This is the complex part - you must make sure everyone's bids are correct, update those that have proxy bids, reallocate lots to winners, notify buyers who have been outbid, and perform some upkeep.

First let's look at the code to add a bid.

Function DoBid(ItemID, BidderID, Price, optional MaxPrice, optional MaxItems)

'Set variables and create objects

strConnectionString = "DSN=MyAuction;UID=username;PWD=password;Database=MyAuctionDB"

set rst = Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")

'Check to see if a bid already exists for this buyer and auction

strSQL = "SELECT BID FROM tblAuctionBids WHERE IID = " & ItemID & " AND " & _

"UID = " & BidderID

rst.open strSQL, strConnectionString

if rst.eof then 'A bid does not exist

rst.close

'Insert info into table

strSQL = "INSERT INTO tblAuctionBids (IID, UID, WinPrice, MaxBid, " & _

"BidItems, WinItems, Time VALUES (" & ItemID & ", " & BidderID & _

", '" & Price & "', '" & MaxPrice & "', " & MaxItems & _

", 0, '" & Now() & "')"

'Default WinItems to 0 for now

else 'A bid does exist

rst.close

'Update info in table

strSQL = "UPDATE tblAuctionBids SET WinPrice = '" & Price & _

"' WHERE IID = " & ItemID & " AND UID = " & BidderID

end if

rst.open strSQL, strConnectionString

''Fix bidding information

call ResolveBids(ItemID)

End Function

NOTE: This code above is developed for Visual Basic, and the keyword "optional" in the function opener is not supported in VBScript. In an ASP then, simply leave out the keyword "optional" here, and when you call the function, pass in an empty string, i.e.:

call DoBid(ItemId, BidderID, Price, "", "")

This function basically takes some info, and either inserts it or updates it in the Bids table - fairly simple stuff. The function ResolveBids however is where all the good stuff happens.