How to connect DW & Access Databases - Getting Started

First off - if your database that your needing to view/modify records from is called say MMDB.mdb

Than you as the designer can set one up on your local machine by hitting the modify menu in DW, connections, this pops up a box - hit new - Data Source Name,
this pops up another box - hit define button. This pops up the systems ODBC Data Source Administrator box.

System DSN tab - hit add. If it is MS Access - select Microsoft Access Driver - *.mdb, click Finish, this pops up yet another box.

Here you type the DSN name, description and select the database.

Which if your database is called MMDB.mdb, you put for Data Source Name, MMDB, description - anything. Select teh database. hit ok. OK again to close the ODBC box, brings you back to DW's DSN list - type in Connection name
MMDB

Data Source Name drop down - pick MMDB from the list.

Hit ok,
closes that box - to the connections list. hit Done.


Now your DSN is set up.

DSN-less is another method we can also cover.

For your sys admin - they set one up the same way - you upload your database to a folder that they will give ISUSR read/write permissions too - and they can goto ODBC usually through Administrative Tools (or control panel).

But either way you have to upload the database to a folder that has read/write permissions.

Most websites follow a standart layout.

like lets say your website is on the D Drive.

D:
D:\myweb
then there are usually 3 folders

D:\myweb\htdocs (or html)
D:\myweb\logs
D:\myweb\private (or database)

inside the htdocs (or html) is usually the one webmasters see the most - here goes all html files - and any subfolders used in your website structure.

databases go inside the private (or database) folder. It is outside IIS's "home path" where a browser would goto. Little added security.

Thats it - your connected and can begin making dynamic content!

Best Wishes