UPDATING A DATABASE BY PHONE

[AMWATAH PAUL]

HI ALL,

> My main concern is updating a database using FLSMS.through a mobile phone.
> We are currently engaged in designing an application that could help update the local farmers on commodity prices in various markets. We have set up a database containing
> the commodities and markets. but we are stuck on how to use the command line feature to query the database through a keyword i.e.  a farmer sends an SMS say, MAIZE,then he/she gets a price response from the database. then given the changing commodity prices,the database should be constantly updated by SMS,we plan to station guys in the various markets so as they be updating the server/database with the prices. we have tried to look 4 a solution in the forum but we havent cracked it since none of us is good in php,infact we were forced to enroll for php classes coz of that.it coz of that that i kindly request for your support in helping our poor farmers;
> below are the specific requests:
>
> advise on the best database design
> server configuration
> the php script for querying the database & that of updating it.i.e one for  commodity price across all markets and another for market-specific price e.g.
>
> KEYWORD:
> MAIZE=requests the price of maize across all markets
> NAIROBIMAIZE=requests for the price of maize in NAIROBI.

[Alex Anderson]

Hi Amwatah Paul,

 

Hopefully you can find someone to help with the PHP for your project.

 

One question I have: how do the prices get updated in the database?  Is it done from FrontlineSMS, or from a separate program?

 

Best of luck with your project,

 

Alex

[AMWATAH PAUL]

Thank you for the reply, we manually use SQL statements to update the database,i bet it is really hectic especially when the updates are many,we tried to use one of the php  scripts we found in the forum  on a similar project to querry the database, but unfortunately we havent been able to fetch results from the table.upto now we feed the autoreply feature with the prices and i bet it is really boring. If we can be able to successfully query the database then i would say it is gonna be a step in the right direction.

kindly pliz help with a sample php script to manipulate the database i.e with SELECT,UPDATE,DELETE,INSERT statements we are using  a MYSQL database (Bidhaa).Thanks in advance.

 

[Alex Anderson]

Hi, I can't help directly with the PHP but if you search the forum you may find some examples or someone who can help you.  Otherwise it might be easiest to get someone you know locally to give you a hand.