Help on databases

[gntombel]

I'm not used to database systems but I have thousands of pictures to give as an option to users. My idea was to present these images in a drop-down list and when the user select the image from the drop-down then that particular image is loaded for the user to see.

I would like to know as to how I can go about achieving this. I already have image names in x-cel format.

Thanks...

[webado]

I'm not used to database systems but I have thousands of pictures to give as an option to users. My idea was to present these images in a drop-down list and when the user select the image from the drop-down then that particular image is loaded for the user to see.

I would like to know as to how I can go about achieving this. I already have image names in x-cel format.

Thanks...
Will your drop down list contain thousands of entries? thats's not exactly feasible, is it?

You need an indexing scheme to break them into categories and subcategories. There are many ways of doing this.

Is there any reason you're not using any image gallery packages? Lots of free ones ot there, and you can cofigure them pretty easily. Your server will need to support MySql databases and PHP usually.

To come back to your original question, you can start by organizing your images by categories and subcategories into folders and subfolders corresponding to these, so it becomes lots easier to handle, whether database driven or just dynamically accessing the proper folder and image from a few choices. You can code the logic in PHP or even javascript to build pathnames for files from the values input in an html form.

[gntombel]

Hi Chrisooc,

Your lat paragraph seems to be what I'm looking for. Do you mind if you can extend your explanation based on the last paragraph as I don't have access to mySQl.

Your further elaboration willbe much appreciated.

[webado]

Hi Chrisooc,

Your lat paragraph seems to be what I'm looking for. Do you mind if you can extend your explanation based on the last paragraph as I don't have access to mySQl.

Your further elaboration willbe much appreciated.
Hmmm, we'll have to continue this tomorrow because it's now after 2 am here and I'm sort of way past my bedtime.

[motorwatchercounter]

Due to the large number you have, whatever system you use you will have 2 basic options. One; to search on key words. Two; to categorise and therefore drill down options. Without SQL this may be a problem but there are way's.

Dealing with number 2 first, once you have the main categorys in a drop down or link this will take you to a sub category page until you get a number of images that can be handled. Each link or drop down can then bring up the image.

If you have CGI usage you may be able to do it using CSVsearch www.ezscripting.co.uk/csvsearch/ (It is free by the way). Having the images in Excel (?) helps. Expand the columns to have the key words in and make the image a link to the image(s) page. You will have to save this as a CSV text file but Excel can do this for you anyway. Searching a keyword will then bring up images.

SQL and PHP is the answer but if you do not have it (!)

[gntombel]

I'm currently planning to up-grade my system such that it supports SQL and PHP. So after getting this sorted how am I gonna go about carrying this task or where can I get support about working with those things.

Thanks

[paulzon]

By "my system", do you mean that you are running your own server? or do you mean a third party webhost who supports PHP / SQL? (you should give more detail in your questions!) www.4homepages.de offers a very good free PHP / mySQL based image gallery management system.

Paul www.zonicweb.net

[motorwatchercounter]

Use a search engine to find a script that suits you requirements and pocket.

For starters have a look at the following;

http://www.onlyscripts.com/pages/PHP/PHP_Scripts/Image_Galleries/index.html