[ic] consignment users

[interchange-users@icdevgroup.org (Mike Heins)]

Quoting cfm@maine.com (cfm@maine.com):
> On Wed, Aug 14, 2002 at 11:39:37AM -0400, Bill Carr wrote:
> > On Wed, 2002-08-14 at 10:20, cfm@maine.com wrote:
> > > On Wed, Aug 14, 2002 at 10:04:07AM -0400, Bradley Glonka wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > > > 
> > > > We'd like to use one interchange store to manage multiple users who sell
> > > > items on consignment.  Ideally these users would have the following
> > > > functionality.
> > > > 
> > > > - Login via admin interface and only manipulate 
> > > >   items that belong to them. Also they'll need 
> > > >   to add new items.
> > > > 
> > > > - Receive orders that belong to them via email or 
> > > >   admin interface.
> > > > 
> > > > - Have a URL, search sting, page they could give to 
> > > >   their client to show only their items.  We tried 
> > > >   using category or product group, but we need those 
> > > >   fields for overall organization of the site.
> > > > 
> > > > - Reports based on consignee.
> > > > 
> > > > Can anyone clue me in on how to achieve any of these items?
> > > 
> > > 
> > > It can be done but it is a lot of work.  Just consider, for example,
> > > how you will teach these consignment users to use encrypted email.
> > > You'll want entirely "virtual" catalogs.  All your items need
> > > enterprise keys because skus will no longer be unique, etc....
> > I don't know what an enterprise key is but you could add a 'storeid'
> > column to any table that uses a sku column.
> 
> you will want to index products UNIQUE KEY  (storeid,sku)
> but you'll also want a simple unique key for every record, not
> just products, otherwise you end up storeid=adsf AND sku=asfa
> in every table just to do a simple update.  You are going to end up
> with other tables to make it all virtual.  enterprise keys just
> mean it's a key across the entire "enterprise".
> 
> I've been wondering if a database that supports views might be
> able to build an arbitrary number of views usable as per store
> database tables on the fly.  Haven't had a chance to look at it.
> That seems much cleaner than doing the AND storeid everywhere.
> 

I would think so. It would not be difficult, especially as Stefan gets
his new Vend::Table::Shadow more functional.

-- 
Mike Heins
Perusion -- Expert Interchange Consulting    http://www.perusion.com/
phone +1.513.523.7621      <mike@perusion.com>

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. -- Francis Bacon