complete list at the bottom.

each time they select a different option, the list on the bottom refreshes itsself so that the correct list is then displayed.

this means the words in the drop down menus have to be linked to the list appearing on the bottom frame.

would a database be the best idea for this? if so, what kind? what scripting would be required to complete something like this?

bearing in mind the list could potentially grow to 20+ categories and 150+ items, how much work would be required in setting this up and maintaining it, how easy would it be to add / remove items and update current ones?

all / any feedback you can give me, ideas on it, suggestions, are greatly appreciated.

thankx guys!!

You don't neccessarily need a database... just a form of scripting on your site where you can save each item that changes into a variable... then refresh the bottom display with each change in those variables..

however.. you're talking about maybe 150+ items................ yes.. a database should be in order.... though I don't know how to do them.. sawwy

save each as an array in javascript and then use regular expressions to search. thats my idea.
-dk

okay...thankx for that.

anyone with any ideas of how best to get started, even quotes for making something of this nature, approximate timespan involved and skills needed for completion, all the details you can give me really...could really use a hand here guys!!

thankx

dk...just seen your message, could you please elaborate on that? i've used javascripts, but not in this fashion, explain the basics if you have time?

I could probably develop this system for you (or give you some pointers if you know PHP/MySQL).

If I've got this right, when the three selections are made, you would want all the items for each of them shown, so if I chose Hiking, Polar, Spring, all the Spring items would be listed, all the polar items would be listed and all the hiking items would be lisited. Is that correct?

If so, I could develop this for £35. This would include the database backend, an administrative system and the frontend system you have developed. The approx time frame would be less than 1 month.

Let me know if you are interested or would like any more information.

many thankx for your input david.

the idea is slightly more complicated. the idea was that the bottom frame would automatically refresh each time a selection was made, not after all three and a submit.

the bottom frame would start out as a complete list, and, as different selections were made, cut itsself down automatically according to the selections made.

i do not know php or mysql...keep meaning to learn them at some point.

your idea is correct however, if spring, polar and hiking were selected, then these items would be shown. would it, however, be possible to make this more "complicated?" having the spring, polar and hiking interrelated so that spring appeared differently if polar was selected? so spring would be different with polar than with mediterranean?

is this getting a little ahead of myself and too complicated?

we would definately be interested, and any more information is greatly appreciated. please feel free to email me on dave@safariquip.co.uk

Well I was thinking js would be sufficient but now I think to store the data a plain text would just be really awful because it would be sooooo slow. Plus people without javascript would not be able to see it. I am not very good with php/mysql so I couldn't help you there really. I would take the time to explain why exactly i have gone back on my original post suggesting javascript but it is too technical and might cause you some confusion. If I would you I would contract someone to write this in php/mysql as it would be a hard project to take on with no prior knowledge of the two.
-dk

Just to let you know I sent you an e-mail Dave

email is waiting for me at work david, many thankx. i'll get back to you soon as i can. in a minor crisis at home at the mo...so that needs sorting before i go anywhere / do anything...tally ho!

thankx