How to deal with an auction catalogue type database

[Mal1]

We're looking to have a website made with will store details of auction lots/catalogues.

 

It will not perform the actual auction functions of bidding etc. so we're not worrying about that. It will just be catalogues for the details of the lots. (i.e. lot number, estimate range, title, description)

 

I'm wondering what the best way of dealing with a catalogue once the auction is over would be?

 

There would need to be a new catalogue built for the next auction but it would be ideal to keep the details of past auctions (at least for a set time period) so people could search 'past auctions'. (we'd probably look to update the catalogue with sold prices after the event).

 

Would this be stored on a different table, a different database or some other method like saving the details as a file?

[Jessica]

Each item should be linked to a catalogue ID. Look up data normalization. You'll show the current catalog, and past catalogs, then the items within them.

[Barand]

A structure like this might get you started

+---------------+      +------------+       +------------+        +---------------+
| auction_room  |      | catalogue  |       |  lot       |        | commission_bid|
+---------------+      +------------+       +------------+        +---------------+
| locID         |--+   | catID      |--+    | lot_number |---+    | bidID         |        
| loc_name      |  +--<| locID      |  +--< | catID      |   +---<| lot_number    |
| address       |      | sale_date  |       | short_desc |   +---<| catID         |
| etc           |      +------------+       | full_desc  |        | clientID      |
+---------------+                           | image_path |        | start_bid     |
                                            | est_value  |        | max_bid       |
                                            | reserve    |        +---------------+
                                            | sale_price |
                                            | sellerID   |
                                            +------------+