John Stewart wrote:
> Jack Killpatrick wrote:
> > John Stewart wrote:
<snippage>
> > > The tools available from M$ are not comprehensive
> > > enough to accomplish complex projects without significant programming
> > > background.
> >
> > Depends on how you define complex projects. You can get quite far with
> > Access by just using the interface tools built into it, for
> projects where
> > the interface runs on your LAN. For designing a web interface
> you would not
> > use Access at all. Access would just be used to setup the
> tables and maybe
> > design queries. You would need to use html forms and a
> scripting language of
> > some kind to manipulate the data in the database via a browser
> interface.
> >
> > Some Access developing, for LAN stuff, may require some custom coding in
> > Visual Basic for Applications, which would require finding
> someone who knew
> > how to do it, or spending time for learning. AS I said, though,
> you can get
> > quite far without using VB for Apps...and for web stuff you
> wouldn't even
> > need to touch VB for Apps, though you would need to know some kind of
> > scripting language that would run on your NT server and allow
> you to, um,
> > access the Access tables. Same thing with SQL server.
> >
>
> The VB seemed to add a layer of complexitiy at the web interface.
> Hence, the JavaScript, Perl, C, WebObjects, and Cold Fusion appear to be
> useful as the tools to move the data from the database to a visual
> display on-screen. Again, the challenge is getting the correct tools
> for the task.
VB, if used to pull data in and out of the database for web use is one
scripting option on the server side. So is CF, Perl, C. I'm not sure about
WebObjects (s'pose I could look, but too lazy). They have varied levels of
"complicatedness" and deciding which tool will be right for your project
will involve some research into both the products and the people you have
available to do the work. Nonetheless, all options will add a "layer of
complexity at the web interface". That's just the way it is if you want a
custom solution. Your other option would be something like NetObjects
Fusion, with it's templates and marginal data access. There's also a
Fusion-to-Fusion product that links ColdFusion and Net Objects Fusion,
though I have not investigated it, since I don't like NetObjects Fusion.
Other point and click prepackaged database solutions may exist for smaller
projects, but it sounds like your project will require the extra layer of
complexity and some good old, down home, hand coding.
Re: using javascript for your needs, I have not heard of anyone using it for
data access on the server side. Not sure if it can be done. I don't think it
has those kinds of hooks (maybe Netscape LiveWire?) Java, on the other
hand...yes. Javascript (and DHTML) will be handy if you know the browsers
your audience will be using. You can then load data into an array on the
client and only show bits and pieces of it using the javascript and DHTML.
Jack
____________________________________________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Join The Web Consultants Association : Register on our web site Now
Web Consultants Web Site : http://just4u.com/webconsultants
If you lose the instructions All subscription/unsubscribing can be done
directly from our website for all our lists.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
