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There
are a lot of advantages to a database accessed using only a web browser.
Start with the fact that there is no software to install for the end
user - all he needs is a compatible browse. This means in many
cases your database application can be used on computers with any of the
main operating systems. There are several code generators
available to let you web enable a database and they range widely in
price. However, I have found one that I believe gives the most
"bang for the buck" in ASPMaker.
The program includes a quick wizard generator that will let you create a simple web based application with a menu for table selection, table or list view pages with simple search ability, and view and edit pages for all the tables in the database you selected during the quick wizard process. However, if you stop there you have a functional web database application, but miss out on a lot of the power of this inexpensive program if you don't spend more time with the project. The customization capabilities - without coding - are notable. Click the thumbnail below to see the field view for a table in my demo database..
Among the choices are check boxes to indicate whether a database field should appear in the list view, form view, be read-only, and so on. If you stop after the quick generate wizard, and you have a lot of fields in the database they will all be shown in list view and result in too much scrolling.
Other ASP code generators may not allow you to easily make a field like an email address or web site URL "clickable" so that email program or web browse r will launch with the value click on in a table. With ASPMaker this is a simple matter of a selection from the View As column and selecting Hyperlink. Then, choose the appropriate prefix and you are done. Too easy.
Also, ASPMaker makes it very easy to add drop down lists to a field - called SELECT edit tags that can speed data entry and help to ensure data integrity. You can either supply a list of values which would be available for data entry, or use a table to supply the values. In my test application I am using both a list of values and a table. For the People table I am using a list of values for the title field to limit values to Mr., Miss, etc. In the Contacts table I am using a Table Select to get the Full Name field from the People database. If you just use the wizard, your tables will only have basic search functionality. However, if you view the table options you can easily change this to use either Basic, Advanced or Both. In my sample application I am using a simple search for the People table and both for the Contacts table.
More sample screen shots of the web application can be be seen below, or see the link at the top of the article for a link to try the simple app on-line.
Although it might not be obvious at first, a pop up calendar can also be used to make date entry/selection easier on the end user. The trick here is to select the date field and choose validation and use the calendar. After choosing that option as in the next screen ..
Your pop up calendar will be available as in the screen below.
The generated .asp code can be edited and customized, however, you will find you can quickly create simple database driven web pages in a short period of time. This review is of version 2.2 and a new version is due in early September. More information about ASPMaker from
e.World Technology Ltd. can be found on their web site at: http://www.hkvstore.com/aspmaker/ The Bottom Line:
If you have just occasional need to develop simple database driven web applications, and only need to generate .ASP pages, you can't go wrong buying this program. If you just create one simple application, you can do it so quickly and easily with this program, that you are likely to feel it was the best money you ever spent on software!
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