Alright, so I've got a massive database of INI files.
These files contain TOO much information, and I could use some help, figuring out what should be in my database and what shouldn't.
First of all, I am using MsSQL (LINQ to SQL if anyone may wonder) and this is my first problem. Should all 'external' data I load be in this database? Or should I use some separate 'flat files' e.g. some INI files containing data.
An example would be the 'attribute points' for people from a certain class.
It would cost me no effort to convert and save this in my 'MsSQL database' but should I? Or should I simply load this as an INI file everytime I put my server on?
My second problem is monsters. What data should I have in my database? And should I load this as INI files, or SQL files?
What parameters should I load? And should I load this from my 'MsSQL database' or something different?
I could go on like this about a lot of tables, e.g. Portals, Npc Spawns, Monsters Info, Monster Spawns, Guilds, Item Info, Item Ownage (who owns what item etc), and even Lottery items, Item drops and so on!
Feel free to post what you think, oh and posting additional hints, info, statistics etc would be appreciated!
~Bas.