Hey,

 

I am looking to start a website which contains some basic information about Scottish footballers. I'm not sure if this should be in the Front End forum but it is a bit in the middle.

 

The database would be updated fairly frequently (multiple times a week) to keep on top of goals, assists etc. I am not particularly keen on using MySQL or messing about with the more complicated database software, I am more looking for something simple (nothing more complicated than Microsoft Access really) which can handle the basic database features and is easy. I am fairly comfortable with MySQL because I have done the basics at Uni but multiple people will have access to the database so it can't be complicated for them.

 

The database would need to be outputted somewhere on a website and dynamically update. Nothing fancy, just as long as I can choose which fields and which sets I could show on a page. For example, I could choose to show "Aberdeen" players' Age, Nationality and Goals, or "Celtic" players' Assists, Position and Height.

 

Is there a software which could do all this? I was trying to find a plugin that would do something like this in WordPress however my search turned up empty.

 

An example (albeit way more in-depth than I would need) is here: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/niall-mcginn/profil/spieler_68321.html

 

Many thanks,

Keith.

Edited January 23, 201412 yr by KeithyDee

Here's an idea for keeping it simple: Use Google Documents/Spreadsheet for user contributions, exports these as CSV (say twice a week) to a Wordpress table plugin which supports CSV input. I figure more of your user base will be familiar with excel than Wordpress.

 

I can't say I've seen many/any football specific plugins/widgets except for scores and fixtures.

I think for speed and usability you are better of putting all those stats into a database such as MYSQL because using documents will be a real big hassle because i can see your database growing very fast especially with historical data!

 

Mysql database can be as simple or as complicated as you like depending on your need or expertise...

Have you written a spec sheet out?

 

Have a look at the Football Manager game and you can get more ideas from there on how to display stats etc..

I've dabbled with the idea of CSV uploads before but it really isn't functional enough, because football games happen throughout the week I don't particularly want to update a miniscule amount of data and have to keep uploading a CSV. Dynamically updating would be ideal, but if nothing else shows up then it might have to be CSV.

 

Is there some sort of way which would allow users to login to access a database editor without going through cPanel or whatever? Something like this: http://sourceforge.net/projects/va-database/. Complicated SQL editors are out of the question but something simple to the extent where it's basically a spreadsheet would be great.

 

And after setting up the actual database, what's the best way to export the data onto the website?

If you want something very easy to use, install MYSQL Workbench, it will help you if you are more of a GUI person

 

http://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/

Edited January 23, 201412 yr by inlinedivblock

> multiple people will have access to the database

 

You will need to write revision control and/or content locking during edit into your application if using going down the MySQL route, you still won't have collaborative editting like with Google Documents. I definitely would not give two or more Uni students access to the same MySQL database using a MySQL administrators GUI.

 

> have to keep uploading a CSV. Dynamically updating would be ideal

 

Also possible with Google Documents.

Edited January 23, 201412 yr by PipeTenHostingCarl

ExpressionEngine may be a good fit here.

 

You could set up any amount of custom fields to hold your data, and easily choose to show whatever data sets you wanted on whatever page types you need. Also it's straightforward to import CSV data with the handy Datagrab addon, that would write new data to your database and automatically update your site.

 

Using your example data you'd probably take this approach:

 

Data setup

 

1. Player data channel custom fields

- name

- height

- bio

- position

 

2. Player data channel category groups

- category group for teams

- category group for nationalities

 

3. Match results data channel custom fields

- date

- home team (value taken from team categories)

- away team (value taken from team categories)

- home goals data grid (player, goals, goal times)

- away goals data grid (player, goals, goal times)

- match report if you wanted etc

 

 

Once you've got your data structure in place you can then manipulate it in many ways:

 

List all teams (as a category list)

List all players in a team (category entries view)

List player detail

- pull in player details, bio, age etc

- list matches they played in (taking data from Match results), how many goals they scored etc

- list total goals (taking data from Match results and doing a total)

List all players by nationality (as a category list)

List all "welsh" goalkeepers by pulling in player data and nationality category

 

...that's just a few examples

Why not use MySQL with your own admin panel, so all of the "contributors" can login change what they want then logout, this sort of thing could be made in less then a week. I see no point in making over complicated CSV import/export programs when you can make a phpmyadmin like admin panel repetitively easily

Why not use MySQL with your own admin panel, so all of the "contributors" can login change what they want then logout, this sort of thing could be made in less then a week. I see no point in making over complicated CSV import/export programs when you can make a phpmyadmin like admin panel repetitively easily

 

The thing I was concerned about with this approach was multiple people (his uni mates) updating either during or immediately after matches (based on experience from hosting fantasy sports websites), which without version/revision control or locking will result in updates being overwritten and contributors/admin having more not less load. More a case of shifting complexity to the method and away from the input, but was just an idea.

That's the thing, it's not a simple solution. I think undoubtedly the SQL/PHP route is the most efficient but managing it and having mulitple users may complicate it. I'll have to look into EE and Google Docs so thanks for your answers

 

I found this, do you guys think it could do the job?

 

http://codecanyon.net/item/xcrud-data-management-system-php-crud/3215400

 

Has a WordPress plugin as well which may be nice, I am by far and away more experienced with WordPress than any other CMS.

Mysql database can be as simple it is the most efficient and managing data base for the purpose of all benificial site ,,,,,

Hi!

 

Sorry if this answer comes too late, but I'll post it anyway, just in case you haven't solve your problem yet. Maybe your needs are much more demanding than what this service can offer, but then again maybe they are not.

Anyway - I think that you could use dbBee. It is a free, simple and easy web service that does exactly what you described that you need. You can find more info at http://www.dbbee.com/

I must say that I am a member of dbBee support team, but I guess you would not mind me answering your question.

 

Best regards,
Faik, dbBee Support

Hi!

 

Sorry if this answer comes too late, but I'll post it anyway, just in case you haven't solve your problem yet. Maybe your needs are much more demanding than what this service can offer, but then again maybe they are not.

Anyway - I think that you could use dbBee. It is a free, simple and easy web service that does exactly what you described that you need. You can find more info at http://www.dbbee.com/

I must say that I am a member of dbBee support team, but I guess you would not mind me answering your question.

 

Best regards,

Faik, dbBee Support

You'll have more luck posting in active threads, rather than posting in year+ old ones.