database help

[oldmanstan]

i am trying to write a new web app for my site. i have database tables full of stuff and i'm trying to write clean code instead of the muddled crap i have. right now it's all procedural and i didn't even use functions when i wrote it (i was learning php)... i'm trying to do the thing over using oop and whatnot. the problem is that i'm having trouble visualizing the data properly, i'm having trouble thinking about objects.

can anyone recommend a good book on this subject? i know there are a lot out there (i checked amazon) but recommendations would be helpful since there is such variety. thanks!

[richardhp]

Not so sure about books, but you may want to consider re-designing the db from scratch.

Try a Top-Down design or something like that (starting with the most basic idea, then splitting that up into smaller things)

I don't want to insult your intelligence because I don't know what level you are programming at, but you might just need to sit down with a pencil and paper and draw some charts and get it clear in your mind before you begin coding.

You could try googling "Entity Relationship Diagrams" or "System Flow Charts" or something like that.

You never know - you might be able to sort it out without spending any money :)

If that doesn't help, go and buy a book anyway.