Here's a tough question :: Creating a link to a local .mdb file. 4

[garymgordon]

Ok. This is kind of urgent. So, if someone can help me I would greatly appreciate it.

I am simply trying to create a link to a .mdb (access database file) that is on our server - that will open in IE 5.5.

I have no problem in creating a link to an Excel (.xls) or Word (.doc) file ... and having it open in IE 5.5. But ... when I create a link to the .mdb file ... for some reason .. after it finds the file and asks me if I want to open it or save it .. when I click on OPEN IT ... it goes through some crap and then nothing happens.

When I take the link ... such as:

F:\FILES\name_of_file.mdb and put this in the address bar, it works fine and it opens up in IE 5.5.

But, when I create a link in my HTML page that looks like this:

<a href=&quot;../../FILES/name_of_file.mdb&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;>name_of_file</a>

it does find the file.
But ... it won't open it up.

Again, when I try an Word file or Excel file - they all work fine and open up. Again, when I put the link in the address bar ... it opens up fine.

Any ideas as to what might be wrong??

Thanks,
Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[calista]

At the risk of being insulting, do you have Access installed on your server? I had a similar problem with PDFs. They wouldn't open until I installed Acrobat Reader on my server, even though I had it on my workstation. My apologies if you have checked into that. Calista :-X
Jedi Knight,
Champion of the Force

 

[garymgordon]

You are not being insulting.

But if you are correct ... I am going to really be pissed at myself.

hahahaha


I don't think I do have it loaded on the server that is holding the .mdb file.

Is that my problem??? LOL

Or is this just a 'guess' at this time??

Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[garymgordon]

Calista,

Note: I do have Access on MY computer.

So, isn't it using MY ACCESS to open the file?

Does the SERVER .. that the .mdb file is sitting on also need it?? I am confused?

Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[calista]

Well, it was a guess based on my experience with the PDFs. For that matter I don't have Access installed on my production server, and I cannot open the database file on the server even though I have Access on my computer. Hope that solved it! Calista :-X
Jedi Knight,
Champion of the Force

 

[garymgordon]

No. It didn't solve it.

What I did ... as a test .. was created a smaller .mdb file and tried opening it from the same place on the server and .. I had no problem. It took a while, but it opened.

The original file is about 2 meg. But I don't understand why this would be a problem.

Another thing ...

Why .. if I can place the file location such as F:\FILES\name_of_file.mdb in the address bar ... and it opens up fine ... will it not work when I call the file from a links - as in: <a href=&quot;&quot;>file</a>

So, any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks so far for your input!!!

Gary

PS: I like the name.
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[calista]

Unfortunately, that's all I have for you. I agree that it doesn't make sense that you can type it in the address bar and it works, but a link does not. Hopefully, one of the gurus on this forum will have a better idea. I've only been programming web pages for about 8 months, and what I do know I've learned on my own and from the friendly, helpful folks on this site. Good luck! Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Calista :-X
Jedi Knight,
Champion of the Force

 

[keypounder]

depending on server IIS or Apache have you tried to create an ODBC and load your DB in either SQL or MySQL
if I am correct? MS Access allow for a swift easy transfer from your HDD to a DB app on server

regards

 

[garymgordon]

Thanks.

But for some reason I think it has something primarily to do with the fact of the file being over 2 megs.

I'll keep trying to see if there's away around this.

Thanks again!

Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[Bentley22]

Question: Are you trying to open the database file &quot;within&quot; the browser window, or have the client download it and open it with their resident copy of Access? I think either way they'll need access on their system.

 

[garymgordon]

Bentley22,

I have trying to have them open it within their browser.

And, yes ... they do and will have MS Access on their computer.

The problem is ... for some reason .. it works fine if I put the path to the file directly into the address bar, but if I try to call it from a 'link' <a href=&quot;&quot;> ... it basically tries , but fails to display the file.

I think it is due to the size of the file, since it works fine on a smaller file.

So, .. the question I think &quot;IS&quot; ... how to get the file to load up as if we entered it into the address bar .. as opposed to what ever is causing the problem now.

I am just confused as to why I can enter the path to the file in the address bar ..and it opens fine, but when I try to pull it using a &quot;link&quot; ... it gives me &quot;adjetta&quot;.

Any other thoughts??

Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[Bentley22]

Interesting, try as I might, I cant' get a database to open in IE browser window. It just opens up access, and displays it there. This is using a DB thats about 1.3 megs in size. Its also Access 97, if that has anything to do with it.

I think the difference between your typing in the path to the file in the address bar and clicking on the link has to do with how IE handles it. If your typing it in the address bar, IE looks at the file, and if it can't load it directly, it asks the OS what program it needs, and proceeds to display, if possible. In a link, if its not a file type recognized as a web type document (.htm, .jpg, etc..), or a document that has an associated plugin (like PDF's), it will throw its hands in the air and just offer to download the file.

Have you tried searching Microsoft's Knowledge Base? It may be vast and confusing, but sometimes you can strike gold.

 

[garymgordon]

Bentley22,

I'll give the Knowledge Base a shot.

Thanks,
Gary
Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/

 

[Niv3k]

I am thinking it is not possible to do what you want, with Access 97. If you want to use a database through a web page, you will either have to use .ASP's on the server or upgrade the database to 2000, and convert your forms to web pages.

To my understanding, Access 97 is just a front end to the Jet-DB engine. And to get your jet db in a browser window, you need to rewrite / convert it.

I tried this very thing last year and wasn't successful. But hey, I've been wrong before...

Kevin

 

[garymgordon]

Thanks! Gary M. Gordon, LLC
webmaster@garymgordon.com
Certified Web Developer ::
Application Programmer

http://www.garymgordon.com/