database question

[ahurd]

I am considering implementing, if possible, the following on my oscommerce site:

 

A number of vendors will be able to list in a common products database items they want to sell. the items will be removed from the products database either by sale or by automatic deletion after a set time.

 

My question: since the products database is continually being added to and subtracted from, is there any possible problem involved in customers using this database to click on items to purchase since there is no telling when changes will take place.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Albert Hurd

[AlanR]

I suggest you read about transactions.

 

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/MySQL/Using-Tra...n-MySQL-Part-1/

 

But don't ask me any questions about them because I probably won't be able to answer them.

[zzfritz]

I would not expect any unacceptable behavior in the application you describe.

 

If a customer puts an item in a cart, just before that product is discontinued by the vendor (or even if the stock goes low), when the customer reaches checkout the problem is caught and no purchase of the item can occur.

 

When an order is placed, the description of all the items is stored in a table associated with the order, so if a product is discontinued or deleted later, the order information is still intact.

 

As far as database collisions at a lower level of abstration, I have faith in the SQL server. (Gotta have faith in something, baby.)

 

In my opinion, osCommerce has the basic capacity for the application and the only practical hazard will relate to having multiple administrative users. By all means, use the Administrator with Levels contribution and there are other contributions relevant to multi-vendor collaboration.

[ahurd]

Thanks very much. I am avidly reading the article.

 

Albert