What should I learn to make i-net database?

[MikeCox]

Hello!

I'm a self-taught VB database programmer, and I'm looking to improve my skills and qualifications by creating an internet database, similar to Monster.com or Amazon.com. I want users to have full search capabilities, and depending on each user's access level, I'd like them to have limited read/write access. I'm learning my way around Microsoft Front Page for the front end, but I'm having trouble determining wheather I need to learn ASP, IIS, or both, or neither. ASP seems to be the answer, but I haven't been able to find enough info in one place to determine for sure. I'd also like to avoid having to make the user download the VB runtime files just to browse the database. What technology(s) does the professional websites like Monster and Amazon use? Thanks for any and all input!

-Mike Difference between a madman and a genius:
A madman uses his genius destructively,
A genius uses his madness constructively.

 

[woyler]

As far as monster I am not sure. But, if you know VB, you are not too far from writing ASP pages that can use VB script and VB dlls to make your pages and database interface. If you do take that route, may I suggest that you forget Frontpage and use something like InterDev. I know that there are other editors out there, I am just not too familiar with them. Personally, if it came down to it I will use notepad over Frontpage. Frontpage adds too much 'crap' into everything. As far as IIS, you will need to at least have it, or personal web server installed to develop and test.

 

[MikeCox]

Interesting, thanks for the good info! So it looks like I'll need a book on ASP and possibly InterDev. When you say I'll at least have to have IIS or personal web server to develop and test, does that mean that these two components can simulate the client-server environment strictly for testing? I guess I'm not 100% clear what these applications are even for (lol). I have MTS, will that suffice? Difference between a madman and a genius:
A madman uses his genius destructively,
A genius uses his madness constructively.

 

[woyler]

You will need to set up a PC as a web server. You can do this with your home PC, for instance, by using IIS or personal web server. I honestly do not know everything that is necessary and provided by IIS. Put simply, if you are not running as a web server the page will not be resolved in the browser. You will get the 'The page cannot be displayed' error. Picture it like this:
You have a Web server.
On the Web Server you have:
1) A database with a table, and fields named Person,and ID
2) A vb dll named MyObject, with a method .GetName
3) An ASP page with a text box,that a user will enter an ID and the page will display the Person related to the ID.

The page itself will have, say HTML to display the text box and command button. The user types in an ID and clicks the button. The VB script will now take over and create an instance of the dll and pass the value of the text box to the GetName method. This dll makes a connection with the db, gets it's result and passes back a recordset to the page. The script now has the value and combined with some HTML the result is displyed.
This is a very general example. There are many rules and different methods for web pages. I would get an ASP/VB book. If you have WIN2K, things might be a little easier because it has IIS,MTS with it. MTS is for transaction management. Such as a Bank app. You have a debit object and a credit object. When a transaction happens, you need both the credit and debit to do thier jobs or fail the entire thing. MTS helps you group these objects and manage that area. You do not need MTS for web design any more that you need it for VB apps. Use it as needed and when you can, but if you are just learning this area, I would go without until you get a bit more comfortable.
Hope this helps.