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Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    • Robert D. Wagers's Avatar
    • Robert D. Wagers
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    Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • I run a golf-community that is based around a computer golf simulation. It is totally non-profit and contains no ad-revenue or membership fees. This is something I pay out of my pocket and run just for the love of the game...

      So... I am asking for some help from someone who could help me create a custom module or script that would allow complex EXCEL Spreadsheets to be integrated into any particular template and mirror its CSS.

      I have experimented using google.docs but I don't like the way it looks, integrates, and its not dynamic...

      Maybe this already exists and I was just not savvy enough to find said script/bot/module.. if so please help me out.

      Thanks in advance,

      Wage
    • Last Edit: 17 years 4 months ago by .
    • "Everyone has to get knocked-down every once-in-a-while, otherwise you'll never learn how to get-back-up! "
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    • phlux0r's Avatar
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    Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • Doesn't sound like just a module. This will need to be a component if you want the spreadsheet data to display in the main area of the site.

      Also, what are you admin requirements for this? How do you intend to manage the Excel data? What do you mean by "dynamic"? Who should be able to administer this? Quite a few questions that need answers. Best you write out some specifications on how you want this extension to work and post back. In any case, it doesn't appear to be trivial :) .
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    Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • I would like to host the spreadsheet on my server as a data source. I mostly will use this to post tournament results and scores along with a money list... Just like what they do on PGATOUR.com website for the "Real PGA Tour."

      I would like this to be dynamic meaning as I update the spreadsheet hosted on my server, it automatically reflects the changes or additions on the website. Before i had to update the spreadsheet... goto google docs and process it... then post the url from google. This pretty much eliminates the ability to run a "Live Leaderboard" because each update requires the described process.

      As far as permissions, I have only one other person except myself managing this currently. He is an admin on my site so I don't think permissions will be an issue.

      I also would like to possibly use the template -or- theme's CSS so that the integrated spreadsheet looks like it is part of the website and not an external link.

      I am gonna research some existing html or php scripts to see if they exist already. I was hoping someone more experienced with what I would like to accomplish might have some insights on what

      Thanks for responding...

      Wage
    • Last Edit: 17 years 4 months ago by .
    • "Everyone has to get knocked-down every once-in-a-while, otherwise you'll never learn how to get-back-up! "
      A quote attributed to my Grandpa Wagers
    • phlux0r's Avatar
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    Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • There are a few ways you could accomplish this without even writing a component.

      Since xls is a propriatary format, it's probably best if you exported the xls to csv and uploaded that to your server. Reading csv files with php is easy and I'm sure you could quickly find a script you could customise and embed in a content item (with the PHP bot).

      If you really want to use the xls file then there seem to be a few PHP libraries around that allow you to read that format. Some require Windows OLE objects and there is one on Sourceforge: sourceforge.net/projects/phpexcelreader/ that, while requiring an OLE package, does not need to run on windows. However, beware if your excel file is going to be large, there are reports that the PHP process runs out of memory for large files.

      As far as the styling goes, the part where the data from the file is output can be coded to simply use the standard Joomla styles (sectiontableheader, sectiontablerow1/2 etc) so you get a unified integrated look.

      So if you don't mind exporting the excel file to CSV the problem is easier to solve than using straight XLS files.

      HTH
  • Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • Wouldn't it be easier just to import it into the database and feed the info out of that?
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    • phlux0r's Avatar
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    Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • I'm curious how this would be easier than simply dropping an xls or csv file into a directory on the server and having the display updated with the new data on the next page refresh?? - Of course once the proper php stuff is set up... :)

      Either way, something has to read the data from the database or the file... whether it's a component or some stand-alone php script embedded in a content item.

      Then what if the excel file changes, a new column is added etc. It's easier to adjust the php script reading the file than to change the database table AND the script...
  • Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • True.

      But I come from a heavy database programmer background, so to me using csv files feels like pushing your car. Sure it gets you there but...

      In this case though the data is just to be displayed and not manipulated so files are probably easier to work with and upload.
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    • Robert D. Wagers's Avatar
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    Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • Let me clarify what I have done in the past...

      1st- manipulated the data on the spread sheet and saved.
      2nd- I had to run it through google docs and get a link.
      3rd- Then enter the backend of joomla and update the link.

      Repeat numerous times during a tournament for updating scores...

      As you can tell, this gets quite tedious and cumbersome and the google docs look isn't really all that desirable.

      I am trying to figure out a way to make updating the the tournament data as "Live" as possible, without having to go through all those steps to post an update.

      Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am open to any recommendations.
    • "Everyone has to get knocked-down every once-in-a-while, otherwise you'll never learn how to get-back-up! "
      A quote attributed to my Grandpa Wagers
  • Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • Write a form that saved the data in the database and then you could update it as needed.

      Maybe?
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    • phlux0r's Avatar
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    Re: Need help from a good custom module programmer...

    Posted 17 years 4 months ago
    • Robert Wagers wrote:
      I am trying to figure out a way to make updating the the tournament data as "Live" as possible, without having to go through all those steps to post an update.

      Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am open to any recommendations.

      How proficient are you with php programming? It seems to me that a solution to your situation would require some custom work. I think I have given you some pointers above as to possible solutions but they all require some coding effort.

      If you're looking for an out-of-the-box solution, maybe someone else knows of a great and easy way to do this.

      If you would like someone to donate their time and skill for this custom job, you should make your request explicitly :) .

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