Anyway, you can use file_open_write/file_open_read to get text-based files.
You can read strings by file_str_read. file_str_read reads the string until a "," is be found. Then you have to use file_str_read again and read the next string.
This way I had programmed an online level database.
i think sowmeonw wrote a mysql plug in for 3dgamestudio .. here is the thread. That should work if you know how to use mysql (not that difficult to learn)
Vistit www.mysql.com and download the documentation. Also search the web for free tutorials. There are softwares that allow you to write your sql script very easy, but you need the basics, thus i'd recommend reading the documentation and search the web. That is how i've learned it somehow
beware the sock! - 
