Creating Product Database from existing website...

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   I was wondering if you all could help me and give me suggestions on how to build a database using an existing online store.

Basically I am building a new website for a customer using ProductCart.  Their current website setup uses Cart32.exe.  The client has over 700 products or so, and I need to create a new database with the product information.

Can you give me any recomendations on how I might be able to quickly create a database out of the 700 products?  

I contacted Cart32 to see if I could somehow export the product database to a spreadsheet.  They say the don't support that feature since all the products are added via HTML.

Do you guys have any suggestions on how I can quickly create the new Database?  What I have been doing thus far is going through his existing website and manually inputting information into an excel spreadsheet.....but it is taking forever and was wondering if there was a faster way.

Thanks

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BlackReefDesigns Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28-May-2008 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote BlackReefDesigns Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Creating Product Database from existing website... Posted: 23-November-2008 at 10:05pm
	I was wondering if you all could help me and give me suggestions on how to build a database using an existing online store. Basically I am building a new website for a customer using ProductCart. Their current website setup uses Cart32.exe. The client has over 700 products or so, and I need to create a new database with the product information. Can you give me any recomendations on how I might be able to quickly create a database out of the 700 products? I contacted Cart32 to see if I could somehow export the product database to a spreadsheet. They say the don't support that feature since all the products are added via HTML. Do you guys have any suggestions on how I can quickly create the new Database? What I have been doing thus far is going through his existing website and manually inputting information into an excel spreadsheet.....but it is taking forever and was wondering if there was a faster way. Thanks
	Joe S. BlackReef.net

Greg Dinger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Certified ProductCart Developers Joined: 23-September-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 238	Post Options Post Reply Quote Greg Dinger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23-November-2008 at 10:12pm
	This article references a Access, MSSQL or mySQL database http://www.cart32.com/kbshow.asp?article=C008 Are you certain beyond doubt that the current site has NO database? Really? If you can find a database, be it mySQL, MSSQL or whatever, then the goal will be to export it to a worksheet so it can be imported using the PC import tool. Edited by Greg Dinger - 23-November-2008 at 10:20pm

Greg Dinger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Certified ProductCart Developers Joined: 23-September-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 238	Post Options Post Reply Quote Greg Dinger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23-November-2008 at 10:24pm
	If you can do so, I'd get your hands on the login credentials to the site's current web hosting account control panel. Poke around and see what you can find in terms of database references. If Cart32 thinks they are losing one to the competition, they may have just decided to not be very helpful. And if you are asking the client, they simply may not know enough about the underlying technology of the site to realize there's a db. I realize that you state that you spoke with the Cart32 folks, but this really seems odd.

BlackReefDesigns Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28-May-2008 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote BlackReefDesigns Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23-November-2008 at 11:37pm
	Greg - Thanks for the help. I have an update. The client just sent me his personal product database, however it is in a 'Microsoft Access' format. I can only open it in Access - is there a way I can save it as a .XLS or .CSV? EDIT: I think I can figure it out. I am just Copying and Pasting from the Access spreadsheet into the Excel spreadsheet. I will then save it and import it. Edited by BlackReefDesigns - 23-November-2008 at 11:38pm
	Joe S. BlackReef.net

Greg Dinger Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Certified ProductCart Developers Joined: 23-September-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 238	Post Options Post Reply Quote Greg Dinger Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24-November-2008 at 1:23am
	Ya, Access should allow you to export the table to either format. Copy/Paste is one way, but not the easiest. The directions to do that will vary based on the version of Access you have, but that can easily be googled.

BlackReefDesigns Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28-May-2008 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 8	Post Options Post Reply Quote BlackReefDesigns Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24-November-2008 at 2:58am
	Thanks again for your help Greg
	Joe S. BlackReef.net