Re: PHP and databases? ...without MySQL and such

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

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