[thelist] XML as poor man's database?

[Tom Schmidt]

Thank you!
Great info, and although we will be small fish in the internet fry, glad no
one here scoffs at that.

Tom
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Groen" <evolt at markgroen.com>
To: <thelist at lists.evolt.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2006 10:56 PM
Subject: Re: [thelist] XML as poor man's database?


> On Sat, 2006-01-28 at 20:18 -0600, Tom Schmidt wrote:
>
> > I am using Typepad as my blogging service.  I am not sure what server or
> > access to server side scripting they offer.  My plan is to simply use
what
> > they call "advanced template set" and insert some fairly basic html,
with
> > access to a PayPal shopping cart.  That way all the secure work on
> > transactions are not handled by me, for a nominal percentage of the
sales.
>
> A good way to go imho, doesn't sound like you will be selling a
> gazillion widgets a day. Paypal works pretty good now a days, buyers no
> longer need to create an account, just have a credit card and it's like
> any other shopping cart with the exception that the buyer will be asked
> if they would prefer to create an account to make future on-line
> shopping more secure, easier, etc...afaik, that wee bit of sales pitch
> for their product on their part has not kept any sales from me.
>
> > Being somewhat of a perfectionist, I just despise the idea of anything
> > hard-coded into my web page's html.  That was where I thought xml might
be
> > my solution given the limitations of the blog service I have.  Minus of
> > course my concerns.
>
> Use the encrypted feature for the Paypal "buttons" wizard, you have to
> put *something* on your html page, or their won't be anything to see or
> click on! With encryption, not only is your information unreadable if
> someone uses "view source", they won't be able to change it either
> without a red flag going off at Paypal.
>
> Typepad knows that users want to do stuff like this, imho there are some
> pretty nice people working over there, so if you have problems asking on
> their forum etc. will get you answers pretty quick.
>
> Here's how to include the extra wee bit of html code that Paypal will
> supply you with, when you use the Paypal button maker or shopping cart,
> to cut and paste into your Typepad Notes TypeList item:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cv2ew
>
> > Just in case I am able to use php or some other server side scripting (I
> > have never used that btw), is there a good resource where I can learn
the
> > basics?  Web site, book, etc.?
>
> iirc, you won't be able to use ssi etc. with them, javascript and the
> type of html that you need for paypal buttons are okay.
>
> As others have/will mention, the communal libraries that have grown
> along with good old reading the manual at php.net will get you a long
> way. Google on a local "php user group" (PUG) and append your city name
> to that, there is sure to be a group of people near you that get
> together and talk php on a more personal level, a great way to get a
> hand up in a hurry.
>
> There are lots of web hosting solutions out there that are fairly run
> that will give you full php and mysql access for under $10 a month, (not
> a shameless plug for myself really, but...)
>
> www.webhostingtalk.com is a fine place to separate the wheat from the
> chaff. Almost every host gets good and bad reviews, but after a while
> you'll get to recognize the really good ones repeating. Go with the ones
> that don't "oversell", there's an article on the site for that or
> Google.
>
> have fun!
>
> -- 
> cheers,
>
>         Mark
>
> -- 
>
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