A few ideas needed

[GIGN]

1. XML DOM
How good is the XMLDOM at keeping data integrity when faced with concurrent requests?

With the unreliability of Access I am using XML more and more, but do not really know how good it is in this situation. Is using Application.Lock() good enough to make sure there is no corruption when multiple users are making changes to the same document?

If it is, then I can use XML in place of Access - when SQL Server is out of the price range of my client.

2. Secure logins
One of my hosts tells me .htaccess is a unix only concept - even though one of my other hosts provides this on IIS/4.0!
So what is going on? Either IIS is beng run on a linux server, or the guy is not telling the truth.

Can .htaccess be run on an NT Server?

If not, then what is the best way to produce secure admin log-ins for example. Is the only option a secure connection, or is ASPEncrypt reliable enough?

I am aware that this is done quite often with no protection for the submission - is this just a statistical thing?
Like there is so little chance that someone would intercept that it is not worth taking any securoty measures?

What is your usual aproach to this problem?

Kind Regards,
Ben.

 

[link9]

Wish I could provide good advice on the XML stuff. I've been horribly remiss in picking up a good book on the subject. However, I would like to point out something for a database backend that is often overlooked:

MSDE (Microsoft Data Engine)

It's not SQL Server, but it's very close, and is scalable, handles concurrency, all that type of stuff. You miss out on some of the advanced features of a full fledged SQL Server, but for most smaller applications, it's more than enough. You can get a copy at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/addins/msde/default.asp

FYI, it's a big download.

It's distributable, too. In order to distribute it legally, you must be a licensed user of a Visual Studio product. You can get more details on the license at the link above. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised to see MS put such a robust product out there basically for free, as long as you've paid for something else of theirs.

hope that helps
paul

 

[GIGN]

It is a test platform only though is it not? It only accepts 5 concurrent users or something, but can scale to thousands. I use it to develop for SQL Server.

Yep it is a great tool, but SQLServer hosting is prohibitively expensive for many people.

I must find some more stuff out about XML ;-)

Cheers Paul,
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[link9]

ah yes. They basically say that it isn't recommended for >5 concurrent users. It won't blow up or anything.

But true. I had not even seen that.