Newbie Questions

[RH610]

I am entirely new to web-design, but a veteran programmer in Visual Basic. I am trying to build my first web-site (this will be hosted off-site by an ISP). The concept is simple. Each visitor must login with a name & password (as is done on many sites; including this one). The site also has a directory containing files (PDF). After logging in the visitor will be able to view ONLY the files he has subscribed to (subscription will not be done online). The visitor will have a control file containing the names of those files he can view. I want to present a list of those files and then let him click one to view, then go back to the list after viewing. My questions are:

1. Is this all doable with FrontPage alone?
2. Are any add-ons or scripts, etc. required?; especially for the login. This is something that is common on most sites? How is it done? Is it built into FrontPage?
3. What is the best (and maybe cleanest) way to handle presenting a list of files to be viewed; bearing in mind that I only want to present to visitor those files he has signed up for (based on the control file).
4. Do I need to check with the hosting ISP about whether he handles some type of add-on or would most hosting ISPs handle FrontPage and any necessary scripts, add-ons, etc.?

Thank You (for putting up with my naive questions)

 

[hithere]

What you're describing would probably be best done by creating page(s) using .asp. A lot (most) isp's will support this. Check with your isp as to what they will/won't support. FP is weird in some of the ways it does things so requires that "extensions" be installed on the server in order for some of the built in stuff to work. So:
1. Is this doable in FP alone? Yes, and no. You can certainly create all of the pages you need in FP but...as I recommend above, using .asp/vbscript scripting.

2. Yep..gonna need scripting. Yes, logon/password setups are common in both vbscript and javascript. You might try

http://www.internet.javascript.com

they prolly have a couple. Or do a search at google or something for javascript + password. I don't believe it's built into FP but it may be there depending on the version you have.

3. This one's prolly gonna depend on how your setup. I would prolly use a database that would dynamically populate drop down menu(s) and then build a return to menu button into each page. Although you could probably also do it by placing a cookie on their machine...but that presumes that the user has them enabled. If you're in an intranet environment, that may be an option.

4. Yes.

A couple of things to keep in mind:
1. As you're a veteran at VB, vbscript may be easier for you to use than javascript as it is just a scaled down version of VB. That doesn't mean not to take advantage of javascript but for the core of your page(s) may be easiest.
2. Vbscript can do somethings in IE that it cannot in Netscape. Javascript is a little more cross browser friendly, if that's an issue in your case.
hth
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