Question : Filtering Mysql Search Results Based a Number of Criteria

Hello experts, I am relatively new to the world of web development, and this is my first question here, so, please, bear with me a little, as I will try to be as detailed as possible.

I am currently working on a website for my own an apparel store, and it seems that I have reached the limit of my existing, rather limited, php, mysql, and jquery knowledge base. What I am trying to do is to add "refine search" functionality to one of the pages, so that one could filter the results of initial database query based on a number of criteria. Two working examples of what I am trying to achieve are http://www.asos.com/Women/Dresses/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=8799 and http://www.bluefly.com/Designer-Day-Dresses/_/N-fie/list.fly.

I was able to come up with something similar to this by using a form, in which one can select desired filters, such as sizes, price range, and brands and then click submit button. In the form processor I managed to write, most likely very awkwardly, script for generating a valid MySQL query based on user input. This gets the job done, but not as gracefully as I would like to.

From studying the above-mentioned examples, I came to a conclusion that, to achieve desired result, I would need to implement jquery and ajax. In particular, I have noticed that both of the websites pass user selections to the url - every time a user adds or removes a new filter, the url is updated. I more or less understand how it works from there, but I have absolutely no idea about how one dynamically constructs this kind of url. In particular, how do I approach adding multiple selections for one category when user adds them in no particular order, so that the resulting URL looks something like name.php?size=1,2,4,5&brand=1,2,3,4,  and then remove those that are unchecked?

Also, I would greately appreciate some general recommendations about how one would approach this type of task (some sort of guideline would be nice) as well what specific sections of php, ajax, jquery, etc. I need to brush up on in order to pull it off.

Thanks a lot

Answer : Filtering Mysql Search Results Based a Number of Criteria

Here is a solution that may help someone down the road:

I had a PCI parallel card with me, and the 4250 has a parallel port.  I installed the card, hooked up a parallel cable, and changed the port on the printer properties....and it all works fine.  Nice and fast like it's supposed to.  I don't know WHY, but it now works great.