Categories -> Sub-Cat -> SubSub-Cat

davestar057 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-09, 04:11 PM

Hi,

Can somebody PLEASE help me out here. I have searched high, low and inbetween for a solution to this, but I keep going around in circles...

Basically I want to creat a 3 layer navigation for products on my site:

For example

DRINKS -> FIZZY -> COCACOLA

I have heard that you can do something along the lines of

cat_id
cat_name
parent_id

so if 'DRINKS' has a 'Cat_id' of '5' then for any type of 'subcat' you want under drinkins would have a 'Parent_id' of '5'.....and if it was to be a 'main cat...then you would set that to 0.

okay....that makes sense...but what about if I want sub-sub-cats????? I could carry on in the same way...but then it becomes VERY messy and confusing when creating this!?!?

Please can you guys let me know if this is how you do it?? or if there are other ways out there?

Do you perhaps use multiple tables? Or does that take up too much processing time etc....??

I have read many things and each vary from VERY VERY crazy technical...to the simple version (if not using too many products) above.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can somebody help put my mind at rest and either let me know how YOU do it....or show me some examples of how it can be done (which work)

This would help ALOT! Many thanks guys, this forum rocks.

David

dgreenhouse · #2 (**permalink**) 03-17-09, 02:22 AM

It sounds like you're trying set up a hierarchical (tree) data structure.

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/hie...data-database/
http://www.intelligententerprise.com...=145525%5D

davestar057 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-17-09, 08:47 AM

Okay, so I have read these articles and it makes sense....however I am still confused as to how to apply this to a CSS menu navigation system in a website...which then displays the correct products releating to where you are on the Nav??