Expert: Francois-Yanick Bourassa Date: 2/24/2003 Subject: Internet based database
Question Francoise,
I am looking to develop an internet based database application. I am new to this kind of development and, to be honest, am getting a little confused with the range of development environments and techniques. Should I use VB, ASP, DHTML, Javascript, SSL, IIS !?!?!
Any kind of advice or direction as to which path I should choose or look into would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Chris
Answer First of all, to devleop an internet based database application, you need a programming language that will let you work from the server-side, as well as, the client-side. Server-side means anything that will be connected to the web server like the database. And the client-side means anything that will work with the internet visitor computer/screen. So, VB exist to be install on a specific computer so it is not really good for web site. DHTML is use for dynamic contents but not communicate with the server-side so you cannot use it to interact with a database. JavaScript can be good for validation of form fields and create email interface but cannot communicate with database. SSL exist to secure specific web environment like credit card processing. It is not a programming language but just a secure folder identify with encrypted keys. IIS (Internet Information Server) is the web server for Microsoft Windows NT 4 (IIS4) and Microsoft Windows 2000 (IIS5) that will host all your website.
So, the answer is ASP (Active Server Page) that work on a IIS web server and can be compatible with SSL specific secure environement. You can create your code in ASP by using VBScript or JScript. The VBScript is based on the Visual Basic programming language and the Jscript is based on the JavaScript language.
Inside the ASP page, you will be able to communicate to any database as well a writing interface code by using dhtml code and javascript or vbscript code for the interface of your webpage.
To identify to the server that you talk to the server-side, you have to use the special tag: <% and %> so the server known you want to do something from the server-side (i.e. dialog with the database).
