Re: [Dataperf] DP Web again

[Michael Shadel]

Brian, Looking forward to setting down again some day and having another beer together, it may soon be time for another DP/WEB conference. Anyway I just wanted to say thanks for continuing to push interfacing DP with the web and all of your how to's. Thank You. PS: Thanks to everyone else that contributes to this group also. Michael Shadel DP user since 1991 Brian Hancock wrote: Hi Gary,   Before jumping in with a commercial webhosting company, you are best to set up for a DP web application at a very simple and basic level.   The components you need are: 1.    HTTP Server 2.    Scripting language 3.    DP 2.6y 4.    HTML editing tools to make life easier than hand coding     Although you can set up a full blown HTTP web server on a dedicated Linux or Windows server you can do this in a much smaller way, if you just want to get the concept up and running then you can do it all on the one machine. This could be a Windows or Linux box but for simplicity stick with the OS you know best. For me that is Windows. I have not ever had any success with using Microsoft IIS as it has so many restrictions and permissions etc, so my first steps were with Apache, which you can download free from http://httpd.apache.org/ but you are by no means limited to that.    You could get a very basic HTTP server up and running that will work with DataPerfect with something like TinyWeb, which is a 53k executable that runs under Windows, which amazingly for its size handles CGI and is simply configured. It’s like the DP of the web server world, you can read about it and download it free from   http://www.ritlabs.com/en/products/tinyweb/ It doesn’t have any slick interface for is own operation and it doesn’t need any elaborate setup. Ok, I am going away to see how quickly I can set up TinyWeb. Ok, now I am back 7 minutes later which included opening the TinyWeb web site, finding the download page, downloading the software, creating a folder and a couple of subfolders, unzipping TinyWeb, creating a short HTML document (like very short), opening a DOS Window, reading the instructions and type the commandline to start TinyWeb, and then point my browser to http:://localhost (or http://127.0.0.1)...  7 minutes to have a functioning webserver.  I must admit I knew it would be that quick because I did it once about 3 years ago and it took me marginally longer then as I was nervous about it.   You then need a scripting language where you can run the scripts that act as the middleman between DP and the web browser. For a Windows you can use ActiveState which you can download free from http://www.activestate.com/activeperl/ This is also a no brainer and quick to set up. Just download and run the setup.   After you have downloaded and Installed Perl then you should go back to TinyWeb (or whatever your HTTP server you have decided on) and test that the same CGI scripts eg the Hello.pl script supplied with TinyWeb.   You have probably heard about DP2.6y. You interact with DP via DP reports and a web parameters panel from within the PERL script…   Actually if you can hang on a week, I will set up a generic script, and a generic database template, and a mini HowTo… and post it here so you do it all yourself,   Regards Brian       -----Original Message----- From: dataperf-boun...@dataperfect.nl [mailto:dataperf-boun...@dataperfect.nl] On Behalf Of Gary_Gabriel Sent: Thursday, 30 April 2009 4:22 PM To: dataperf@dataperfect.nl Subject: Re: [Dataperf] Email / Fax servers   Brian Hancock wrote: >  > Hi Everyone, >  >  >  > I hate to be seen as the ever persistent evangelist, but here I go again. >  >  >  > Here endeth my preaching. >  >  >  > Brian >  >  >  > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hi Brian, maybe you could start your preaching again and give me a few of your valuable tips. Since our last exchange I have been working slowly and consistently to continue web enabling DP according to my needs which I will succinctly summarize for your comments. I divide my use into local and online. My focus clearly lies on security meaning that files are held locally, online time is minimized and backup of all data is ensured locally under my control. Online is used to connect a distributed team first using local resources then networking them with online resources.   Right now I focus on implementing on the local installation that moves as much of the web research, project management and knowledge bases into the browser and e-mail client. As we discussed this is Internet Messaging. An optimum solution would center the work seamlessly in the browser and e-mail client. I assume that a user today will not use the outdated DP user interface and that a "modern" UI needs to be built. You offered some suggestions of which I reviewed the CPAN, Perl ... My limited resources force a principle of action that disregards anything that does not immediately jump out as being implementable (within my means). - Firstly I need a UI for DP that 1) enters typical table data as in DP panels. This is not currently the major obstacle. 2) Applications such as Sales Cycle Management or Sales Consulting are conceptual activities where the relationships between the information entered into text fields are critical. Typical for analysis and evaluation, the user needs space to enter the text and refer to information in other text fields. This is the challenge to give the user an overview of the fields to enter information and to develop the relationships between the data objects. I need a form. - I reviewed CPAN looking for Perl and CGI scripts and there were form processing systems but nothing as freeware or something that I could use to get started. My expectations may have been wrong. Maybe you could give some implementable tips on how to build a form that locally enters the information in a format that allows it to connect to DP and import it. My system concept includes the use of a conversion engine (DP?) so that can format form information. I am also trying to sort out the priorities of using (learning) Java and Perl.   I appreciate you getting up on your soapbox and any tips you can provide. Thanks- Gary   BTW- looking in the future could you recommend a web hosting provider that installs DOS EMU so that DP can be installed and used in an online application.   _______________________________________________ Dataperf mailing list Dataperf@dataperfect.nl http://lists.dataperfect.nl/mailman/listinfo/dataperf _______________________________________________ Dataperf mailing list Dataperf@dataperfect.nl http://lists.dataperfect.nl/mailman/listinfo/dataperf

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