using vB's code on another database

[flat6]

I have another database, call it links, which contains some data that's totally unrelated to vB... just a bunch of data I need to use on another part of my website. My vB3 database is forum.

Now, I want to modify the admin panel so that everything can be run from one panel. While I'm at it, I want to code the editing of the links DB from the vB table. So, how do I use the vB style code to create my own section in the vB admin panel?

I've done a little work in the index.php and now I have the menu I want in the left hand frame, linking to links_admin.php. Inside I have some

PHP Code:

if ($_REQUEST['do'] == 'edit') 


type of statements. However, I got lost beyond that.

Help?