I think storing text in the database is the best option. Following are the things I did consider to come up with this openion
1. Size of data (Text file is likely to take more Disk Space than smae text stored in a Varcha field considering Compression) 2. The number of files opend in your Web server. 3. Managing content. (File deletion Vs. Record deletion) 4. Risk of end user posting Melicious code to your web server. Etc,. HTH Cheers Kumi Kuminda Chandimith Sr. Technical Consultant Ducont.com FZ-LLC Tel: + 971-4-3913000 Ext 237 Fax: +971-4-3913001 http://www.ducont.com -----Original Message----- From: Andy Alexander [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 15 October 2002 17:17 To: ActiveServerPages Subject: Re: Database vs. TextFile for storage 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!? 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]
