Dynamic Databases on Web Sites      
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Why use databases on-line?
Some web sites make extensive use of databases to store information about their products/services/customers.
These web sites are interactive as they can be updated, edited and queried live.

Essential Features for an Interactive Online Database

  • Display records - so any user can see the records
  • Search facility - the user should be able to search the database for items.
  • Order/Update facility - the user can order/update using a form


Web databases are interactive so that:

  • You can provide new content to a database by filling in a form and sending the details online
  • Database content can be retrieved dynamically in response to a user’s request/search.
  • On a retailing site customers can see product content in the database and send requests for orders to the firm/organisation running the web site

 

(1) Simple Flat file and Relational Databases

The easiest to construct and use are ASCII text file databases (tab, comma or pipe delimited) These are easy to construct in a plain text editor such as 'Notepad'. They can contain links to images.

  • The database will be controlled by a cgi script (usually a Perl script) held in the cgi-bin on your hosting server
  • The database is uploaded onto the server in the normal way
  • The database will be interactive. Any user can view the records or query the database if the script allows it.
  • Normally the web master will have a password protected interface to upload, save and edit changes.

(2) Dynamic Flat file and Relational Databases

These are more complex databases where all the database routines will be held serverside using interactive technology such as PHP or ASP and powered by more complex query languages such as SQL.


What you select depends on 2 things
  • If you are going to use a server-based relational database you need to see what your hosting account supports.
  • If you want to link a database made in a program like Access to the web site you must have a Windows hosting account