NOT GETTING VERY FAR
My goal is to set up a product catalog for a small camera store building on the basic approach discussed in this post, but I’m not getting very far...
WHAT'S NEEDED
The client would like to show “suggested items” that work with specific cameras and specific accessories (like the big sites do).
There will eventually be many products, models and kits listed and these products will change over time.
There could be dozens of related products for a given product, in many different categories, like memory cards, flashes, lenses, filters, etc. for a specific camera. Or specific filters, lens caps, and accessories that work with a specific lens.
These relationships and products will also change over time and the client needs to be able to manage everything easily and intuitively.
FIRST APPROACH
One thought is to set up a multi-record editor for each of the main product categories (initially Cameras, Lenses, Filters Memory Cards, Batteries, Flashes, and Lighting) and then create specific product records for each product in the appropriate main category editor.
I could then set up multi-value pulldown lists in each of those editors that pulls the individual product titles from each of the other databases, and then use those to set up the related products lists on the detail pages.
IT’S A MESS
I mocked up a few products and some relationships and it’s become really messy.
If a product category gets added it seems (with my limited programming knowledge) that it would have to be manually added to each editor and then to each viewer.
Products need to be entered in ascending hierarchical order (batteries before cameras) or there are no batteries to assign to a camera.
Any name changes in a previously used title field results in a “Previous selection,( no longer in list)” issue. This could prove very confusing to the client.
And on... And on...
That's when I decided that there must be a better way.
HELP
I was hoping that someone might have some thoughts about a more realistic approach to use in setting up the databases and viewers for a project like this?
Thanks,
Jerry Kornbluth
The first CMS Builder reference book is now available on-line!
Take advantage of a free 3 month trial subscription, only for CMSB users, at: http://www.thecmsbcookbook.com/trial.php