Admin features for OSCommerce

We have an existing catalog side feature which automatically draws Specification Tables for individual products and a Specification Summary Table at the top of the category display. We require the admin side to be written so that we can create new types of specification tables and input the column headings (e.g. we have 2 set up already, "tripod" and "monopod", others could be things like "satchel" or "lens"). We also need to be able to associate a Specification Type with a Product and input and edit the table contents for that product. See attached images of the database tables. While we need to be able to edit existing table headings we do not need to be able to delete table types as this adds significant complexity. You can see the catalog side at [login to view URL] - select the "Tripods" or Monopods" categories and any product in those categories to see how the specification tables are displayed. Existing Tables: products_spec_type - Contains one row for each type of table - each row contains a sort order field, the name of the specification table type, the number of data fields in the specification table and 12 fields (f1_name ….f12_name) which contain the headings to be used in the specification table products_spec_nnnnnn - a new table is created for each different specification type ("nnnnnn") - these tables contain a record for each product which has a product spec type of "nnnnnn". Two examples are set up in the database - products_spec_tripod and products_spec_monopod. We require 3 things coded on the Admin side (OSCommerce 2.3.3.4): 1. Create/Edit a Specification table type. In the Admin area the user is given a list of the existing table types to edit, or the option to create a new table. (If editing, the name of the table and the number of fields cannot be changed) When creating a new table the user is prompted for a name for the new table which is validated to contain only characters a..z and 0..9 and no spaces. They are prompted for the number of fields in the table (maximum of 12). Input fields are then generated up to the number specified in the previous step and the user can then input the field headings to be used in the tables into these fields. The first field is pre filled to "Model" and cannot be edited. On Save, the new database table is created in the form products_spec_xxxxxxx where "xxxxxxx" is the name of the new specification table type. 2: When a Category is edited/created have the ability to select a table type from a sorted list of table types generated from the existing database table "products_spec_type". The selected table type is then written to the "categories_spec_table" field in the "category_description" database table. The list should have the default option of "none" in which case the "categories_spec_table" field is set to blank. If the Category already has a table type associated with it then that table type should be the default when the Category is edited. See attached mock-up of how this might look. 3: When editing/creating a product in Admin have the ability to select a table type from a sorted list (default "none") of table types generated from the existing database table "products_spec_type". If the product already has a table type associated with it then this should be selected by default on entering the admin product editing screen. When selected the available fields for the table type are displayed for editing/input - the field headings are also displayed. The first of these fields is pre filled with the products model number and cannot be edited. On saving the selected specification table type is then written to the field "products_spec_type" in database table "products" and the data for the fields is written to the database table "products_spec_xxxxxxx" where "xxxxxxx" is the name of the table type selected.