Working with external databases

ok so I got my database schema figured out and now I’m not sure what direction to go in.

I will be using extjs for displaying most of the data (I think). My application is fairly simple, just some records entry and the ability to display these records in a few fancy ways, and make some calculations to get new data. I started digging into extjs and I was told I need serialized data and I was told to look into JsonStore and Parser. When it comes down to it, the data I am working with is really really simple. Can I use the modx API or do I have many other choices?

I have a hard time learning new stuff, so I don’t want to waste time figuring something out and have it not work out for me. If I need to explain exactly what I am doing I will, but until someone asks, what would you suggest?

Thanks

This article goes step-by-step through getting the data from the database and encoding it to return to the calling AJAX function. http://www.sottwell.com/datagrid-3.html

Since the AJAX processor in this case is an external .php file, the MODx APIs are not available (although they could be if I had included the config.inc.php file and the document.parser file). However, if you make the processor a MODx document, then of course you’ll have the entire MODx arsenal at your fingertips.

http://wiki.modxcms.com/index.php/Use_AJAX_with_modxAPI