Tryangled Solutions web designing tips tricks

A database is a structure that comes in two flavors: a flat database and a relational database. A relational database is much more oriented to the human mind and is often preferred over the gabble-de-gook flat database that are just stored on hard drives like a text file. MySQL is a relational database.

In a relational structured database there are tables that store data. The columns define which kinds of information will be stored in the table. An individual column must be created for each type of data you wish to store (i.e. Age, Weight, Height).

On the other hand, a row contains the actual values for these specified columns. Each row will have 1 value for each and every column. For example a table with columns (Name, Age, Weight-lbs) could have a row with the values (Bob, 65, 165). If all this relational database talk is too confusing, don’t despair. We will talk about and show a few examples in the coming lessons.

Frequently we query our database for a value but then have to always do the same manipulation on it before we can use it. Well it can often be useful to do this “once” in the database and then store the manipulated value in a separate column of the database.

Here is a very simple example
INSERT INTO tbl_name (col1,col2) VALUES(15,col1*3.14159);

Where col2 is set to the value of col1*pi

You could also do more complex calculation/filtering/shortening in your code eg php,ASP etc

<maps.google.com>: What’s different? You can click-n-drag across the maps; fast magnification of specific spots along the map; satellite and hybrid images - all using Web 2.0

See these Google Maps mashups (web application hybrids):

* HousingMaps.com: marriage of Google Maps and Craigslist real estate postings
* Gmaps Pedometer | MapMyRun.com: virtual pedometer
* NYsee.net: traffic webcams
* Traffic info
* ChicagoCrime.org | NewHavenCrimeLog: track local crimes
* CellReception.com: cell towers near you
* HotOrNot + Google Maps
* MapYourAncestors.com
* LifeHack.org’s Google Maps resources
* Google Earth (PC and Mac, recently updated)
* Google Moon | Google Mars
* Read my column on creating your own Google Maps