MySQL to V8

[carbon-design]

Hi

Just looking for some advice please. Just taken on a project to develop a site using a clients existing mysql database.

Currently the client has a php based shopping cart driven by the database which they can simply update with stock and products. In turn this updates the site.

For seo purposes and marketing I'm looking to develop a new Actinic V8 site but need to retain the original mysql database.

I have looked briefy into the 'External Links' section in V8 and read a few posts on the forum. Just wondering if anyone can point me to a tutorial or offer any advice to help my project. Is it advisable to run Actinic in this way to be live updated by stock changes through mysql?

Any help or advice much appreciated.

[cdicken]

If the MySQL database has an ODBC interface then Actinic should be able to pull in all the product information from it via 'File | External Links'.

The help does contain lots of notes and things to check - in the section called 'Advanced Details About External Linking'

[wjcampbe]

to be live updated by stock changes through mysql

You won't get live updates (dynamic changes on the website). Actinic will pull the data down to the desktop Access database, but the static web pages will only update when you upload from within Actinic.

You can set automatic downloading of orders and re-uploading of the website using a series of command line instructions (an old fashioned batch file).

[Joff01]

Hi Bill,

I think you've answered my question on this thread.

So when linking to MySQL, does Actinic query the DB when a page is requested...
..and when making changes via the offline Catalog editor, synchronises between local and live?

[wjcampbe]

Actinic will not query an online database when the page is requested - it will show the static page that was uploaded from the desktop database.

Actinic in normal operation updates the desktop database when you download orders to the desktop. If you have linked to an external database then I would expect that external link to override the changes Actinic makes - in other words - the external link to an incorrect quantity figure will screw up Actinic's efforts to correctly maintain stock.

The added value that an online MYSQL database can provide would centre more around providing a "previously bought" history etc through secondary software rather than a means of changing how Actinic operates.

The product quantity and other internal Actinic data is best kept current by frequent order download/site upload cycles.

[Jan]

If you have linked to an external database then I would expect that external link to override the changes Actinic makes - in other words - the external link to an incorrect quantity figure will screw up Actinic's efforts to correctly maintain stock.

This isn't true, external linking works both ways so when the orders are downloaded the external database is updated.

You can link to MySQL, I have done this in the past.

To update stock levels on the website you have to download orders to update the offline levels and then upload the website to update online levels.

Regards,

[wjcampbe]

This isn't true

Jan,

Thanks for correcting me - linking may be more valuable than I had assumed.

(That will teach me not to answer without testing first :-))

[Jan]

Sorry Bill, didn't mean it to sound like a contradiction, I'm very fond of external linking, it was one of things I worked on when I worked for Actinic years ago. It is useful, but does slow things down quite a bit, especially if you link to something like excel.

Regards,

[Mike Hughes]

does slow things down quite a bit, especially if you link to something like excel.

Mutter, grumble....

Mike

[wjcampbe]

Jan,

No problem. You clarified the operation both for me and the original poster. I welcome the opportunity to continue learning.

[chris ashdown]

Jan

As I am running 7 sites now with all items showing on the main site and selected items showing on the secondary sites, would it be a big job to use a outside database (I have Access 2000 But not experienced in using it apart from verry basic operations) and what effects would it have on my day to day operations

I do not use stock control, but see massive advantages in just maintaining on database
Using V8.3 Multi-User

Are we talking big bucks to set up or is it possible to do myself with a helping hand

[chris ashdown]

Furthet to above

is it possible to link the secondary sites to the main one for product info etc as they all have the same ref names for the same product

Instead of linking all the time is it possible just to do it on demand as it were (whenever we change prices)

[fatoftheland]

Would it not be easier to build the products from the mysql database, either by linking it or exporting it to csv and then importing. You only really need live access for stock control. Probably better to hold this in a separate database and just link the order downloads to this stock control DB. You then do not have to worry about updating products and uploading over and over to keep stocking levels correct, merely look at the external stock control db to establish what is running low on stock?

[Jan]

Chris, it is easy to set up external linking, you just point Actinic at the database and tell it which fields to set link. You won't need any help.

You can't link to an Actinic database, but if you want to link several databases to the same external databases you can, and it should just work.

Regards,

[chris ashdown]

Thanks Jan, its something I had overlooked for years and only woken up to this thread

I have noticed some threads on poor performance with the linked database's do you think this is something I should stand back on at present and wait a few more months (couple of versions) before I try it ?

Check this out at work on Sunday Morning!!