Design software?

Hi there, I've been wanting to rebuild all my sites from the ground up for
some time. However, I soon as I get to the keyboard I have another excuse to
stop me.

Something that I'm looking to help me, is some software which will allow me
to document the files which will be built. Also will allow me to draw the
relationships between the tables and then delve down to show the actual
fields etc. I'm also keen on it being low cost!

Problems I have had, is that the 30+ sites all use a core code, but which I
will build, although each one is going to offer different options, I want to
be able to design this in as well.

Lastly, some of the sites receive data from affilaites (e.g. hotel booking
site). They provide data in both flat file and XML formats. However, I want
to offer the search facility as per my own requirements. So, I'm guessing I
will have to use a mixture of both formats to have full control?

Anyway, I'm looking at doing it with a much nicer build (using more OO
techniques), but I'm not really that au fait with this. Stuff like the
"$this=>$myvalue" in PHP is difficult to search about in Google. Anyone
explain how that works?

Thanks, and wish me luck!

"elyob" <newsprofile@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:VNSFd.10445$GG1.5995@text.news.blueyonder.co. uk...
> Hi there, I've been wanting to rebuild all my sites from the ground up for
> some time. However, I soon as I get to the keyboard I have another excuse
> to stop me.
>
> Something that I'm looking to help me, is some software which will allow
> me to document the files which will be built. Also will allow me to draw
> the relationships between the tables and then delve down to show the
> actual fields etc. I'm also keen on it being low cost!
>
> Problems I have had, is that the 30+ sites all use a core code, but which
> I will build, although each one is going to offer different options, I
> want to be able to design this in as well.
>
> Lastly, some of the sites receive data from affilaites (e.g. hotel booking
> site). They provide data in both flat file and XML formats. However, I
> want to offer the search facility as per my own requirements. So, I'm
> guessing I will have to use a mixture of both formats to have full
> control?
>
> Anyway, I'm looking at doing it with a much nicer build (using more OO
> techniques), but I'm not really that au fait with this. Stuff like the
> "$this=>$myvalue" in PHP is difficult to search about in Google. Anyone
> explain how that works?
>
> Thanks, and wish me luck!

You may need more than luck! Sounds like you have a steep hill to climb. May
be an idea to hire a professional to do it for you ;-)

N

"puk" <neilr@NOSPAMpages-uk.com> wrote in message
news:41e7ff4b$0$36639$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>
> "elyob" <newsprofile@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:VNSFd.10445$GG1.5995@text.news.blueyonder.co. uk...
>> Hi there, I've been wanting to rebuild all my sites from the ground up
>> for some time. However, I soon as I get to the keyboard I have another
>> excuse to stop me.
>>
>> Something that I'm looking to help me, is some software which will allow
>> me to document the files which will be built. Also will allow me to draw
>> the relationships between the tables and then delve down to show the
>> actual fields etc. I'm also keen on it being low cost!
>>
>> Problems I have had, is that the 30+ sites all use a core code, but which
>> I will build, although each one is going to offer different options, I
>> want to be able to design this in as well.
>>
>> Lastly, some of the sites receive data from affilaites (e.g. hotel
>> booking site). They provide data in both flat file and XML formats.
>> However, I want to offer the search facility as per my own requirements.
>> So, I'm guessing I will have to use a mixture of both formats to have
>> full control?
>>
>> Anyway, I'm looking at doing it with a much nicer build (using more OO
>> techniques), but I'm not really that au fait with this. Stuff like the
>> "$this=>$myvalue" in PHP is difficult to search about in Google. Anyone
>> explain how that works?
>>
>> Thanks, and wish me luck!
>
> You may need more than luck! Sounds like you have a steep hill to climb.
> May be an idea to hire a professional to do it for you ;-)

I don't think I'll need too much luck, just a little time to study the OO
stuff in PHP. I've already started, and am a quick learner. The XML stuff is
documented by my affiliate partners, so I'll probably pop up and see them in
a few weeks to discuss implementation, although the data feed is not as much
work as the entire build.

The main problem I have is documentation, and having something that is
actually useful and not just write down what a program does. I want to see
the links and relationships between files, databases and more. I want to
write up the functionality of each site as an overview (as they each do
slightly different stuff).

It's the size of the programming that is daunting. I may need to get help
for the design side of things. I hate the graphics side of stuff. But I'll
probably end up doing that as well.

Also, I don't have a budget, so it'll have to be me

"elyob" <newsprofile@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:VNSFd.10445$GG1.5995@text.news.blueyonder.co. uk...
> Hi there, I've been wanting to rebuild all my sites from the ground up for
> some time. However, I soon as I get to the keyboard I have another excuse
> to stop me.
>
> Something that I'm looking to help me, is some software which will allow
> me to document the files which will be built. Also will allow me to draw
> the relationships between the tables and then delve down to show the
> actual fields etc. I'm also keen on it being low cost!
>

Actually, I think smartdraw might do the job. Trying it now.