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You can see another example of database driven content by clicking on the image
from the Graywolf Designs shown on the right.
The Graywolf Designs Samples page is also a single page written in php.
It was designed so that all of the text, images, links, as well as the menus,
are all generated based on information stored in a MySQL database.
This particular page can be used to display a list of sub-categories, or
details on a single item with that item able to be displayed in one of
several different formats. For instance, the Graywolf Designs
Promotional
Materials sample page shows a list of Promotional sub-categories.
If you click on one of the sub-categories such as
Direct
Mail Postcards, then that same webpage is used to display information
in a different format. Similarly, the
Multi-page
Menus also have their own specific format.
The advantage of driving the content from a database using one or more pages
written in php is that when either Visionary Fusion Glass Works or Graywolf
Designs wants to update images of their work, change text, or even add a
whole new category of images; it's simply a matter of uploading the images and
adding the associated information in the database. No new pages to create, or
menus to alter. Quick, Simple, Timely, and Cost Effective.
 Data Collection
A database coupled with php can also be used to store data collected provided
by visitors to your website. A simple example would be the contact page
for the Chippy the Clown website. Whenever anybody sends a message using
Chippy's contact page, basic editing is done to insure that the page isn't blank
and that some contact information has been provided.
If it passes these edit checks, in addition to sending the email, the php code
also writes the information collected to a database. This information can
then be used with several password protected webpages for promotion tracking and
performance scheduling purposes.
Taking this one step further, this feature allows applications to be
developed where the client can update the content directly. Think of how
easy this makes it to update your portfolio of work,
the products you offer, or your on-line listing of upcoming events
and promotions.
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