Am I restricted to a database on a web server?

[CodeNoobster]

Hi everyone

I will be creating a web form for a website written in PHP and I would like the inputted information to update a database.

The problem is, I would like a database on a desktop to be updated so the user can have the updated information readily available as apposed to having a database on the web server and having the user access the database and new information from there.

The purpose for this website is to allow users to make bookings and appointments online and have the Database on the desktop updated so that their DBMS will generate a view for new appointments made online to the user with the appointments made by customers via email and telephone (I will be making a mini note application for the user to jot down all appointments for the day)

Is it possible? or can I only do this with a database on a server? if so, do I link the database on the server with the database in store database? again . . . if so how?

thanks in advance guys

[Dormilich]

The problem is, I would like a database on a desktop to be updated so the user can have the updated information readily available as apposed to having a database on the web server and having the user access the database and new information from there.

if you want to be independent from network access (i.e. a standalone app) then you should code a desktop app, not a web app. if network access is not the limiting factor, the effort to install a DB on the user side and sync it with the server’s DB usually doesn’t pay the effort it requires. (besides that, DBs only hold data, displaying a view of that requires another programming language the user would have to install besides the DBMS.)

The purpose for this website is to allow users to make bookings and appointments online […]

and what if the user’s DB fails to sync? IMHO, keep it simple by using only a server DB, the users will have to request your website anyways, so this bit of DB processing won’t be noticed whatsoever.

[CodeNoobster]

Hmmmmmmmmmm thanks for the reply man.

You made me realize something, the probability of the server's DB and the users DB not syncing is actually high considering the fact that South African internet services and networks are among the worst in the world in terms of speed and not to mention cost.

bad idea.

this idea was just to make the website much more interactive because i wasn't happy with just making a static website with just images and articles.

Oh well, guess I was being too ambitious lol

Thanks again man.