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Building Web Database Applications Using Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP)

Building Web Database Applications Using Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP). AIR Pre-Forum Workshop June 2, 2001 Timothy J. Thomas Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Purpose and Goals. Purpose Extend sites’ functionality and usefulness Database applications

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Building Web Database Applications Using Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP)

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  1. Building Web Database ApplicationsUsing Microsoft Active Server Pages (ASP) AIR Pre-Forum Workshop June 2, 2001 Timothy J. Thomas Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

  2. Purpose and Goals • Purpose • Extend sites’ functionality and usefulness • Database applications • Programming (simple!!!) • Exposure to an available tool set • MS Active Server Pages (ASP) • MS Front Page • Goals • First-hand experience • Add new functionality to our sites

  3. Agenda • Introductions, Purpose and Goals  • ASP and FrontPage 2000 • Passing information between web pages • Connecting databases to web pages • Making connections: Writing to a database • Making connections: Pulling from a database • Wrap-up and Questions

  4. HTML Quick Review – Attachment A • Structural • <HTML>, <HEAD>, <BODY> • Elements • Links <A HREF=“…”> • Images <IMG SRC=“…”> • Tables <TABLE>, <TR>, <TD> • Forms <FORM> • Scripts (Java Applets, ASP) • Formatting • <CENTER>, <BOLD>, <P>, <BR>, <HR>

  5. What’s the Connection? Web Server • Internet Information Services (IIS) • Netscape • O’Reilly WebSite • Unix Databases • MS Access • SQL Server • Oracle • Sybase

  6. Bridging the Gap: “Middleware” • CGI (Perl, etc.) • Active Server Pages(www.microsoft.com/frontpage) • Cold Fusion (www.allaire.com) • iHTML (www.ihtml.com)

  7. ASP - Some History • Python family • Ambiguous associations… • Realm of the dead - fear inducing - “portending ill” • Rejuvenation - sly - “spread of pure humanity” • Killed Cleopatra and several attendants • Symbolizes “vital energy” to be awakened “When a snake appears in a dream it represents powers from the depths of the psyches of others, powers as old as the primordial reptile itself.”- Hans Biedermann

  8. Active Server Pages (ASP) • “Server-side execution environment” • Translation: Runs on the server, not the client • “Create dynamic content” • Translation: Pages change upon action of user • “Combine HTML, scripting and components” • Translation: Some HTML, Some programming • Returns HTML to user

  9. Active Server Pages (ASP) • Free • Included in IIS 4.0 - • Additional setup in IIS 3.0, other servers • Platforms • Windows 2000 • NT Server 4.0 • NT Workstation 4.0 (Peer Web Services) • Windows 95 (Personal Web Server) • NT 3.51 is NOT supported • Servers • IIS 3.0 – 4.0 • O’Reilly WebSite • Others? • File Extension “filename.asp” • Language Delimiters <% … %>

  10. MS FrontPage 2000 HTML Editor • WYSIWYG (sometimes - though better than before) • Formatting Aids • Themes • Navigation Bars • Site Maintenance Tool • broken link checks • Built-in Wizards and Templates • Forms • Database Connection Wizard • Advantages / Disadvantages

  11. Passing Information b/w Pages • “Request.Querystring” – Developer Input • Uses • Structure • Example • Web Forms – User Input • Uses • Structure • Example

  12. “Request.Querystring” • Uses • Pass variables from one page to another • “Persistent” variables • Database connection

  13. “Request.Querystring” • Structure • Extended hyperlink • filename.asp?abc • filename.asp?name=abc&institution=xyz • Reference querystring in body of page • <%= Request.Querystring %> • <%= Request.Querystring(“name”) %>

  14. “Request.Querystring” - Example • Goal: Pass variable to linked page • Build extended hyperlink • http://../../exPass.asp?Querystring

  15. “Request.Querystring” - Example • Create file to link to - exPass.asp (Att.B) • Optional: assign shorter variable name • <% fldExample=Request.Querystring %> • Reference querystring in body of page • <%= Request.Querystring %> • <%= fldExample %> • Add other page elements, formatting, links, forms, etc. • Exercise!!

