site design II - databasing it

Hi again,

I've  taken all the helpful advice and comments into consideration.  Thanks
to all who responded.  As always, this list continues to inspire my belief
in community support and encouragement.

As a temporary measure, I intend to develop sub-directories according to
'category' for our site.  I say 'temporary' because it's getting clear that
a database system is our best option in the long run.

For various reasons, I want to set up the initial database in MS Access.  I
don't want to lock myself into an Access/ASP structure, though.  I would
prefer (in line with the majority of recommendations made in this list) to
take the MySQL/PHP route.  I will be teaching myself relational databases on
the fly and have yet to learn  C, C++, Perl or VB.  I understand that I need
to become multi-lingual when operating a test-bed server.

We aren't talking a huge database at this stage.  I know what I want it to
do; I am still figuring out how to do it in the most logical, effective and
efficient manner.

Are there any issues I should be aware of in converting the database from
Access to MySQL or am I kidding myself?  How important is it (at this early
developmental phase) to _know_ any of the languages specified above?  Or
should I start learning how to beg at a bank so that I can afford to pay one
of you to do it for me <grin>?

Also, I am running Win98 on a HP Pavilion 8630 with an Athlon 700 CPU and
128 MB RAM.  I have no choice about the operating system; it came with the
computer and is automatically installed with the HP Recovery disks.  What
kind of server can I install on this system (if this is possible) to test my
on-line database?

Time isn't critical (well, not for the next six months at least), so I do
have some time to develop the necessary skills.  Money is critical - I don't
have any. Our publishing enterprise devoured all our cash a few years ago
and my wife had to get a second job to pay our bills (but that's another
story).

Look forward to your replies.

Henry John Boleszny
 Partner
 Sea Eagle Publications
 ABN 24 604 217 122

E-mail:         seaeagle(at)one.net.au
Web:           http://www.seaeagle.aunz.com/
Phone/Fax:  (07) 5529 2661
Mail/Locale: 1/9 Possum Court, Coombabah QLD 4216, Australia

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