Using Access 2000 w/FP2003 w/XP Home Edition

B

Bob Cultrona

Folks, I'm new to FP & the web world.

I've tried using the Database Interface Wizard to build a
database to integrate into a web page and get errors.

I created Access databases and cannot use them with
FP2003 w/o getting various errors.

I nosed around MS KBase and found a note that XP Home
edition does not support IIS.

Therefore, in order to create a "disk based" web site
(during development), do I need to upgrade my PC from
Home Edition to XP Professional Edition in order to use a
database such as Access ?

Also, if the upgrade is needed, recently I noticed
several upgrades to XP Pro with the note (not full
version). Any idea if these would work ?

Thanks in advance.........I'm semi-lost and very
frustrated with this whole process so far !

Bob
 
K

Kevin Spencer

Hi Bob,
Folks, I'm new to FP & the web world.

I've tried using the Database Interface Wizard to build a
database to integrate into a web page and get errors.
Click to expand...

Well, you've got a lot of guts, I'll have to give you that! New to the web
AND wanting to create a web database app! Better buy some Grecian Formula
today!

A web site can be nothing more than folders and files on a virtual directory
on a web server. This is what is referred to as "static" content. It is just
what it is, like a bunch of Word documents in a web folder, except that,
instead of Word, these are HTML documents.

When you want your web pages to dynamically display data fetched from a
database, you're talking about a different kind of animal: A Web
Application. A Web Application is what it sounds like: A program or
application that dynamically creates HTML documents based upon processing
logic on the server.

A Web Application, unlike a web site of static HTML documents, requires
certain things in order to operate. The first thing it requires is a web
server. A web server handles incoming Requests for web documents and
resources. In addition, IIS (Internet Information Services) also can (and
does) host ISAPIs (Internet Server Application Programming Interfaces),
which are a kind of application that is hosted in the context of a web
server. The web server receives a Request for a .asp or .aspx file, and by
the extension, knows to hand off the Request to the ISAPI that is assigned
to handle such requests.

In other words, you cannot use a "disk-based" (which means not using a web
server) web for database connectivity. You MUST use a server-based web, and
on a web server that supports the ASP or ASP.Net ISAPI. That would be IIS,
in your case.

XP Home does not support IIS. XP Pro does.
Also, if the upgrade is needed, recently I noticed
several upgrades to XP Pro with the note (not full
version). Any idea if these would work ?
Click to expand...

These? I don't see what you're looking at, so I can't say. You found
something somewhere that says something about something. That's all I know.

Best of luck to you!

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
I get paid good money to
solve puzzles for a living
 
R

Ronx

XP Home can be upgraded to XP Pro, so yes the upgrade versions of XP Pro can
be used. Do not lose or dispose of the Windows XP Home CD , recovery disc
(if applicable) or its wrappings. You will need these if the OS needs to be
re-installed.
 
K

Kathleen Anderson [MVP - FrontPage]

Hi Bob:
What kind of errors are you getting? Are you getting errors trying to create
the DRW pages or are you getting errors when you try to Preview the pages in
your browser? I am under the impression that you can use the Database
Results Wizard to create ASP pages in a disk-based web but they won't work
until you've published them to a Windows server that supports ASP and
Access.

--

~ Kathleen Anderson
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
Spider Web Woman Designs
http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/resources/
 
G

Guest

Kathleen,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I can create them ok under a
disk-based web site. When I try to use them (disk based)
via my IE browser to add test data to a database, I get
various error messages highlited in yellow.

I'm an old mainframe programmer and the thoughts of
moving code to servers before I'm even sure if they work
seems backward to me. At least at this stage of the
development process. I have no formal web or FP training.
Just a big reference by Paul Colligan. Seems this isn't
as easy as people seem to think.

From what you said. Does the process work this way.

I create a database with the DRW, using ASP & making it
disk based.

I then need to "publish" this to a server before I can
play with them ?

Meaning I cannot do development work on my stand alone
PC ? Needs to be published (FTP'd) to a server that
supports ASP & IIS ?

Also, are part of my problems trying to develop FP apps
under XP Home edition ?

Thanks so much for your insight. All of my mainframe
buddies "play" with FP and Dreamweaver, but never tried
to develop anything other than a static web sites.

One more question, then I'll stop bugging you.....are
templates all they are cracked up to be ? I'm looking at
a companies template (company is AllWebCo) because the
graphics are alot better than I can do. Plus, they seem
to have alot of code done that I can tweak. Any thoughts ?

Bob
 
G

Guest

Yeah Kevin........I'm wondering if I'm biting off more
than I should.

Thanks for the reply. Couple of questions.

Your reply cleared up what I was slowly coming to realize.

Yes, I want to do a "web application". I'm an old
mainframe programmer and "in the old days", we developed
a screen & program, added data to test databases and
tested the application via CICS.

I was under the impression FP could work the same way.

From what you said, I do need to publish my screens and
databases to a "web server" that supports ASP, IIS and
the ISAPI's you mentioned.

