Question about db design & webpage implementation

[jhenry2808]

Hello,

I have a question regards to ASP.NET 2.0

I'm developing a travel website, using a SQL Server 2000 database. This database contains COMPANIES table, which stores all travel company info.

Now, I would like to store some extra info for some kinds of travel companies (not all companies), for ex only for tour operators, hotels and travel agents.

I intend to design the database like this:

COMPANIES (id, name, ...)
TOUR_OPERATORS (id, company_id, ...)
HOTELS (id, company_id, ...)
TRAVEL_AGENTS (id, company_id, ...)

Each tour operators, hotels and travel agents has all properties from COMPANIES table (company_id is foreign key)

and some specific properties.

Now I have to build a listing page, a search page, and a detailed page for all companies.

I would like to know if there is a better solution to design the database and how to build the listing, search and detailed pages. Do I have to build 3 different pages for each type of companies or should I use only 1 page and use "if/else" there?

Thank you very much.

[Jordan]

Looks like a good database design. When you say they will contain "ALL" information of the other tables you mean you will be using a join or a view to show that data correct?

If it were me I would create one search page that would allow you to specify what you were searching. For example, you could include a get or post variable (that was retrieved from an option/select box) that contained a number. If number=1 then search this, 2 this. Instead of if statements I suggest using switch/case though.

[jhenry2808]

Thank you very much for your answer

Yes, I do think that it's a good solution if there aren't many kinds of companies. If I want to add some more types, for ex Resorts, Airlines, Restaurants ... it will be a problem to handle pages, for ex visible / invisible controls, displaying fields, a lot of switch/case, heavy page load ...

Then, I would like to know if building different pages for each types of companies is a possible solution? Or is there any other solution for this situation?

I would appreciate any answer.

And I would like to express my warmest greeting to forum codecall.net, I think I will use this forum to improve my knowledge and contribute more to community.

Sorry for my English, too

[Jordan]

It sounds like your project may grow fairly large. You might want to build a base page and then add modules for each type of company. Your main page may work like this:

switch
   case "AirCompany":
                  doAir;
                  break;

   case "Train":
                 doTrain;
                  break;

And then your modules (which you have already included):

function doTrain ()
{
            // Code.....
           if (number == 1)
                   ......
}

But of course there are many ways to do this and whatever you feel comfortable with is the correct way.

[Kaabi]

I don't know much about the database portion of that, but I think it's interesting how you're making a travel website.