[MacPerl-WebCGI] Re: Real Estate Agent's database

[Bruce Van Allen <bva@cruzio.com>]

At 8:41 AM 6/20/00, Joel Rees wrote:
>My team has a project to set up a database, as it were, of floorplan
>drawings and property (real estate) descriptions. I figured this wouldn't
>be too hard to do entirely in Perl, just keeping a file of descriptions
>with tags and a matching graphics file for each property, using folders
>to separate geographical areas, and such. I'm now wondering if I am
>overestimating Perl or underestimating the concept.

I think you're overestimating our ability to understand your problem 
without seeing code.  :-)

1. What you're describing sounds like run-of-the-mill CGI-generated 
html: your script looks up a requested property, places its data and 
images in the approporiate spots in an HTML-page template, and 
returns the page to the user's browser. While a challenge to the CGI 
novice (no criticism implied), there are many ways to do that. It 
would be wasteful to just start offering suggestions without a more 
clear problem statement.

2. Maybe you mean to ask: Is there a readymade Perl module, 
Homes2HTML.pm, designed to set up and power the above, requiring 
installation only. Never seen it, but I wouldn't underestimate the 
Perl community, so check CPAN.

3. But perhaps you're thinking of providing a 3-D fly-through, with 
voice-over narration by the user's favorite movie star, plus an 
overlay map showing applicable land use regulations, neighborhood 
demographics, and nearest Starbucks? Might be overestimating the 
patience of modem users, but such a CGI would hit the limitations of 
CGI way before challenging the capabilities of Perl.

A challenge to Perl? Let's see... I know, map the Human Genome! No, 
been there, doing that (almost finished!); although it does require 
more than just Perl's 'map' function...

Last time I said I thought something couldn't or shouldn't be done 
with Perl, several people jumped down my throat with examples.

So, either show us code that won't do what you want, or provide a 
more clear idea of how you got from "I figured this wouldn't be too 
hard to do entirely in Perl..." to "I'm now wondering if I am 
overestimating..."?

Incidentally, when I was developing low-income housing in the early 
nineties to replace that lost in the Loma Prieta earthquake, a title 
company officer asked me whether a program could be written to 
analyze property descriptions for consistency and then present them 
graphically. I'd be surprised if no one's done  that over the years, 
and the language of choice would be ... guess?

Uh-oh! I just thought of something! <NOT SPAM>Want to get 
r_i_c_h_?</NOT SPAM> Write a program for surveyors that will 
_generate_ property descriptions from their monuments and 
measurements. A worldwide niche market in which business slows only 
during wartime (and resurges afterwards...)!

Best wishes, restate your problem and write back.

-- 

- Bruce

__Bruce_Van_Allen___bva@cruzio.com__Santa_Cruz_CA__

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