Cookbook concept - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

pixelbend · 09-13-2005, 11:48 AM

Hi all,

I am working on a concept for an online cookbook. Ideally, I would like to have a dynamic entry page where you could have a title, short desrciption, instructions and a ingredient list. That all sound pretty simple, but I'd like to take it to the next level by having a dynamic ingredient list where you would start off by having a single ingredient entry box and an single amount box (i.e. [1 cup] [all purpouse flour]. Then have an "Add ingredient" button that would bring up another set of blank boxes below that, and so on.

My first question is what kind of database stucture would be best to store this in? One database with arrays for the ingredients and amounts, two relational databases, or something entirely different.

I will be using PHP and mySQL for this project. Any ideas would be most welcome.

Thanks!

Rawb · 09-13-2005, 03:51 PM

Here is how I would build it:

Recipe (table)
--------
recipe_id
recipe_name
recipe_short_desc
recipe_instructions
recipe_time (So you can search for recipe's that you can make in less than 15 minutes or whatever)
recipe_serves (So you can have your script automatically double/half the recipe)

Ingredient (table)
-----
ingredient_id
ingredient_name
measure_type (optional, so you can say if you measure it using liquid, weight, volume, or just by the number of cans)

RecipeIngredientGlue (table)
-----
recipe_id
ingredient_id
glue_num
ingredient_amt
ingredient_amt_type (os/cup/pound/can)

I think that should be a decent database design to get you started.

So, you would have your recipe listed in one table, then have all possible ingredients in another table (you can add to that dynamically if you want), and then add a RecipeIngredientGlue per ingredient per recipe.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Edit:
Oh, and if you want to have this be a recipe storage just for you, you could also include your pantry amounts in the ingredient table, so you could do a search for "Recipies that I have the ingredients for right now."

pixelbend · 09-14-2005, 04:48 AM

Sounds like a great place to start. thanks!

09-13-2005, 11:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
pixelbend Too hot in the hot tub!	Cookbook concept Hi all, I am working on a concept for an online cookbook. Ideally, I would like to have a dynamic entry page where you could have a title, short desrciption, instructions and a ingredient list. That all sound pretty simple, but I'd like to take it to the next level by having a dynamic ingredient list where you would start off by having a single ingredient entry box and an single amount box (i.e. [1 cup] [all purpouse flour]. Then have an "Add ingredient" button that would bring up another set of blank boxes below that, and so on. My first question is what kind of database stucture would be best to store this in? One database with arrays for the ingredients and amounts, two relational databases, or something entirely different. I will be using PHP and mySQL for this project. Any ideas would be most welcome. Thanks! __________________ But I don't want ANY Spam!

09-14-2005, 04:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
pixelbend Too hot in the hot tub!	Sounds like a great place to start. thanks! __________________ But I don't want ANY Spam!

09-13-2005, 03:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rawb Crazy Location: Salt Town, UT	Here is how I would build it: Recipe (table) -------- recipe_id recipe_name recipe_short_desc recipe_instructions recipe_time (So you can search for recipe's that you can make in less than 15 minutes or whatever) recipe_serves (So you can have your script automatically double/half the recipe) Ingredient (table) ----- ingredient_id ingredient_name measure_type (optional, so you can say if you measure it using liquid, weight, volume, or just by the number of cans) RecipeIngredientGlue (table) ----- recipe_id ingredient_id glue_num ingredient_amt ingredient_amt_type (os/cup/pound/can) I think that should be a decent database design to get you started. So, you would have your recipe listed in one table, then have all possible ingredients in another table (you can add to that dynamically if you want), and then add a RecipeIngredientGlue per ingredient per recipe. Let me know if you have any questions. Edit: Oh, and if you want to have this be a recipe storage just for you, you could also include your pantry amounts in the ingredient table, so you could do a search for "Recipies that I have the ingredients for right now."