If the contents aren't changing the htaccess and some static pages with links to the docs is the way to go.

Re multiple tables to go with multiple apps - this is normal if you're sharing the db. Ideally you would have a few db not just one with loads of disjoint tables but it doesn't matter aside from how it looks admin side.

Most web apps have an option to prefix the table name with something, certainly board software so you can have one db but install a live version and a test one, so you end up with, for example live_bbmembers table and test_bbmembers table where live_ and test_ are the prefixes.

Assuming the apps support it and you can faff about altering stuff and the app doesn't break (actually easy - alter app config then rename the right tables)

Emptying them is as difficult as knowing which tables relate to which apps. If you don't know that you're in a worse position, but it shouldn't be hard to do with access to the PHP source code.

You'll also have some CREATE TABLE statements somewhere I would imagine. That'll tell you what is going on when you install the app.

Why not just set up a page on the hosting with the PDF's or multiple pages with certain PDF's

Then in the hosting control, set up a access group, allocate users and usernames to that group and then password protect the directory using that user group, all inside the hosting side of things.

If I am using a number of MySQL applications online, is there a way to empty just the contents of a particular app? All i can see is a mass of tables. Im using PhpMyAdmin.

thanks guys, I think http://drupal.org/ will do what I want. content management and such. easy SQL install from a directory and always live + backed up my by ISP.

PC in the office would need to be external facing and kept alive, so you have some security and reliability issues with your network to sort there.

What type of hosting is it?

Ive had a play around and i think I want something like plone http://plone.org but this wont run as a cgi app type of thing, but it will run on windows.
So im considering installing it on a spare PC here, and just forwarding a link on our website back to this pc in the office.

I got a mate that works for Bridges :look:

As Shane said, you could just setup a basic page with a default username / password and they can just download from that, no need reallly to have a unique login for each customer if its going to be the same things they download.

if its only basic and low security they it can just be a script with a user and password, and everone could have the same login

We have a smallish website for our business at http://www.bridgesltd.co.uk

Id like to be able to add a small section where customers can login and perhaps download a few pdf files (manuals etc). It just needs to be a small document management system with basic logins etc.
Im really not comfortable with programming etc, but if there was a small system that runs from sql/cgi I would be comfortable installing that.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the sort of thing im looking for?