So here’s the story, boys and girls:

I have a successful PDF repository browsing/ftp/download system at work that checks for updated PDF files, inserts the filename and some basic file data into a MySQL database (using a Watched Folder/Perl action), and allows [internal] Web users to browse the repository and FTP a batch of files to a destination or ZIP the files for local download.

What I’m working on now is an addition that will allow a regular schedule (using CRON) to run that will grab the latest days files, create an XML manifest (with basic information about the ‘Company’ as well as individual file blocks) and FTP the bundle to a destination.

Most of the new addition is just a CRON addition to what already works: grab a group of PDF’s based on the date, change the filename to the desired naming schema (the schema’s are stored in my local database) based on the chosen destination, and send them on their way.

The problem I’m having is I need to add an XML manifest file along with the PDF’s, and while I could code the whole mess in PHP, I’d like to keep as much abstraction to the process as possible – that way I don’t have to go into the PHP code much (if ever) once the update has been implemented.

My brain doesn’t handle abstractions very well (as seen by most of my Web work being very “blocky,” and the fact that I’m using a third-party template on my own blog – and I call myself a developer!). I need some serious help with how to generate the manifest without coding the whole thing into the PHP itself.

I’m using CodeIgniter as my PHP framework (LOVE it!), and I’d like to allow for a DTD or XSLT to be setup that will define the XML’s “parts,” then in the future a manager (with XSLT/DTD knowledge) could adjust the template as needed from a Web interface.

I guess the tough parts for me are to assign some kind of CRON kickoff to run the custom search, rename, manifest-generation, and FTP.

Sigh, I’m just not smart enough some days.