Do I need a database?

[Bagheera]

I'm a relatively new user of FrontPage and I don't actually know what I need
to look up in Help in order to proceed. This is what I would like to do:

I would like to create a page, not dissimilar to this Newsgroups page, with
a list of topics down the left hand side. When a user clicks on a topic, I
would like the information relating to this topic to be displayed on the
right hand side of the screen. If the user then clicks another topic, the
right hand side needs to be refreshed with the information relating to the
new topic.

I've trawled through Help but I'm afraid I just don't know the name of the
feature(s) I should be looking for. Is a database the answer?

Many thanks.

 

[clintonG]

No, you do not need a database. All you need is hyperlinked topics that
reload a new instance of the page with the topical documents displayed.

On the other hand, when there are a lots of topics and sub-topics using a
database becomes much more effective. I don't see how FrontPage could be
effectively used to create a data driven menu/navigation system without
scripting involved.

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

this is just a "static" page, like you'll add the topics on the left and the
content on the right by "normal" means and not have users input the
questions over the web?

if it's not like a forum, you could fairly easily make it as you would any
arrangement of web pages.
also, does it have to be just one page or could it be a series of pages that
just look similar?

tell us what kind of server you're working with.

HTH

--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/

 

[Kevin Spencer]

I've trawled through Help but I'm afraid I just don't know the name of the

feature(s) I should be looking for. Is a database the answer?

What you want is some kind of discussion forum. There are any number of
server-side scripts available out there, some for free (like mine at
http://www.takempis.com/discussion). Many use databases, but if you're
relatively new you might want to study up a bit before getting into them. If
your web site is hosted on a Windows server, you would use ASP oir ASP.Net.
On a Unix server, more likely PHP.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Neither a follower nor a lender be.

 

[Murray]

It could certainly be - depending on how many topics and how many support
pages for each topic.

But - if you are just getting started, the climb will be steep. I would
recommend spending a while at your local books store drinking triple mocha
lattes and browsing their HTML/Site Design/FP books. Google is also your
friend here....

 

[Bagheera]

Thank you for your speedy reply. Sorry, I need a bit more help here. I don't
want each page of information to open in a separate window. I tried creating
a two-column table with the topics listed in the left hand column, then
looked at how I could get the related information to display (via hyperlinks)
in the right hand column, but this is where I got stuck. I couldn't find
anything in the hyperlink window that would help - have I missed something? I
also tried inserting a bookmark but just couldn't get this to work. Either
the command was dimmed or it just didn't save it, but perhaps I don't need to
do this anyway.

Please could you elaborate on your reply and explain in a bit more detail
how to get the right hand side bit to display. Incidentally, each set of
information is currently stored on a separate web page, if that helps.

 

[Bagheera]

Sorry, I've confused this issue by comparing it with this page. I meant a
page that looks like this one, not one with this sort of functionality. I'm
not trying to create a forum. It's a reference site only. I'll come clean and
admit that it's all about wine and wine-tastings, but take someone else's
point about the triple mochas!

Sounds like you're talking about a forum. FP has a rudimentary one called Discussion web (or something like that)...it's kinda basic though.

Depending on what's available to you on your host [asp, access, mssql OR php, mysql ] you may want to look into a forum or portal.

I'm a relatively new user of FrontPage and I don't actually know what I need
to look up in Help in order to proceed. This is what I would like to do:

I would like to create a page, not dissimilar to this Newsgroups page, with
a list of topics down the left hand side. When a user clicks on a topic, I
would like the information relating to this topic to be displayed on the
right hand side of the screen. If the user then clicks another topic, the
right hand side needs to be refreshed with the information relating to the
new topic.

I've trawled through Help but I'm afraid I just don't know the name of the
feature(s) I should be looking for. Is a database the answer?

Many thanks.

 

[Murray]

You are thinking about static pages with a frames mindset. That's usually
not productive.

If you want to use frames, then do so with the knowledge that there are many
(non-newby friendly) speedbumps lurking there. Make your topic list in one
frame and your linked explanation in the other. Link each topic to a new
content page, and target that link to the content frame.

If you want to avoid frames, then either use templates or server-side
includes for your menu, and link each menu item to a totally new page that
has the desired content. Each page would also have an instance of your
topic navigation scheme, brought in either by the template or the SSI.

 

[Chris Leeds, MVP-FrontPage]

I'm thinking a single .asp page with links down the left with a query string
(page.asp?faq=somekindofwine),
then in the cell to the right get the faq title and maybe server.execute a
plain text file into the page that matches the faq name.

--
Chris Leeds,
Microsoft MVP-FrontPage

ContentSeed: great tool for web masters,
a fantastic convenience for site owners.
http://contentseed.com/
--

 

[Bagheera]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. The only problem is that I'm afraid that
I don't understand most of it. I did warn you that I was a novice. The frames
solution sounds the clearest interpretation of my requirements but I have
been warned by everyone to steer clear of frames, so I bypassed that chapter
in the manual. FrontPage still didn't have any template, even using frames,
that did what I wanted.

With my limited knowledge, I'm going to have to avoid anything involving
programming, code, scripting or any of the other goodies that make for an all
singing - all dancing website. I was hoping that someone might be able to
give me a few keywords to look up in Help for a simple solution.

The current page is: www.loudwaterwineclub.org.uk/past_events.htm
At the moment, clicking on a topic opens the information in a separate page,
but a one-page solution is what I'm really seeking.

If I'm trying to run before I can walk, sorry! But thanks for your input.

 

[Murray]

Without frames, a single page solution is not available to you.

I am not quite sure why your images are not being pulled from the cache,
however....

 

[Andrew Murray]

Yes a database is a starting point, but to have a "discussion group" type
thing is a little more involved than you've described here.

Search the internet for "discussion group" or "bulletin board" scripts.

A good site to start at is www.hotscripts.com which has a variety of
application & scripts across a variety of platforms - Windows, Unix - with a
choice of scripting lanaguages and database formats e.g. perl, php, mysql,
asp, ms access etc.

 

[Andrew Murray]

Are you accessing microsoft.public.frontpage.client through a web interface?

Since many of use are probably using news reader software/email programs
(Outlook Express for example) to view this newgroup, you're describing
something that not all of use are using and doesn't give us a good idea of
what you're wanting to do.

Sorry, I've confused this issue by comparing it with this page. I meant a
page that looks like this one, not one with this sort of functionality.
I'm
not trying to create a forum. It's a reference site only. I'll come clean
and
admit that it's all about wine and wine-tastings, but take someone else's
point about the triple mochas!

Sounds like you're talking about a forum. FP has a rudimentary one called
Discussion web (or something like that)...it's kinda basic though.

Depending on what's available to you on your host [asp, access, mssql OR
php, mysql ] you may want to look into a forum or portal.

I'm a relatively new user of FrontPage and I don't actually know what I
need
to look up in Help in order to proceed. This is what I would like to
do:

I would like to create a page, not dissimilar to this Newsgroups page,
with
a list of topics down the left hand side. When a user clicks on a
topic, I
would like the information relating to this topic to be displayed on
the
right hand side of the screen. If the user then clicks another topic,
the
right hand side needs to be refreshed with the information relating to
the
new topic.

I've trawled through Help but I'm afraid I just don't know the name of
the
feature(s) I should be looking for. Is a database the answer?

Many thanks.