Databasing Help for a real beginner - HTML Forums

dockster · 01-27-2012, 10:46 PM

So trying to create a wedding website with RSVP functionality. I've looked at using a 3rd party site but can't find one that does what I want it to do. I'm not a programmer and thus need all the guidance possible. If what I want to accomplish is very difficult, please let me know. But I am willing to learn and willing to figure it out and put the time in etc. Thanks in advance.

What I Want:
1.Guest receives invitation with a "code". One code per family but which may include multiple individuals:
2. Guest goes to website. Enters code in form. Site displays Guests' info (Names, lists events they are invited to).

Guest Info would be each individual name listed, along with YES/NO drop down options for each guest for each event (this is an Indian wedding with 3 - 4 events).

User submits form. My database (or a new database) gets updated with the user submitted info. This part I'm even ok with it just sending me an email with all the info.

It sounds sophisticated, and it is, but I do want to know how this can be accomplished. I want to go green, reduce paper, etc and avoid paper RSVPs.

I do not know how to program SQL, etc etc, so any and all help is appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Reiss · 02-01-2012, 10:01 AM

this is very simple to achieve with a little PHP & a MySQL database.
I'd suggest you either hire someone to write you the code, learn the basics and get help here along the way or maybe some kind sole here can write it for you.
Do you at least know basic HTML & CSS?

Reiss · 02-01-2012, 10:18 AM

to give you a basic example -
you would need to have a database with 1 table, lets call it people_events.

people_events would hold several columns, the basics could be -

id | fname | lname | event_name | attending

an example entry -

1 | John | Smith | Jane's birthday | No

When you send an invite, your link could look something like -

http://www.mywebsite.com/events.php?id=1

Now you would use PHP to fetch the id from the URL and search the database for that id -

PHP Code:


			
$person_id = (int)$_GET['id'];

$query = "SELECT fname, lname, event_name, attending FROM people_events WHERE id = $person_id LIMIT 1";

Use HTML to build your form, they choose whether they are attending or not form a drop down, form gets submitted, PHP updates the database for that user id.....simples

bigcat1967 · 02-19-2012, 03:22 PM

I don't want to take away from Reiss here - but I outsource a lot of my tech work through ODesk dot com. Very cheap and usually good once you find the right people.