Page that User can change

[mswilson16]

Hi all,

I am new to web design and have been asked to create a website that can be changed by admins that dont have any web design knowledge or any web design programs.

It is very basic information that is needed. The page is to show a list of employees and then have a paragraph about them, and also to show a picture.

If possible they would love to just be able to open something up in word and then edit the text and then save it. I was thinking to have a database that they can go into and then use asp to access the db.

If anyone could help me out on how to program this, it would be great!

Thanks in advance...

mswilson

 

[travisbrown]

You want a very basic content management system. There are lots of tutorials with downloadable code on the web.

Here's one to get you started:

http://www.asp101.com/articles/jesus/simplecms/default.asp

Google should point you to lots.

What tool are you using? Dreamweaver? I think there might even be a tutorial in the DW documentation on on the MM site.

 

[mswilson16]

Thanks travisbrown!

Just have a couple of questions

1) If I use an access database, does this limit the website to how many users access can handle? I have been told that you need to use SQL or MSDE for web databases...

2) How could this handle the images? Normally in an access database I just save the path of the image, and then use vba to dynamically change a picture control on a form. Do I do the same thing here except get the asp to automatically update of the path?

Thanks again!

Mswilson

 

[travisbrown]

Well, Access is fine for light use. If there are only a few users at any given time, Access can work well. SQL Server is preferred for heavier use. How many users are you predicting at any given time? This is for internal use?

In any respect, the principles are the same whether you use SQL Server or Access. Just a different connection script and perhaps a few syntax changes in the SQL queries.

MSDE is just the dev version of SQL Server. It isn't, as far as I'm aware, capable of any server function, so not suitable for web apps. It is strictly a desktop and local tool.

There are three appraches to images. first and easiest is if you store the images on a mutually shared drive (if this is an internal app). In this case you just need to save the path to the image.

If you don't have such a setup, there are tow other approaches. You can upload as an OLE object in Access or a BLOB in SQL Server, or upload to the webserver and save the path. In both cases you need to upload the image to the webserver or database. This is something ASP is a bit unwieldy with. I always suggest a COM solution because they are a little faster and easier to implement than a pure ASP solution. Check out something like Persits ASP Upload. SA FileUp is good too. There are ways to use just ASP. There are several posts here about it, and you can find scripts on the web (4guysfromrolla.com, maybe). George Petrov wrote a great extension for Dreamweaver called Pure ASP upload, which is handy if you use Dreamweaver's default extensions.

 

[mswilson16]

hey travisbrown,

this website will be on the web, internally they will change the data, but then, the data that will has been changed will be published on the web... does this change any of your comments?

thanks for all your help, you have got me out of a sticky situation...

mswilson

 

[travisbrown]

Well, you will have to upload the images to the webserver or db then, otherwise you have to invoke a manual process of copying files and pasting path.

Access vs. SQL Server....your call. I've used Access on the web just fine for light to moderate use.