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The External Entries plugin lets you manage any MySQL database table from an ExpressionEngine template. Combine it with jQuery's .live() and .load() functions to turn your EE web site into a web app.

The External Entries plugin lets you easily update, insert into, select and delete from any MySQL database table. The table can be in your EE database or any other database to which you have access.

The plugin’s four functions correspond to MySQL’s select, update, insert and delete commands. Place it in separate EE templates that are called by jQuery’s ajaxy .live() and .load() functions, and your web site becomes a web app!

Select Entries

The select function has parameters such as orderby, sort and limit, along with filtering by any column. Variables include count and total_results.

One possible use for the plugin’s select function is when deciding how to approach the product catalog for ecommerce. Do you publish your catalog as EE entries or as entries in your ecommerce package, or both and synch them? This plugin might tip the balance towards keeping them in the ecommerce package only, as it lets EE display them more easily in such a scenario.

Update Entries

The update function has a search parameter to filter entries being updated.

One use for the plugin’s update function is in a “listening” template to which another system sends a form. The plugin can then update EE (such as changing the status of a payment from pending to paid) and perhaps another system in turn.

Insert Entries

The insert function can be used to export EE content to another system, or to handle changes within EE.

Delete Entries

The delete function is useful when consolidating aspects of your site, such as if members have multiple email addresses; once a user has successfully claimed an email address, any members with that email should be deleted.

Pricing

The External Entries plugin costs $25 per EE install, works on both EE v1.x and v2.x, and is free to download (requires registration at Engaging.net) and try before you buy.

External Entries Links

• Docs
• Product Page
• [EE Forums] EE Forums thread
• Select Entries plugin
• Update Entries plugin
• Insert Entries plugin

This entry was last updated May 14, 2010, 2:32 am.

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