Storing a shapefile into postgresql using PHP

I'm trying to develop a PHP script that lets users upload shapefiles to import to a postGIS database.

First of all, for the conversion part, AFAIK we can use shp2pgsql to convert the shapefile to a postgresql table; I was wondering if there is another way of doing the conversion, as I would prefer not to use the exec() command.

I would also appretiate any idea on storing the data in a way that does not require dozens of uniquenamed tables.

Solution

There seems to be no other way than using the postgresql's binary to convert the shapefile. Although it is not really a bad choice, I would rather not use exec() if there is a PHP native function, or apache module to do it! However, it sounds like exec is the only sane option available. So I'm going to use it. No hard feelings! :)

About the last part, it's a different question and should be asked separately. Although, I'm afraid there is no other way of doing it.

UPDATE example added

$queries = shell_exec("shp2pgsql -s ".SRID." -c $shpfilpath $tblname")
                    or respond(false, "Error parsing the shapfile.");
pg_query($queries) or respond(false, "Query failed!");

SRID is a constant containing the "SRID"!
$shpfilpath is a path to the desired ShapeFile
$tblname is the desired name for the table