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Hi Again:

Yet another question…

What is the best approach toward creating user-defined tags and variables from data stored in databases that were created in EE AFTER THE INITIAL INSTALLATION?  In other words, what do we need to do in order for the EE CMS to recognize data stored in other databases?

The background underlying this question is as follows…

We are in the process of integrating several applications into the EE CMS, which requires us to do some database integration tasks.  Most prominently, we envision the following…

1) passing registration data collected via EE (e.g. username/password/email, etc.) from the EE database to all of the databases of the applications integrated with the EE CMS;

2) creating a single login/logout instance—using the EE login/logout protocol—that will login/logout of all of the applications tied to the EE CMS;

3) creating a central data store in the EE database that (i) mirrors the databases for the supported applications, and (ii) passes data to and from the central data store as data is created, collected and/or revised in the EE central data store and databases of the supported applications; and

4) creating tags and variables to support and manipulate the data contained in the central data store created in the EE CMS.

Any feedback would be deeply appreciated.  Thanks…

Hi Bill, this is just a shot in the dark, but ... I’ll assume EE can do whatever else you are doing with your other system.

Just curious, have you tried to use EE in that manner?

To a certain extent, EE can; however, for a non-programmer like myself, I have an abiding preference for pre-built solutions that are essentially plug-tweak-n-play.

I can’t afford to be bogged down doing things for which I am not expert on.  Also, EE doesn’t quite do everything that we desire, and I am reluctant to customize the things that we desire but need to build.

It’s a very ambitious project…

... I am reluctant to customize the things that we desire but need to build.

It’s a very ambitious project…

Have you considered the Job Board?

Either way, you’re going to need a programmer to do this.  My preference- go ahead and get the easy stuff working via EE- whether that means custom modules or whatever.  It will be easier than syncing in the long run.  For the bits where that really isn’t feasible- you’re still going to need some programming skills to get it working.  What I’d do- make sure all of the tables from all systems are in the same database- that will make things easier (use prefixes)- then go through it one by one- and where EE has hooks write an extension.  For example- on registration, it would be really easy to add the registration info to other tables.  Now- keeping it updated when they edit is going to be a bit harder, bug there are a ton of hooks in registration, so that bit would be easy.

But short answer?  It’s going to take some programming either way you go.  The job board and the pro network are good options for finding someone who’ll tackle the job.

A small example may help a little?

I wanted to integrate geocoding into EE and into the database by simply typing in an address. I made a number of custom fields and in the database they were added to exp_weblog_data. I run an update from a template to geocode an address typed into an entry and the xml result is parsed, and added to the database. The information then “appears” in those extra fields for the entry.
It was a rather simple change but impressed me with how easy it was and how well it worked.
A small example but this gives the idea for larger projects perhaps?

Also those in the pro list would have no problem with larger undertakings.
.