ProjectsDB.System

From IT Ninja's

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Concepts 2.1 Initial Thoughts 2.2 Concept Mind Map 3 Research 3.1 Related Open Source Projects 4 Development 4.1 BACKEND 4.1.1 Database Design 4.1.2 Database Naming Convention 4.1.3 Required Tables 4.1.4 Physical File Store 4.2 CONNECTION AND QUERY 4.3 FRONTEND 4.3.1 GUI Sections and Features 4.3.2 Administration and Editing Functions 4.3.3 Development

Introduction

The IT Ninja's ProjectsDB.System strategy proposes to develop an Online Portfolio Database and web-based GUI facility. The initial target market for this system is for creative professionals such as Architects, Designers, and/or Photographers.

Concepts

Initial Thoughts

• The System should be developed in three distinct parts:

   1. BACKEND: The Database
   2. CONNECTION AND QUERY: The Scripts that connects to and queries the database.
   3. FRONTEND: The graphic user interface (web-based)

• The ProjectsDB.System will be based on a rational database structure.
• MySQL should be used for creation and maintenance of the database.
• The front-end should utilise PHP to connect to, and query, the MySQL database.
• A combination of PHP, HTML, XML, RSS, AJAX and CSS should also be utilised to generate the front-end GUI.
• A frontend template should be developed, this will allow various design layouts to be applied.

Concept Mind Map

Research

Related Open Source Projects

• indexified.org
• phpmyphotos
• Slimgallery
• EXIF Data Manager
• Pictag
• Gallery
• Coppermine Photo Gallery
• Moa Gallery
• Linpha
• FX Gallery
• MyPHPPictureGallery
• VGallery
• ThickBox Gallery
• freePHPGallery
• phpmygallery
• wPortfolio - worth a good look
• Camera Life - worth a good look
• SiteX
• Simple Templated PHP Image Gallery
• Simple Ajax Image Gallery

Development

BACKEND

The ProjectsDB.System backend will be created and maintained within a MySQL database.

Database Design

Tools:

• Mogwai Java Tools - Open Source Software
• DBDesigner-FORK - Open Source Software
• Altova UML Tool - Commercial Software
• Altova DatabaseSpy 2009 - Commercial Software

References:

• Worth having a look at this Database design guide.
• And from the same source, media:dbd.pdf is a good source for database design guidelines.
• Database design with UML and SQL, 3rd edition
• MtSQL Top 10 Best Practices

Database Naming Convention

1. Use of CamelCase Naming
2. Entries should be given descriptive names
3. All tables should have a common prefix, perhaps PDBS_

Required Tables

• Client

ClientID, Name, Discipline, Details, Logo,

• Project

ProjectID, Name, Description, LocationID, BeginDate, EndDate, ClientID, CategoryID, AwardsID, PhotosID, Keywords,

• Location

LocationID, Online Maps Reference, Street / Area, City / County,

• Categories

CategoryID, Type, aviation, city infill, commercial, competitions, conservation, education, furniture, identity, leisure, master planning, office, industrial, on-going, residential, small works, swimming pools,

• Photos

PhotosID, FileLocation, EXIF info, IPTC info, Title, Description, Date, Category, Notes,

• News

NewsID, DateID, Title, Summary, FullText, links,

• Press and Publications

PressID, DateID, Title, Summary, FileLink (PDF), External Link,

• Awards

AwardsID, Description, DateID, Category, links,

Physical File Store

• File Store

Image Store, range of image sizes,

• Document Store

Scans and pdf copies of publications etc

CONNECTION AND QUERY

FRONTEND

The web-based graphic user interface (GUI) will service as the Frontend for the ProjectsDB.System. PHP will is used to connect the GUI to the database. A standard set of templates will provide the general functions of the GUI. The layout will be determined by customisable Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Use of Ajax scripts and RSS parsing will add dynamic content and advanced interactivity to the frontend GUI.

GUI Sections and Features

• Main Page - Initial
  • Main Portfolio Name
  • Portfolio Introduction
  • News Headlines
  • Section Links
  • Splash Project Image or project thumbnails array

• News Section
  • Latest Headlines
  • Feature Story
  • News Archive
  • Recognition - Awards, Press, Publications

• Project Section
  • Main Project Index
    • Feature Projects
    • Projects Category list
  • Project Page
    • Project Title, Description, Location, Client, Date, Architect, etc
    • Project Images
    • Related Projects

Administration and Editing Functions

• FrontEnd Control Panel
• Inline Unobtrusive Content Editing
• Possibly integrate Concrete functions and features.

Development

Potential Platforms for development the ProjectsDB.System:

• ZK Simple Ajax and Mobile
• PHP for Applications
• Evolutility

Development Paths

• Open Source Software Development
• SaaS Development