Hi all.

I need to pick your brains. I am investigating the feasibility of setting up a commercial directory website for the area I live in, with businesses paying an annual fee for inclusion. Part of my study is to see how such a site would be set up and maintained. To my way of thinking a simple HTML site with a home page linking to a seperate page for each category of business (e,g. Hairdressers, Car Mechanics, Bookmakers etc.) perhaps with sub-sections (Ladies Hairdressers, Men's Hairdressers etc.) containing lists of the businesses and incorporate a Site Search facility. I would also need an application form for businesses to join. Am I being too simplistic here? Has anyone any experience of a similar kind of website? Any suggestions as to sources for Forms and Search facilities? I can find a number of these on a Google search, but don't know which are reliable. Is there any way that, as businesses are added to a listing, they could be sorted in alphabetical order (though I guess that if I used an unordered list, this would not be too much of a problem)?

I have a reasonable and growing knowledge of HTML and CSS and I am not keen to get in to PHP etc.!

I know I am asking a lot, but any help would be much appreciated.

scouser

website: http://www.mouseonthemove.co.uk
blog: http://websitewoes.blogspot.com

I am not keen to get in to PHP etc.!

Well, if you're not prepared to put in a little learning time it may be a huge uphill struggle to get this project off the ground!

What you're describing is a website driven by database data sometimes known as a database "back end" or dynamic driven website. The best (free) way to do this is to use PHP and MySql. A site put together using free/nearly free search and form scripts will show. In other words it will look as though you've just used free/nearly free scripts and I'm not sure that'll work well for attracting clients!

The best resource for getting started in PHP and MySql is Kevin Yanks book "Build your own database driven website using php and mysql" (Does exactly what it says on the tin!). Visit www.sitepoint.com for further details. Sitepoint's forums are also an excellent resource for newbies and pros alike who use PHP.

A little time investment from you and you could make it work. You could of course hire a professional company to put the directory together for you. You got 10k lying around?

Good luck!

Thanks,chrisf. Point taken - it's just that I still haven't fully mastered HTML & CSS and I don't know if my poor old brain can take any more without imploding!!!

I'll take a good look at Sitepoint to see if I can get my head around it.

Do you know what? - I've forgotten where I put that 10K!!!!!!!!

Cheers.

scouser


Website:www.mouseonthemove.co.uk
Blog:http://websitesoes.blogspot.com