Posted by Alexander Schoenhoff on 07/31/05 16:03

Hi Ron and thanks for your helpful response,

> Why not set the default CSS for <table> to be what you want and set up
> specific classes for the other instances of <table> that need different
> formatting - you should be able to search and replace using a text editor.

That´s correct.
However, as i wrote, the problem is, that there are way too many entries in
our articles-db do make those changes manually.
We could though change the tables within the "carrier-page" to be
"CSS-classified".
Thus a change in class-definition for the general table-tag (the ones in the
descriptive text without a class-definition) would do the trick...

So your advice in this case is quite logical and would help me correct the
described situation.

Thing is, it´s often the case that there are other, "normal" words or lines
within a db´s field that need correction, f.e. just plain text parts in
every articles description that have to be changed as per customers demand.
So I´m afraid my example with the table-tag was poorly chosen - it´s the
latter challenge - plain text - we´d need to master.

> If you really have to do the tag modification on the fly take a look at
the
> MySQL language reference manual (section 12) there are some quite
> comprehensive string manipulation functions there. This will slow down the
> site or at least cane the database server unnecessarily though.

Your implication is right again - the modifications are not meant to be on
the fly, as that would definitly slow down the server.
They are meant to be made by using one correctional statement like UPDATE
(if that is the right candidate for this task) or one process to be
initiated.

My own findings so far:
As one seems no to be capable of doing it by using MySQL alone, MySQL needs
to be supported by a (php-,asp-,jsp-)scripted procedure to make the required
changes.
1. select and open the db - no problem
2. choose the table(s) in the required db - no problem
3. SELECT the fields content (into an array?) - "wee bit" of a problem
4. use REGEXP to find the "suspects" - BIG problem
5. change them into the new form - still BIG problem
6. write the last changed field content back to the db - should be
possible to solve

As well as I´m capable of describing the process I´m a noob in writing the
necessary code f.e. in PHP when it comes to the regexp-part.
But if... say PHP is a must to make this work my request may be in the wrong
newsgroup....

However I´m still writing this here just in case someone else has already
mastered this and is willing to shed a light ... :)

Thanks for your comments in advance...

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