Access and Web pages. 1

[ADWoods]

Hi all,

I have been thinking about making part of my database available to users via the internet. But am a little lost where to start and was wondering if someone could offer some advice¡K

Firstly some back ground.

I have a small MS Access database (2000) that I use for logging in user details and queries. The Access database hold only forms, reports and queries. I hold all the data in an MS SQL(2000) database. The Access front end is linked via ODBC to the SQL back end. I have to say it works beautify ļ

What I want to do¡K

I have a requirement to allow people to put data in to my database via a form. I also need them to be able to search the information and correct any wrong data. I will be using a password on the web site for security.

How??

Do I need to publish the form via IIS in a web page or create an ASP page linking directly to my SQL server? Has any one done something like this and can offer me any advice on this matter?

Thanks, ADWoods.

 

[Bullschmidt]

If the ASP Web pages can connect to the SQL Server database then the following would all work.

Here is something I put together about ASP that hopefully might help somehow.

You and others can have access to a database hosted on the Web from any location that has a browser with an Internet connection.

The Web database concept makes sense if you and your people want to do work in various locations in or outside the office and still be "plugged" in.

For example you could have employees enter timesheets or have sales reps log their contacts. Or perhaps you'd like customers to be able to check the status of their orders online without having to call the company.

If you want a Web database, typically what would happen is that a database such as Access or MySQL or SQL Server (basically just consisting of tables) would be put on the Web.

Then "dynamic" Web pages (actually ASP pages which include VBScript, HTML, and/or JavaScript) would be created acting like the old desktop database's queries, forms, and reports to access the database - all hosted on a Web Server.

Dynamic Web pages are similar in many ways to regular HTML pages. But they are "live" because the user can read from and write to information in the database. An example where you can login and add, edit, or view fictional customers and invoices is at

http://www.bullschmidt.com/login.asp

Not all Web hosts will handle dynamic Web pages but many do. The Web hosts that can handle ASP pages usually have a Windows 2000 operating system running an IIS Web server.

Here are a few good ASP sites:
o ASP101 (See the Samples Section) -

http://www.asp101.com

o 4GuysFromRolla -

http://www.4guysfromrolla.com

o Microsoft VBScript Language Reference -

http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/default.htm?/scripting/VBScript/doc/vbscripttoc.htm

And the following newsgroup is good:
microsoft.public.inetserver.asp.general

Or for a "quick and dirty" generic ASP solution to putting database tables on the Web that just requires setting up a configuration page for each table or query and uploading the database to the Web as long as you have an autonumber field in each table (and as a more advanced issue you'll probably sometime in the future want to create login capabilities), perhaps try something like this:
GenericDB by Eli Robillard

http://www.genericdb.com

Best regards,
J. Paul Schmidt

http://www.Bullschmidt.com

- Freelance ASP Web Developer

http://www.Bullschmidt.com/DevTip.asp

- ASP Developer Tips