Hi Jim, Jim Vine wrote:
I’d greatly appreciate any guidance that can be provided on these subjects.
I know a lot has been said since your original query, but re-reading it I was surprised that no one had asked a fundamental question: - "If the data is structured in nature and fits the relational model well (e.g. is well defined), why not use an RDBMS for the data, and Zope/Plone for the UI? I do full-time development of web-based RDBMS applications in Zope and Plone (MS SQL and Firebird), and I have the following observations: - - By putting database-related complexity in the database, where it belongs IMHO, you may find (as I have) that the complexity of what you need to accomplish in Zope is reduced to the point where the ZMI approach is entirely appropriate. - You will find yourself working very hard to implement a relational database in the ZODB, compared to interfacing to an RDBMS. If you need one, I'd use one - instead of writing one! ;-) YMMV and all that - I /am/ an RDBMS zealot (see Fabian Pascal's writing for the mindset!), and I am /not/ a Python wizard (although my Python-Fu grows stronger by the day due to immersion in Zope...), so my choice of approach was strongly influenced by my starting point. -- Regards, PhilK Email: phil@xfr.co.uk PGP Public key: http://www.xfr.co.uk Voicemail & Facsimile: 07092 070518 "You'll find that one part's sweet and one part's tart: say where the sweetness and the sourness start." - Tony Harrison