If I do this, should I even put the text in the database? It seems like it would just be taking up space for no particular reason.
If I keep the actal text and the HTML page seperate (by writing the text to a file of it's own and then using <!-- include .... --> inside the HTML) I could also just include/read the text file when the user wanted to update. Other wise, I'd have the data stored in two places and that's really a pet peive of mine, ... what do you think? also what about scalability .. what if there are 30,000 page. would 30,000 -- which would take up more space, 30,000 text files with 8000 characters in them, .. or 30,000 entries in a database like this: Unique_ID INT User_ID INT Message VARCHAR(8000) And for that matter, which usually costs more, more disk space or more SQL database space? Wow, I'm just full of questions today! Andy --- Sam Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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.unsub%% __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? 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