Code to search/list data in an Indiamike post?

I have no idea of the correct terminology, so I hope people understand what I'm asking for.

I want to find a program/code that will allow a person to search data in a particular post on indiamike, and list the data according to their search words.

A longer explanation is needed I think.

In India, about 200 trains have berths reserved for foreign tourists (the foreign tourist quota or FTQ), these berths can be in up to 7 different classes, and any 1 of these trains can call at dozens of stations.

I have a list of all the trains with all the berths reserved for the FTQ, but if I list them on indiamike it will just look a complete mess and be very difficult for a person to read/understand.

I need a program/code that would allow a person to enter 'Jaipur', and get a list of all trains that have FTQ that call at Jaipur station, or they could enter 'Jaipur to Delhi' and get a list of trains that call run between Jaipur and Delhi.

I understand that it would be time consuming for myself to enter all the data needed for this to work, but I'm trying to learn a little about programming and databases, and this is my chance to experiment with data I understand, I'm happy to have to learn a little about whatever program/code is needed.

I'm a little concerned that I've never seem such a post on indiamike, is it possible to do code for this kind of thing on indiamike, I'm trying to avoid a user having to download anything, and hoping the whole process can be done on indiamike.

Any ideas?

I think I can write something that can do that on India Mike.

What format is the data in? Is it something you can email me?

I'd also be grateful if somebody could translate my above post into the correct terminology, it's so frustrating searching for the terminology, kind of like trying to learn English and looking for the definition of the word 'and', where your knowledge of English needs to be at a higher level than 'and' to understand the meaning of 'and'.

Does that make sense?

Is the data in an excel file or a word document? How do you have it currently?

I think you're basically looking for a database that can store all the train information and then be able to search that database through the web.

Excel, but only the train numbers and class, I'll have to add all the station info myself.

You want to search indiamike posts ? or you want to incorporate your search into an indiamike post ?

I want to create a post that has a searchbox in the post, when a member uses the searchbox, the 'results' would be pulled from a hidden database and displayed in the same post.

If this can be done, I'm sure this type of post could be useful for many other types of data.

What I understand is that you have some data, that will be uploaded on IM server, and there will be a link in the post to search only that particular data, and no other place. The search will then filter out the relevant details from that data, right?

Yes, something like that.

Have you seen such a thing in the wild ? If I am not mistaken, you should begin by looking at some of the plugins/addons to vbulletin software. Then ask nadreg if he can incorporate this into IM>

Steven,

I don't think this can be done within a post, but I can write a custom page to do this. This looks like something that would be very useful to members.

Can you email me the spreadsheet and maybe we can chat about it?

Please, Please do not use a flat spreadsheet, you are going to get into a flock() problem if too many people hit the file at the same time. Import the data into the mysql.

Relax. I just want to see what the data looks like.

Personally, I find it to be a lengthy exercise when I have to search for car rental companies and guest house phone numbers with in the posts.

Other data related questions that people generally ask are related to

a) Approximate cab charges
b) Train/bus timings
c) Approximate distance and time of travel
d) Cost of itinerary

Can a system of tags (for the data searched most) be created wherein a poster can click on to pre-defined boxes (in accordance with the type of data available in his/her post) while uploading the message.

Other option is to just create a new thread (asking the same questions) but that would reinventing the wheel when loads of such information is already available.

Just my thoughts, Don't know how practical it is ?

Or consider memsql (better). I am slightly biased though..