  16. Web Forms • Uses • Pass variables from one page to another • “Persistent” variables • Database connection • E-mail connection (mailto: timthom@iupui.edu) • Search engines

  17. Web Forms • Structure – (Att.A-2) • Action File <…Action=“filename.asp”…> (a) • Fieldstext (f) textarea (h)checkbox (I) radio (j)hidden (k) • Field Attributes • <…Name=“fldName”…> • <…Value=“xyz”…>

  18. Web Forms - Example • Goal: Pass form contents from one page to another • Name • Title • Institution • Email • Phone

  19. Web Forms - Example • Build HTML form - exPass.asp (Att. B) • Attention to form field names • Set action=“exPassForm.asp” • Create action file - exPassForm.asp (Att. C) • Reference form fields in body of page • <%= Request.Form(“fieldname”) %> • Add other page elements, formatting, links, forms, etc. • Exercise!!

  20. Making Connections • PUSH: Write information TO a database • Online surveys • Feedback forms • Data gathering • Other? • PULL: Read information FROM a database • IR Reporting • Sky’s the limit • Data – based sites • Other?

  21. Making Connections - Push • Create database and table • ODBC database (Access, Excel, Oracle, etc.) • Column names = Form field names • Define database as System Data Source (DSN) • Start/Settings/Control Panel/ODBC/System DSN • Create / Edit ASP file(s) • Open Connection to database • SQL: “INSERT INTO tblName (fields) VALUES (fields)” • Lather, Rinse, Repeat

  22. Making Connections – Push Exercise • Create database & table • MS Access: mdbAir2001.mdb • Table: tblParticipants • Name • Title • Institution • Email • Phone • Define database as System Data Source (DSN) • Start/Settings/Control Panel/ODBC/System DSN • DSN = “Air2001”

  23. Making Connections – Push Exercise • Create exPush.asp (Att.D) • Form field names = database column names (Name, Title, Institution, Email, Phone) • Form Action = exPushAction.asp

  24. Making Connections – Push Exercise • Create exPushAction.asp (Att.E) • To “handle” form data • Convert Form fields to variable names<% fldName = Request.Form(“name”) …%> • Open Database Connection, using DSN • SQL Statement“INSERT INTO tblParticipants (name, …) VALUES (‘”& fldName &”’, …)” • Acknowledgement Text / Formatting

  25. Making Connections - Pull • Verify layout of database table • Define database as a System Data Source • Start/Settings/Control Panel/ODBC/System DSN • Create / Edit ASP file(s) • Open Connection to database • SQL: “SELECT * FROM tblName ORDER BY …” • Incorporate query results into web page • Table • Hyperlinks • Populate forms • Querystrings

  26. Making Connections – Pull Exercise • Verify table layout / attributes • Column names (Name, Title, Institution, Email, Phone) • Data types (Text, Text, Text, Text, Text) • Allow Zero Length? (Y, Y, Y, Y,Y) • Create System Data Source • Start/Settings/Control Panel/ODBC/System DSN • DSN = “Air2001”

  27. Making Connections – Pull Exercise • Create / Edit exPull.asp(Att.F) • ASP action file • Open Connection to database, using DSN • SQL:“SELECT * FROM tblParticipants ORDER BY institution” • Note temporary data set name: rs_part

  28. Making Connections – Pull Exercise • Incorporate query results into web page • Read one data record at a time • <% Do While Not rs_part.EOF %><%= rs_part(“name”) %>…<% rs_part.movenext loop %> • Hyperlink - Querystring • <A HREF=“filename.asp?<%= rs_part(“name”)%>

  29. Parting Shots • Per John Milam and Mike Wood (5/99) • Take the risk. Build it and they’ll come. • Build it in-house to get more control • Learn SQL. Use it everywhere you can. • Webify everything you can. • Be sure what you want to do with your life. • Per Tim Thomas • Content, content, content. • Align development with office goals. • Just because you’ve figured out how to do something doesn’t mean you should do it. • Use your powers for good, not evil.

  30. Contact Information Tim Thomas (317) 278-2414 timthom@iupui.edu Information Management and Institutional Research Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis 355 North Lansing Street, AO 139 Indianapolis, IN 46202 http://data.imir.iupui.edu/air2001/

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