ASP for improved directory architecture?

Thu Nov 4 20:32:13 EST 1999

Hi!

I need some advice. 

I'm interested in developing a simple but high-functioning Web site
architecture for a library site and would like some advice on the approach
I'm taking. 

(Ideally, I would love to run some commercial directory app on our server,
but that's not going to happen anytime soon.)

Initially, I built a three-part window using frames to improve organization
and function, using the top fold as much as possible, but I am increasingly
dissatisfied with this approach as I watch students (grades 9-12) use it.
An example of this three-part format: 

http://www.canandaigua.k12.ny.us/academylibrary/researchsites/encyclopedias/
default.htm. I've come to really dislike this though. 

I've just developed what I think is a better approach using ASP with
include-statements that, for a particular collection, writes some 250 links
into a single, short page, no frames, using a list of subjects. An example
of this ASP approach:

http://www.canandaigua.k12.ny.us/CAprofessional/default.asp

I wonder, however, am I moving in the right direction? I like the
simplicity of this latter approach, both for its form and function, but are
there problems ahead with ASP? I am also considering building a back-end
Access database for the site which teachers can contribute to online, and I
think maybe this will be a more workable architecture.

Any advice?

I'm a complete novice with ASP and have also noticed several technical
problems. For example, Netscape no longer runs the JavaScript for the
file-saved date, though IE5 does. And the <HTML>, </HTML>, <HEAD>, </HEAD>
tags and all in between loads for each file included. If I remove these
HTML and HEAD tags, the server adds them. Obviously, I need to "do" ASP a
bit more thoroughy. 

Thanks.
Mike Nyerges
Library Media Specialist
Canandaigua Academy Library
http://www.canandaigua.k12.ny.us/academylibrary/
mailto://mnyerges@rochester.rr.com