[kinderyum]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if a web building company can do the following for me...

What I need is a web site built for me that draws information from a database on not only my computer but my sisters. After the initial process of setting the website up, I want to be able to 'maintain' the info on the website via the database on my computer. For example, if I was selling model aeroplanes, I would like the web building company to set up the site and data connections etc, but from there I want to 'take over control' and be able to go into the databse and add/delete/modify the model aeroplanes that are for sale on my site. However it would be ideal if the company could be there 'on stand-by' incase some error occurred on the pages or something.

I have tried building the website/databases myself but have come to a stand-still when it came to having the product details display on the website (from a database).

Thankyou for any (and all) help!

[Gibbs]

Originally Posted by kinderyum

What I need is a web site built for me that draws information from a database on not only my computer but my sisters.

Er... that doesn't make much sense. The whole point of having websites is so that they can be remotely viewed by whoever you want. And yes, of course this sort of service is provided

[DoubleHelix]

You'd have to set up your computer and your sister's computer to be wide open to the Internet. Not at all a good idea. The "database" should be stored on a server along with the rest of the site.

[brez]

This service is setup as standard by most web designers but, it has already been mentioned that security can be an issue.

Its much the same as, your website can be updated from anywhere you have internet access.

[kinderyum]

Forgive me (newbie)...could you please explain how a databse (for example a Microsoft Access databse) is kept on a server and how my and my sister can update it...

I thought that the database (original) was on your computer and then a copy of it was sent to your server (web host) when you upload/publish your site? I didn't know but assumed that changes had to be made to the original database (the one on the computer)..?

Thanks!

[Rockn]

The database is set up or installed on the web server with administrative pages on your website to add or change the database which in turn updates your website content. Do some research on server side scripting like PHP, ASP and similar.

[kinderyum]

OK,that's making sense now. Pretty cool.

I really would have like to have built the website myself, but it just seems impossible for what we need. i.e. my sister and I both need to make changes to the database (attached to the web page) but we live in different states.... does anyone know a work around?

[DoubleHelix]

There's nothing special to do for two people to have access to change a file on a website. You both use the same login info for the web host to upload whatever files you want.

If people in China can read your website, I assure you it makes no difference whatsoever for two people in different states to update a file on a server.

[kinderyum]

thanks double helix, how exactly is it done though??

say if this morning I add a new product to the Access database stored on my computer... then I 'publish' the new info using Expression Web...

what if tonight my sister needs to add another new product? how does she get a 'copy' of the database on her computer (which includes the product I added this morning).... will it work if she downloads the webfiles (remote to local, using Expression Web)? i.e. will that put the new product I added this morning into the database stored on HER computer?

oh, so confusing!!! sorry guys!

[DoubleHelix]

How will people who visit your website read this data from the Access database? Unless you code some interface, they can't, and then you've just created a "website" that only two people use to share one Access database file.

[kinderyum]

Unless you code some interface

I've been using MS Expression Web's ASP controls, i.e. the gridview control

[kinderyum]

MAJOR BREAK THROUGH! I've managed to display my links in gridview succesfully and they work! YAYAYAY! I *might* be able to build the website myself afterall!!!

But I'd still appreciate some help on the issue of updating the database between my sister and I.....I hope I've explained it clearly enough so that you all know what I mean.

[jbutton7]

I'd say the proper way to go about it would be to store the database on a server with all neccessary security configured. Then you would create a seperate page (for just you and your sister, obviously password protected) with a seperate GridView which allowed you to change the information displayed in the GridView and then push it out to the database on the server. This way you would never have to directly access the database. There are many other benefits of doing it this way as well. Its relatively simple to create an update button on a GridView. Do you follow that?

[kinderyum]

Originally Posted by jbutton7

I'd say the proper way to go about it would be to store the database on a server with all neccessary security configured. Then you would create a seperate page (for just you and your sister, obviously password protected) with a seperate GridView which allowed you to change the information displayed in the GridView and then push it out to the database on the server. This way you would never have to directly access the database. There are many other benefits of doing it this way as well. Its relatively simple to create an update button on a GridView. Do you follow that?

Not really, that's a bit over my head I'm afraid LOL. I understand the concept but wouldn't have a clue how to set it all up

[jbutton7]

May very well be simpler than you would think. Its actually possible to do this without writing any code.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms972948.aspx
Some good info on making a gridview editable and updatable

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms178331.aspx
Some good info on creating a login page

At least consider it, because in the end it would be much easier. There are other solutions of course, I know some were discussed above. You could always put the database up on a server, use your gridview for viewing data, and then manually uploading the database every time changes are made to the data.