Website database advise

[Betty]

I know what I want to do - or hire someone to do - but I'm not sure how to go about it.

I want a website that someone can log into via username and password and view how many points they have.

On the backend, I want a database that I can have an employee log into weekly and update how many points someone has.

Is that a pretty straight forward thing? Through my hosting I have access to SQL and PHP databases but haven't worked with either of those. I also see perl, ruby and php pear as software/services available.

The guy that was referred to me through a coworker is trying to sell me on some monthly plan based in loyalty/gift cards that I'm not really going for - although after seeing a demo later this week that may change if they can make it do what I want.

I would love to be able to put a label on this and then hire someone who does THAT and not someone who's trying to fit our idea into whatever vendor they are doing business with at the moment.

In my mind this is a pretty simply and straightforward thing - but havent experience in coding of that sort I have no real idea. (I design websites using Dreamweaver and photoshop and know the basics of html but would have a hard time coding with notepad.)

Any suggestions? Points in the right direct? Referrals to your great guy/gal that does this and has it all set up to install and go?

Thanks for your egg-heady help. :)

[Ghoulish Delight]

If that's really all you want out of it, there are dozens of options out there with the capability, but I doubt there's anything that JUST does that. If you want to go with something pre-packaged, ready to install, it would probably be a matter of finding something and stripping everything else out.

For example, it could be done with vBulletin (the software the LoT runs on). Just disable all users' ability to post, don't create any forums, set the home page of each user to go straight to their control panel which would be set to display their reputation points (mojo) and have whoever is authorized as an adminsitrator use the reputation system to give out the points.

I imagine phpbb, which is free, could be tweaked in a similar fashion.

Of course, it's massive overkill for the job, but really, just about anything will be. What you're asking for really is the absolute base functionality of any database-driven system. Anyne with webbased databae development experience should be able to throw it together for you in no time.

[Betty]

I see where you're going there... mojo won't quite work the same.

Also - the people that are checking their points don't work for me. They are referral partners. They refer people that buy and they get points they can redeem for x, y, or z.

When I mentioned I need it to JUST that - I guess I didn't mean it quite the way you took it. It can do whatever else comes with it - in my mind it was JUST that simple.

This will also have a pretty front page and usual web site pages.

In my master plan, everything would be set up and all my employee would have to do is have a csv or xl file and just upload that. That would be the time effective way to update points I'm thinking. But a web based system would also work if it could be done in a one page update. I would prefer to not have to log in to each referral partners account and update them one by one.

Thank you very much or your quick response.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I wasn't actually suggesting vB as the solution, just using an example I know well to illustrate how it's possible to "dumb down" an otherwise overpowered solution to fit your needs.

The question for the csv/xl file solution would be, how is that file generated? Do you already have a database with the referral information being tracked? If so, you may be able to cut that step out and just have that database export directly into the reward point soultion.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

If you have PHP running on your server it's more likely that you are running MySQL rather than (MS)SQL.

Projects like the one you are describing are the type of sites I build on a regular basis for clients. I work extensively with PHP/MySQL and am very experienced at setting up user account systems and other similar things. PM me if you'd like a quote :)

K Builds Your .com (http://kbuildsyour.com)

[innerSpaceman]

Hahahahahaha, a site that's pretty much RAD in general. OMG, laughing too hard for LOL.

[keith - SuPeR K!]

Hahahahahaha, a site that's pretty much RAD in general. OMG, laughing too hard for LOL.

My business site/page amuses me as well... There are more amusements and inside jokes in the actual source code.

[Betty]

Make my site rad SuPeR K! :)

(and yes it is MySQL that's available.)