I'd use PHP, create a list of all your clients and add a random code. When
someone comes to enter this, add one to a counter and add to the list. How
you want to store this list is up to you (a lot depends on complexity you
want and number of clients). Personally I'd use MySQL.

That would be a simple option for me - except I'd like to control what
discount is displayed for particular clients (and know that a particular
client visited for it).

Come up with a different code for each of your clients and store that
code in your database with your client's information. When the code is
entered simply record it in your database with a date field.


--
Jerry

Create an individual code. Pre it with a level of discount. e.g. if you
create a six digit code (e.g. abc123), add a level to it (aabc123 = 50%,
nabc123 = 25% etc etc i.e. add a letter to the front or end to give the
discount level). Obviously record the official discount in the database in
case they figure out a way to try and crack it.

Said the Reublican to the Democrats....

Said the Zombie to the bus queue....

<g>

Matt

So far it doesnt sound like there is anything saying "this should be done
in xxxxxx". I could do it in basic for you. :)

Some things that might help.. how many customers? how many might hit at the
same time? do you have root priveleges? and on what operating system?

Also keep in mind that having the system INFORM them of what they want is
very different than if you want it to actually make use of the info. The
second arrangment brings to mind alot of security issues to keep it from
being abused.

Gandalf Parker

Right - I haven't a clue if I should be using a script (probably) or a
matter of passwords directing them or...

Very limited number of customers - we're hand picking those special ones for
this occasion and doing a dimensional mailer which will contain the codes.
Probably won't access this at the same time. I do have root priveleges on a
unix system.

Abuse isn't really possible, I wouldn't think. This is all just a gimmick to
make the 'event' more interesting and to give us a clue about which
customers are interested enough to bother logging in. Once we see they've
entered their code and received their discount amount (that we've already
decided on per customer), we plan to contact them straight away to keep them
moving in the process :) That's the plan anyway!!

I guess either MySQL (I've *really* got to learn that! Keeps coming up) or
setting up individual pages requiring passwords (which would be the code).
Hmmm. What a pita.

Thanks, Gandalf!

Now you've started it...
:)

I don't have an online database established! We have a database of 40,000
but it's not built in MySQL or anything. This offer is only going to a
hand-picked few...

You say its for a few. It could just be a CGI written in anything (even
basic) which writes a page then sends them to it. It would be simple to
setup a "case" section in it for modifying the page to each one such as

junk to write out headers stuff
case
He74Yy
write out "Congratulations! Your discount is 10%"
TrY1f9
write out "Congratulations! Your discount is 15%"
then write out footer stuff

Or how many different discounts are there. It might be easier to group by
discounts. Do the response pages for each one then have the CGI just decide
which page to display based on the code. It doesnt sound like a need for a
database or some huge program in some high level language

Gandalf Parker

It all comes down you what it is you really want to do. If it's all
just a facade for promotion, you could simply do:

<form method="get" action="http://www.example/discount.html">
Enter your code.<br />
<input name="code" />
<input type="submit" />
</form>

And just check the logs to match codes to customers. If there is
anything that really *does* depend on what they enter (e.g., the
discount amount actually varies), you'll at least need redirects if not
outright scripts to operate on what they enter.