Creating an index.html file for each user which is updated only when they choose it to be sounds like the best way to me, because you only have to serve an HTML page and theres no Database or FSO overhead involved.
HTH Sam ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Alexander" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "ActiveServerPages" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:50 AM Subject: Database vs. TextFile for storage > Hi, > > I have a few questions about storing information in a > .txt file rather than my database (or a little of > both). Let me explain: > > > (The site is an online community) > > -- I'm working to create a simple feature for my site > that will allow my members to create their own 'page' > on the site. The page will consist of some dynamic > data (profile information taken from the database -- > and formatted identically for each user) and I'd also > like to give them the option to create their own > 'message' for the meat of the page. I might even > allow a few HTML tags with their text (right now I > filter out all HTML/Script tags before inserting in to > the database, but the way the function is designed, I > have the ability to pick and choose which tags are > allowed to pass -- ie. <ahref=""></a> tags are > currently allowed) > > Also, I'm planning on using the FileSystem to create > new a directory with the users name > (http://members.mixedrace.com/USERNAME) so that they > can send the link out to friends -- and draw people to > the site. To do this (unless I find another way), I'd > have to use the filesystem object to create a new > directory with the user's name, and then create a > simple HTML filed called index.asp and put it inside > every user's folder. The text file would probably > just contain a 'response.redirect' to a dynamic page > that would process the username and load the dynamic > info for that user. > > Sounds simple enough and I know exactly how to do it, > ... I'm just wondering about a few things: > > 1) a) If I allow the user to add up to 8000 > characters (or whatever the varchar limit is) for > their text, wouldn't my database start getting really > big really quickly (and slowing down?) > > or > > b) is text in a database compressed once inside? > (would 8000 chars take up the equivilent database > space as a .txt file with 8000 chars would take up in > disk space?) > > 2) Considering that these pages would become a > popular part of the site, wouldn't it become really > taxing on the database to send this 8000 char message > along with all the profile information for every user > / for every page view? (although I suppose it's > really just the same as serving articles) > > 3) Would I be better served to use the FileSystem > object to write the message to a .txt or HTML file and > the either: > a) store the message / profile info in the > database as well and use it to create/update a HTML > page located in the user's directory ONLY when the > page changes (is updated)? > > or > > b) only write the information to a .txt file in > the user's directory. Have the HTML page, also in > their directory, either do a fileread or include to > get the message directly for the disk -- and do a > fileread/include to load the information back in to a > textbox when the user wants to update their page? > > > > ----------- > > I know that's a lot to swallow, ... but I hope that > someone out their can help me out! > > Thanks A LOT! > > Andy > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More > http://faith.yahoo.com > > --- > You are currently subscribed to activeserverpages as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to %%email.unsub%% --- You are currently subscribed to activeserverpages as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
