Using database software to create HTML documents

[Walter Lewis]

On Thu, 2 Nov 1995, asmith wrote:
>      I was wondering if anyone has experimented with using a database 
>      software program (Dbase, Access, Fox Pro ... etc..) to create a HTML 
>      coded document?  
>      
>      It seems like it would be useful when you're creating a page with lots 
>      of repetition and similar data (for example, a list of web sites 
>      followed by short descriptions).     
>      

No doubt many, ourselves among them.

We use the EMWAC WWW server on Windows NT, as so have access to the WAIS 
software ported to that platform.

One project involved creating a template in Microsoft Word and then 
merging the Access database.  Split out as individual HTML docs, and 
index with WAIS  (try http://www.hhpl.on.ca/edu/htd/htd.htm).
This has the disadvantage of taking relational tables, transferring them 
into flat "docs" that are static. The upside is that it used technology 
paid for for other purposes (=cheap)

A current set of experiments revolve around Cold Fusion, a trial version 
of which we run on the same machine (source from Yahoo).  Cold Fusion 
uses the ODBC drivers that can reach into a variety of PC databases using 
SQL syntax (Access allows you to cut-and-paste this stuff) and combine it 
with a results template.  If you have no aversion to raw HTML codes 
then the Cold Fusion templates are *relatively* easy to construct. (try: 
http://www.hhpl.on.ca/sigs/ehs/db/index.htm)  A couple of caveats:  the 
machine serving this up is a drive enhanced, processor deficient 486/33 
working its guts out and the 16 Mb of memory are already overtasked (CF 
recommends a minimum of 24) In otherwords I care that it works, not that 
I couldn't make it faster (=$$).  Cold Fusion is $499US.

The third alternative, and one we're beginning to take a look at (at 
least since that excellenAccess '95 Conference in Fredricton last week) 
is WAIS SF.  The standard NT WAIStoolkit does full document searching, 
and I'm looking for a structured/fielded datafile.  The key (and please 
correct this statement if off-base) is that WAISSF at first blush appears 
to be flat-file.  There is also a very primitive port of the CHIDR Z39.50 
server to NT which we will be assessing (the WAISSF ilooks like a compile 
job ...shudder)

Good luck.

Walter

Walter Lewis		  		     walter.lewis at sheridanc.on.ca
Deputy Chief Librarian/Systems
Halton Hills Public Library, Georgetown, ON Canada L7G 2A3 (905) 873-2681