Bob, Your questions are really far too broad for this list. I will give them a shot but you wont find them very helpful, I'm afraid. And the Kitchen company won't come into it.
a.. What advantages does a database have over flat-file systems ? This could be the subject of an essay. In fact it is the subject of tens of thousands of essays since the mid-70's, starting with Codd and Date. You might want to google for an introduction to Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS). Any cursory response on a mailing list could not begin to do that question justice. b.. Are there any disadvantages in switching to a database solution ? See answer to question a. c.. What is MySQL, and how does it relate to ASP, Javascript/VBscript and flat-files ? MySQL is a Relational Database Management System. ASP is a web development language (one of many) which often uses RDBMSs to store and retrieve data. Javascript/VBscript are client-side scripting languages and, generally speaking, have nothing to do with the question at hand. flat-files are a alternative means of storing and retrieving data. They are still in use for certain limited applications. They generally are much faster but are *far* less powerful and leave a whole mes of low-level details in the programmers hands. d.. Are there any alternatives to MySQL ? Dozens: Oracle, postgresql, Informix, DB2, SQL Server, Ingres, Sybase... Best of luck researching your report. -- - michael dykman - mdyk...@gmail.com - All models are wrong. Some models are useful. -- MySQL General Mailing List For list archives: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql To unsubscribe: http://lists.mysql.com/mysql?unsub=arch...@jab.org