Hello All, I am new. My question is about handling data. Primarily my application needs to be able to search (either by category or by a word search) my database where I store a number of products which are tagged by about 7 categories. My question is, what do you guys think is the best way to go about doing this? I do not need to upload data, just need to be able to search where my data is stored (its flexible I can move to where every it is best eg to SQLite) but the data is dynamic and will change over time. Thanks for the aid; I heard you guys are the best! Mak ps I already have a website which is used to search, they need to be linked together.

How are you with php? One approach is to use a menu screen in your Buzztouch app, and point the "dataURL" property to a php script on your server that queries the products and outputs them in JSON format.

I'm nodding my head in agreement with Chris1… If you can do PHP then the world is your oyster. Cheers! -- Smug

Interesting. Thank you! I think that could be done. My friend handles the website so it will take some collaboration between the two of us to get this done. So, essentially I would be taking the info off the site? Do the scripts there do the work?

Pretty much. It's sort of like using a BT Plugin as your 'browser'. Set the dataURL of the plugin (htmlDoc, customURL) to the URL of your PHP Script… and providing you don't need a 'real' keyboard, there isn't much in the way of limitations… Cheers! -- Smug If you really want to get crazy, although it's intended for 'location' based stuff, I keep a sample script in my dropbox to show the use of 'LoadScreenObject' which is here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/115208762/loadScreenObject.zip If you have questions, the forum is your first stop! :)

Fantastic. Thanks mate. Will do!

very useful thanks for the share

Just to say it out loud ... Any server-based scripting language will suffice. Such as PHP, JSP, ASP, Python, RubyonRails, etc. The important part is for that server to respond with a JSON stream of information in the format that BuzzTouch can consume, understand and display that data within the app. To start simple, copy the JSON structure within the Plugin's Readme file, change it to your own data and save it as a file on the Server. Then point your plugin to that file with the Data URL field. Did your data show up within the app on the correct screen? Did taps on the data take you to the correct next screen? Only after you have worked out the kinks in the JSON and in the data, should you then make it be dynamically served to the mobile app. You may already know all of this, the explanation is for those who come driving by in a few weeks or months. By the way, definitely download Smug's loadScreenObject zip file and take the time to understand it. If you don't have access to a PHP Server, then install MAMP on Mac or XAMMP on Windows and run Smug's software inside of those Servers on your own Computer. Having your own Laptop-based Server is very helpful to try things when on the Airplane or on the road. -- Niraj

Great advice Niraj!

Thanks Niraj, your advice is very much appreciated!