Need help with MySQL database tables

Kieran Hinckley · 17 Feb 2012 at 20:47

Hi i'm currently in the process of creating my first website. The aim is for the user to select a series of options from a drop down box such as the apple device they own and the iOS version that is running on it the compatible jailbreaks will be displayed along with a download link and a link to any relevant website.

What i have done so far can be found at the link below http://www.jailbreakfinder.com/

However i'm having difficulty in how to do the MySQL database. At first i thought of one table for the devices and then tables for the different iOS versions on each device but i'm thinking there might be a simpler way?

Also if anyone has any suggestions on how i can make the site look better, let me know!

Kieran Hinckley · 18 Feb 2012 at 14:03

I gotta admit, one table sounds much easier to set up. This kind of idea could potentially be expanded to a "ROM finder" for android devices. Searching for android ROM's depending on manufacturer, device, android version, hboot, themed/non themed which will probably require more than one table.

I have now made the table and am currently in the process of inserting data into it. As each device is compatible with more than one version of iOS, how can that be incorporated in a single table?

Or is this a situation where more than one table (devices, iOS versions and jailbreaks) would be more appropiate through the use of one to many relationships linking each device to the iOS versions it supports?

Kieran Hinckley · 19 Feb 2012 at 17:06

That table design looks great, thanks for that!

I'm just in the process of making the tables and inserting data into them, got the Device table done so far.

In terms of the website itself, is there anything you would change about the look of it to make it look better?

Kieran Hinckley · 22 Feb 2012 at 20:39

Addicted said:
Why bother with MySQL? Use some funkeh Ajax and get some html guides written, and load a html depending on the dropdown's value

I will be using ajax, just not as you described it. I'm using it to dynamically load the mySQL database without reloading the page.

Quite a lot of progress has been made, i've got some drop down boxes now!
http://jailbreakfinder.com/

Kieran Hinckley · 22 Feb 2012 at 20:57

FabienO said:
Mux the two. Have the next drop down options be based on the preceding ones selection.

IE I select "iPhone 4", it changes the iOs list to only those selectable for iPhone 4.

That's next on the "To Do" list. Is it hard to do?

Kieran Hinckley · 24 Feb 2012 at 06:58

Thanks, i've got that done now.

To Do List
1.Find jailbreaks for all of the devices and insert them into the database
2. Make all of the drop down boxes line up
3. Submit the site to google and other search engines. Might use godaddys "Search engine visibility" tool.
4. Think of some more ways to improve the layout. You will notice a change in the header, background and download logo if you go on the site now.

Kieran Hinckley · 26 Feb 2012 at 17:33

While entering data into the database i encountered a bit of a problem.
On some devices such as the iPad 2, there is no jailbreaks available for certain iOS versions. Is it possible to have a message appear in the results box stating something like "There are no jailbreaks available" if no jailbreaks are available?

Would this work?

else {
print "<script type=text/javascript">;
print "alert("No jailbreaks are currently available for your selected iOS version")";
print "</script>";