[support] module architecture question

[Dan Katz]

Hi folks,

I'm new to module building and am working on a dynamic org chart module, a
node type that displays an org chart via Graphviz with data pulled
dynamically from LDAP/Active Directory.

I already am using ldap_integration and profile module to pull in the data
for a phone directory.

My questions:

1. where in the module should I place code that actually queries user
profiles and converts profile data (there is a reportsTo field that defines
relationships) to graphviz dot syntax? Functionally, it would need to happen
when a new node is created, or an existing node is updated. Should I add a
custom function in the module for pulling this data based on the "top" user,
and then call that function in hook_insert and hook_update?

2. data storage - in my install file, I create a new table (orgchart) with
nid, vid, top, and depth. How should I be storing the "top" data - username
or uid?. Does there need to be some kind of index or foriegn key to relate
"top" to the record in the users table?

Thanks in advance,

-- 
Dan Katz

http://dankatz.net
http://twitter.com/mtndan
http://del.icio.us/mtndan
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