Does this mean (publish) I need to move it to the company
that will host it someday ? FTP it to their server ?

Is there a way to create and test web applications on my
PC BEFORE FTP'n it anywhere ?

Or is the normal development process is to create the
HTML pages and databases on your PC, then FTP it to a
server ?

Would a good option be to purchase a small server or can
I do what I want via upgrading to XP Pro ?

Thanks a million for the reply. I don't have any web
folks to bounce ideas off and sometimes just reading all
the terminology makes my head spin. I try to relate it to
Cobol, CICS & DB2........

Bob
 
K

Kathleen Anderson [MVP - FrontPage]

Inline.
--

~ Kathleen Anderson
Microsoft FrontPage MVP
Spider Web Woman Designs
http://www.spiderwebwoman.com/resources/

Kathleen,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I can create them ok under a
disk-based web site. When I try to use them (disk based)
via my IE browser to add test data to a database, I get
various error messages highlited in yellow.
Click to expand...

That's because ASP pages/code need to 'served" from a server to work.
I'm an old mainframe programmer
Click to expand...


Me, too :)

and the thoughts of
moving code to servers before I'm even sure if they work
seems backward to me. At least at this stage of the
development process. I have no formal web or FP training.
Just a big reference by Paul Colligan. Seems this isn't
as easy as people seem to think.

From what you said. Does the process work this way.

I create a database with the DRW, using ASP & making it
disk based.

I then need to "publish" this to a server before I can
play with them ?
Click to expand...

Yes, before you can preview them in your browser.
Meaning I cannot do development work on my stand alone
PC ?
Click to expand...


Sure you can. You just can't test :)

Needs to be published (FTP'd) to a server that
supports ASP & IIS ?
Click to expand...

Yes, and hopefully you'll http publish with FrontPage (not FTP).
Also, are part of my problems trying to develop FP apps
under XP Home edition ?
Click to expand...

You should be able to develop FP apps under XP Home, you just can't test
them. What you might want to think about is having a subweb created on your
live site where you can publish your ASP pages to, and you can test them in
the subweb before you publish them to your root web. Or, you could upgrade
to XP Pro and install IIS.
Thanks so much for your insight. All of my mainframe
buddies "play" with FP and Dreamweaver, but never tried
to develop anything other than a static web sites.

One more question, then I'll stop bugging you.....are
templates all they are cracked up to be ? I'm looking at
a companies template (company is AllWebCo) because the
graphics are alot better than I can do. Plus, they seem
to have alot of code done that I can tweak. Any thoughts ?
Click to expand...

I've never used a template - I can't help you there.

Kathleen
 
G

Guest

You're the best !

Thanks so much. Now I see why my hosting company spoke
of "sub-webs". Kinda like the old test/production regions
of CICS......

I liked the "you just can't test" line.....go figure.

Bob
 
K

Kevin Spencer

Hi Bob,

Hang in there. I never worked on mainframes, but I started programming with
C on the DOS platform. It's just a matter of catching/keeping up! Bits are
bits, no matter how you slice 'em. Right?
Does this mean (publish) I need to move it to the company
that will host it someday ? FTP it to their server ?
Click to expand...

FrontPage has the capability of publishing web sites. It's a little more
complicated than simply moving files from one machine to another. It is best
to use FrontPage to do your publishing for you. It does create a "copy" of
your web site on the server. Don't use FTP.
Is there a way to create and test web applications on my
PC BEFORE FTP'n it anywhere ?
Click to expand...

Second time you've used the word "FTP." Best to not think about FTP. Again,
let FrontPage handle that for you. Yes, there is. Just use a machine that
has IIS installed. Windows XP Pro does.
Or is the normal development process is to create the
HTML pages and databases on your PC, then FTP it to a
server ?
Click to expand...

"FTP" again! Erase that acronym from your memory before it's too late! ;-)

You can develop locally and then publish, or work on your live site live. I
would advise the former rather than the latter. But it's a matter of your
choice.
Would a good option be to purchase a small server or can
I do what I want via upgrading to XP Pro ?
Click to expand...

XP Pro will do like a champ!

--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
..Net Developer
Microsoft MVP
I get paid good money to
solve puzzles for a living
 
G

Guest

Kevin.....publish...publish....publish.

Got it !

Sounds like the missing piece to make this work is XP Pro.

Thanks so much for your guidance. I saved what you guys
said. Trying to switch from one world to another takes
some time.....but you're right, bits are bits are bytes,
no matter where they live !

Bob

p.s. When I saw DOS, I had memories of IBM Sys.36 &
my "octal" assembler days on the PDP11. Once again,
thanks !!!
 
A

Amber

Kevin,

I, too, am thinking of developing a web application that will allow Access
to populate a FrontPage-based web. I just wanted to be sure I understood...

I can publish the web for testing from my laptop (which is running XP Home)
to my desktop (which is running XP Pro) for testing?

Amber
 
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