[WEB4LIB] Microsoft Web Server Products Questions

[TMGB]

An alternative to Allaire's Cold Fusion is the Z Object Publishing
Environment [Zope] ( http://www.zope.org ).  Zope is an open source
web/object server and is based on the Python ( http://www.python.org )
scripting language, also open source.  Zope uses database adapters and
five I am aware of off hand are ODBC, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL and
Sybase which allows you to "create a searchable web interface to the
data with a few mouse clicks" .  MS Access I expect can be accessed with
the ODBC adapter.  They also have " strong XML support ".  You can
download a Windows, Solaris, or Linux version from their download page 
( http://www.zope.org/Products/Zope/2.1.4 )as well as the source code if
you want to try to compile it for another platform which I believe
someone has done for even Macs.  Zope org members have created several
extra products available for free like Linux RPM files, fast-cgi
support, and lots of How-Tos and other documentation.  I have found
their email lists to be excellent help when I come across any problems
like trying to use a specific db adapter.  Yesterday I sent a question
to the list and got a reply within 10 minutes, although it was a dumb
html error I had done.  Zope has an excellent website with helpful
resources.

Thomas
( it's all FREE )
ps. Python has been described as executable pseudocode


>    -Allaire's COLD FUSION looks like an excellent product, but then again
> we're on a tight
>     budget. Still, would it work well for publishing MS Access databases?
>


"John S. Hambleton" wrote:
> 
> Thanks in adavnce to all who reply--I appreciate it.
> 
> My Library wishes to begin publishing Microsoft Access databases to the Web.
> I have to come up with the best way(s) to do it. I solicit your advice.
> 
> 1. I believe that the best way to publish MS Access databases is to use
> Microsoft
>     server products--in particular, Windows 2000 Server (formerly NT), and
> the Internet
>     Information Server (IIS) that comes with.  Would you agree?
> 
> 2. The Windows 2000 ADVANCED Server is somewhat pricey, given that we are a
>     Library in a state-funded University. But there's a Windows 2000 Server
> (not ADVANCED)
>     product available. Which is less expensive and should work fine. Do you
> agree,
>     disagree?
> 
> 3. As far as the actual PUBLISHING of MS Access databases, research tells
> me that this
>    could be done a number of ways in the IIS Web Server environment:
>    The IIS environment would allow us to use Active Server Pages coding. Is
> this true? Do
>    we need to purchase anything else to make Active Server Pages? I see
> that Macromedia's
>    Drumbeat 2000 product makes ASP code FOR you. Would this be a worthwhile
> tool
>    to invest in?
>    -I suspect we could always write ASP code ourselves with Notepad. Yes/No?
>    -I suspect I could go the .CGI route in IIS, that is, coding .CGI's in
> Visual Basic or Visual
>     C++. Agree/disagree?
>    -Allaire's COLD FUSION looks like an excellent product, but then again
> we're on a tight
>     budget. Still, would it work well for publishing MS Access databases?
> 
> 3. How LARGE are some of your MS Access databases? I got to believe that
> there's a limit
>     to how large these files can be before performance suffers and you need
> to go to
>     MS SQL Server or Oracle. What is the limit?
> 
> I administer a NOVELL 3.12 server for local CD-ROM resources, and a
> Linux/Apache web server
> for in-house developed web pages and .cgi's. So, I'm getting into new
> territory with Microsoft
> Web Server products. Thanks again.
> Mr. H
> 
> +John S. "Dilbert" Hambleton
> +Olson Library
> +Northern Michigan University
> +Marquette, Michigan 49855
> +LMS 6.5.0, GTO 6.5.0
> +
> +Phone:   906-227-2741
> +E-mail:  jhamblet at nmu.edu
> +
> +Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.

-- 
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                      Rock and Rule
             Zope Rocks -- http://www.zope.org
           Python Rules  -- http://www.python.org    
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Thomas McMillan Grant Bennett      Appalachian State University
Computer Consultant II             University Library
bennettt at am.appstate.edu          
http://www.library.appstate.edu/webmaster/
Voice:  828 262 6587	           FAX:    828 262 3001

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