Tables, Can I enter a reference instead of data into a cell? Options

[James]

I am using HTML tables to display my price lists on the site I am building ( http://www.warural.com.au/prices-computers.html )

As i was slavishly entering product codes, product descriptions, brands, prices into the cells, ie between the <td></td> tags, it ocurred to me that I will have to do this all over again next week when the prices change, as they do often, these days.

Can I code the table just once, and instead of typing data into the cells, insert a reference to some other place where the cell can fetch its data from?

For example, if I could access a spreadsheet, the contents of a table cell displaying price might contain something like this (in pseudocode):

<td>prices.csv/sheet1.C6</td>
and cell C6 on the spreadsheet called "prices" might contain something like: "$125.50"

I am reasonably sure i can download price lists from my wholesalers in CSV, Excel, or some other format I can manipulate, and it would be great if i could just upload my new price list, overwriting the old one, rather than to have to edit the HTML code on a regular basis.

Can I do this?

Kind regards, James

[Peter1968]

Dare I throw vogue words at you, but I will anyway - "database-driven solutions."

Then, instead of manually changing oodles of cells, you could simply run a bunch of INSERT SQL queries, and have an updated catalogue.

There's a few out there that are GPLed software, so if you Google for "online store software" or the like, you may find something for your needs.

Oh yeah, it's "prices" too, not what you have on that page. Just a heads up.

This post has been edited by Peter1968: Apr 29 2007, 04:26 AM

[James]

Dare I throw vogue words at you, but I will anyway - "database-driven solutions."

Then, instead of manually changing oodles of cells, you could simply run a bunch of INSERT SQL queries, and have an updated catalogue.

There's a few out there that are GPLed software, so if you Google for "online store software" or the like, you may find something for your needs.

Oh yeah, it's "prices" too, not what you have on that page. Just a heads up.

Hmmmmmmmmm!

When I was at Uni we did databases too, and lots of SQL queries, but I was hoping not to have to re-learn yet another skill set - I am having enough trouble polishing up my Web design (HTML & CSS) skills.

thanks verymuch for taking the time to reply and I will probably follow your advice in the long term, but for the moment it seems that I will be manually updating the tables for a little while to come.

Many thanks, James

[Christian J]

for the moment it seems that I will be manually updating the tables

How are the prices organized "off-line"? Maybe there's an easy way to create a table around that.

[exentrix.]

Check one of these out.

http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Scripts_and_...alls/index.html

Edit:

Just thought i'd clarify. You probably won't have to learn any new skills; simply install an appopriate script and configure it to match your needs. You won't actually be coding anything complicated yourself.

This post has been edited by exentrix.: Apr 29 2007, 08:34 AM

[Brian Chandler]

for the moment it seems that I will be manually updating the tables

How are the prices organized "off-line"? Maybe there's an easy way to create a table around that.

Or just use a standard system like osCommerce??

[James]

for the moment it seems that I will be manually updating the tables

How are the prices organized "off-line"? Maybe there's an easy way to create a table around that.

Hi christian (and thanks to you others who replied).

"How are the prices organized "off-line"? " - well, one supplier will send me Excel spreadsheet prices. Another uses HTML tables themselves, online. Some will allow csv downloads. I have yet to contact the rest.

Many thanks. James

[Darin McGrew]

well, one supplier will send me Excel spreadsheet prices. Another uses HTML tables themselves, online. Some will allow csv downloads.

BTDTGTTS. Pick a format that works for you. Then figure out how to convert the other formats automatically into the format you chose. Data entry sucks; you need to automate this step.

Eventually, you might even "allow" them to update their own data in your system using your preferred format. Good luck.