ELIMINATE the database?

[xmiinc]

can anyone confirm whether its possible to use XML and/or LoadVars to write to a server-side textfile instead of a traditional db? Ideally, I'd talk to this textfile via a cfm page. I have an ISP with a basic plan running CFMX that provides Access db functionality, but not with DSN's (what use is that??). Therefore, I'd like to find ways to leverage CFMX with textfiles and bypass the need for db's (and DSNs).

The project would be a very basic forum-type text display with server-side time-stamps for each entry.

thanks...

[freddycodes]

Yes its very possible.

[fgf]

its possible but is fecks up if you have multiple access.

php has some functionality to lock files for editing but that would only go so far. I don't know if cf has any file lock capacity.

As for DSN-less conections. The're great. Far easier to move pages from local to server when they are set up like that. just switch the path and possibly driver lines in your server side code.

There may be speed disadvantages with higher number of accesses v's DSN but that would be nothing compared to textfile limitations.

On the other hand XML is excellent if you will write very rarely to the xml and it is mostly just read by users written to by you/site owners.

fgf

Theres a thread of cyanblue's 5000th post about setting up a DSN-less php connection. Almost as easy in asp too.

[patmanwb]

unfortunately the use of text files in lieu of a real database is a huge performance hit and you have no way to guarantee that the data will be safe, you could have many people accessing the text files at the same time and they could get corrupted. Find a hosting company that offers PHP/MySql or some other combination.

I have used several different databases and web engines for this stuff. Using a text file I have never and will never consider for the reasons above.


Good Luck!