Hello Nicole,

WebSite X5 has built-in support for MySQL databases.  MySQL is open source and therefore free to use, which is obviously a good thing.  Furthermore, virtually all web hosts support MySQL by default.

WebSite X5 can write data to a MySQL database as an alternative to sending via email (as you already know).  To put it simply, the data is still sent to your server and you still have full control and ownership of it; however, the information is retained in a table-like structure with rows and columns, as opposed to an email format.

This brings huge benefits, as you can interrogate the data, sort it any way you like, change it, or even delete it completely if you so wish.

WebSite X5 can write data into the database natively; but at this point in time it cannot read the data back and display it on your web page(s).  The software is evolving fast and I expect it might only be a matter of time before this extra functionality is included.  In the meantime, you can use scripts freely available on the internet to 'bridge the gap' as it were.  These scripts use the PHP programming language and can be inserted into WebSite X5 projects in many convenient places...  e.g. the HTML Object

However, there is another way to easily view any data which clients might submit to you, and that is by using a piece of freeware called phpMyAdmin  -  this is almost always available from the online control panel of your web hosting space.

phpMyAdmin is not difficult to use, and allows you to view and edit submitted data with ease, simply by supplying your MySQL database user credentials (which are again set via your web host).  Here is a link to the official web site:

http://www.phpmyadmin.net/

I suppose only you would know yourself, Nicole, if phpMyAdmin could do what you wanted it to...  you might like to give it a try to see if this is the case.

WebSite X5 is very powerful and full-featured, but the kind of project you are building will stretch it to its limits.  However, version 11 incorporates new Optional Objects which allow third-party developers to write plug-in code to enhance existing features and even introduce new ones.

I feel greater database support is not very far away in WebSite X5, whether Incomedia themselves provide it, or some other developer via the Optional Objects.

I've tried to give a broad overview of database functionality in WebSite X5, but if we can help you more specifically then please feel free to reply.

Kind regards,

Paul

PS: As regards user registration, the Automatic Registration feature of Professional 11 is fairly advanced, and can cope with high volumes of users, with automated emails, and email address validation.

However, there is no way to create static user profiles for each individual, nor would you want to, as that would be bad programming practice.

Instead you could create a single profile display page in WebSite X5, the contents of which would change dynamically by pulling data from the database via PHP/MySQL scripts in HTML Objects.

Try to think of the database as holding all the user profiles, as opposed to WebSite X5, or pages within your project.

And if you do end up using a database to power your project then it's absolutely imperative that you take frequent snapshots of it as a backup.  If you were to lose the database the project would become almost worthless, and WebSite X5 doesn't backup databases on your behalf...  this needs to be done on the server.

Hope this helps in some way.

All the best,

Paul

I've had a good look through Google's top offerings and here are a few I would recommend to start with, Nicole:

http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_mysql_intro.asp

http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_mysql_connect.asp

http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_mysql_select.asp

The w3schools.com website has dozens of chapters on each aspect of PHP/MySQL with a very helpful feature which allows you to run code examples online to see the end results.

If you use any code from their site I suggest opting for the 'Procedural' versions over the 'Object-oriented' versions...  they both accomplish the same thing but the procedural is easier to code and understand when first starting out.

https://support.godaddy.com/help/article/216/connecting-to-mysql-using-php

This GoDaddy article is nice and simple, illustrating the most basic of database connections and queries.

http://www.formget.com/read-mysql-data-using-php/

This one is a nice, clear article...  well-written  -  I don't advise using any of the actual code as it references a slightly older version of MySQL, but the article does a brilliant job of explaining how the various web elements fit together (PHP, MySQL, HTML, CSS)

Note that when you use WebSite X5 to display data from a database your workload is immediately greatly reduced, as WebSite X5 takes care of virtually all the HTML and CSS parts, leaving you free to concentrate on the database side.  You can achieve visually stunning results really quickly with WebSite X5 by reading your MySQL data into one of WebSite X5's formatted Table Objects, for example!

If you're going to write or customise scripts yourself then a good book on the subject will prove invaluable to keep by your side whilst you work.  I would have no hesitation in pointing you to anything written by Larry Ullman:

http://www.larryullman.com/books/

Larry has a real gift for breaking down complex subjects into simple terms.  I have bought many of his books over the years and found them all very easy to read.  I also like his emphasis on tight programming and doing things the right way, including web security.

The latter is something which you will need to keep uppermost in your mind if you use a database in your project, Nicole, particularly one with sensitive, personal information in it.  Protect it as though it were the crown jewels!  

Best of luck with your venture,

Paul