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Searchable web page
I would like to know the specifics involved with setting up a searchable web page. I have a large list of items and I would ultimately like to provide a text field on one of my pages where viewers can submit a query and search this list of items by product name, description, catalog number, etc. How is this accomplished?.
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jshamlin:
Thanks for the comments. Your last suggestion is, for the most part, what I had in mind. the information would be in the form of a database (most likely MS-Access). How could I tie the data in such a format into something which is accessible to a viewer of my web site?
dpate
Thanks for the comments. Your last suggestion is, for the most part, what I had in mind. the information would be in the form of a database (most likely MS-Access). How could I tie the data in such a format into something which is accessible to a viewer of my web site?
dpate
Integrating a simple database into a Web site is fairly sophisticated. Maybe that's an understatement - it's "fairly sophisticated" when everything clicks into place and it runs the first try without any troubleshooting.
If you're using Access and you're hosting on an Internet Information Server, it's a little easier, but still no cake walk - you're going to need to write SQL queries into active server pages or "IDC/HTX" connectors and templates. (Some folks will try to sell you on a Perl kludge - which will work, but it's cantankerous and not very scalable.)
Anyway, the long answer is a few textbooks on SQL and Web database connectivity, and the short answer is "hire a pro." A WWW-savvy DBA may charge you a few thousand to hook up a relatively simple database, but if you're talking about a commercial site (you mention "products"), then it'll probably be worth it - if your database isn't fast and reliable, potential customers will look elsewhere.
If you need to go it alone, it'll be tough - there are a few tools out there designed to provide "wizards" or simple, GUI-driven processes for setting up Web databases (Symantec Visual Cafe and Front Page 97 come to mind). I can't give you any testimonials, though: I've always outsourced database development to a professional DBA.
If you're using Access and you're hosting on an Internet Information Server, it's a little easier, but still no cake walk - you're going to need to write SQL queries into active server pages or "IDC/HTX" connectors and templates. (Some folks will try to sell you on a Perl kludge - which will work, but it's cantankerous and not very scalable.)
Anyway, the long answer is a few textbooks on SQL and Web database connectivity, and the short answer is "hire a pro." A WWW-savvy DBA may charge you a few thousand to hook up a relatively simple database, but if you're talking about a commercial site (you mention "products"), then it'll probably be worth it - if your database isn't fast and reliable, potential customers will look elsewhere.
If you need to go it alone, it'll be tough - there are a few tools out there designed to provide "wizards" or simple, GUI-driven processes for setting up Web databases (Symantec Visual Cafe and Front Page 97 come to mind). I can't give you any testimonials, though: I've always outsourced database development to a professional DBA.
ASKER
Thanks again for info. I think I'll take your advice and farm this one out while I still have some hair left.
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