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Link Webpage to a database

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by techrepublic 1 view

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What I need to do here should be simple, but I am being pulled in many directions. I need to create a web page that will link to fields in a database, spreadsheet or any document from which data can be retreived. I have a database of names, addresses, images, etc. that I would like to have read from a web page. As an example, if the webpage uses a table, and the first cell in that table is looking for "NAME" and the first "NAME" field is, "Column A Row 1" in the database or spreadsheet, the cell in the webpage would reflect the correct value.

In this way, the webpage would never need to be modified. Any changes made to the supporting database would be reflected in the webpage. The idea is to have one person keep the database accurate,and never need to touch the webpage. We use this type of OLE (Object Linking Embedment) in documents to generate form letters.

I tried to use the Frontpage Web Database Wizard, but that does not seem to work. We do not need to add data to the database from the webpage at all. The actual web page design is being done in Dreamweaver. I have not worked with SQL, and I am looking for what I thought should be a simple solution. Is there a variable that I can place in the webpage to search for data in another place? What other options would work? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

12 replies

by sgt_shultz

check out programming language called 'php' and the php support sites. google 'php'. you might be saved from reinventing the wheel...

by joseph moore

I am not a developer, so I can't post the code you need. But what you are asking is done on thousands of web pages every day.
I have done this myself using FrontPage, it is that easy!
You need to build an ODBC connection that references your back-end data source (Access database, spreadsheet, SQL server, whatever). Your web pages (.ASP pages, for example) only make the ODBC call, and they ask for the fields in the db that you need.
Then, yes, you do not change the web page. You only modify the data, and the ODBC connection gets the data and displays it in the web page.

Try this web page for a starter:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnodbc/html/odbcsql.asp
(please remove any spaces)

hope this helps

by kdrungilas

Your best bet is the Macromedia website. As developers of Dreamweaver, their site is full of how tos, tips and downloadable code. Try the page on setting up database sources: http://www.macromedia.com/support/dreamweaver/ts/documents/dwmx_dynamic_faq.htm

You don't say which version of Dreamweaver you are using--i.e., ultraDev, v.4.0, etc. You also do not name your database application--only that its not SQL, so its hard to give you specific information on how to connect. Note: Php is only supported using MySQL (which is available on most hosting isp.) Are you hosting the web server yourself...on an intranet? or internet? That might make a difference as to whether or not you have access to MySQL.

by techrepublic

Well I can use DW MX or UltraDev4 although I have always used DW3&4. At this time I am a bit confused after reading the page from above on DWMX. I am not sure how a PHP document ties into a separate database. I downloaded MySQL v1.4, but am not surehow I add the data to a database and link it to the page. Am I missing something?

by techrepublic

It apears the answer from kdrungilas is pretty close, but it appears I am still missing a piece. I loaded MySQL 1.4 locally and opened DW MX. I created a site, set document type as PHP, tested connection, then from the + symbol create MySQL connection. From here, I entered a connection name, MySQL server, user, & password, BUT when I click on SELECT for a Database, I get the error, "HTTP Error Code 405 method Not Allowed." Any ideas here? This should be simple, I have tried everything I can think of. Any help is appreciated.

by techrepublic

If someone has the expertise to work with me for an hour to get this thing connected, I would be glad to pay for the time. I can be contacted directly at activenets@cox.net. Thank you.

by jdaz

You have not mentioned anything about the web server on which you are running your website. To connect to a database and get results you need some CGI scripting which can be done using Perl, PHP, Java, ASP, ASP.NET, C++ etc.

If you are running a Windows machine and your webserver happens to be IIS, then using ASP or ASP.NET will be a good idea. There are good articles available on http://www.asp101.com, more specific,

http://www.asp101.com/samples/database.asp

If your web server is on Apache then Java, Perl or PHP may be useful. You have to install and integrate them with your web server to make them work.

All the best..

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