Start again with database?

[Peter Goldfield]

Maybe ready to take the plunge - my site www.duckspool.com/goldfield has a
section "thumbnails" which contains a small picture and text (eventually
many hundreds) which link through to a "details" page which then link to
"offer" or "buy" pages.
Would it be easier to create a database and somehow use asp pages to
transfer the information from place to place?
I so what do I do, and in particular what order? I'm OK with Access.
My "galleries" are made in Photoshop or similar and then imported into FP
for tweaking, so the pictures are already there.
My thoughts are:
1. I create a database with fields for "image" (or i've been reading it
should be links to images - ones already in FP? can I somehow browse to pick
up the links?) and fields for "name" and "price" "info" etc.
2. I import that database into FP and alter it when necessary from there?
3. I use the database wizard to completely rewrite my forms? (was doing
quite well up to now!) This makes it easy (easier?) to transfer info from
place to place as I've been doing?

The reason I'm reluctant to start on this procedure is that my database
would be pretty constant and not be updated very regularly!(sadly bur
realisticly), and therefore not use all the powerful possibilities.

Sorry to be so longwinded, simple advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Crash Gordon]

Peter,,,no answers from me, but I want to do exactly what you are trying to do, so I will be following this.

I'm pretty good with Access but not at all with MySql. I know my server supports MySql but not sure about Access. This may be a consideration for you as well.

ok i sit back with my espresso now and watch....

Rob


| Maybe ready to take the plunge - my site www.duckspool.com/goldfield has a
| section "thumbnails" which contains a small picture and text (eventually
| many hundreds) which link through to a "details" page which then link to
| "offer" or "buy" pages.
| Would it be easier to create a database and somehow use asp pages to
| transfer the information from place to place?
| I so what do I do, and in particular what order? I'm OK with Access.
| My "galleries" are made in Photoshop or similar and then imported into FP
| for tweaking, so the pictures are already there.
| My thoughts are:
| 1. I create a database with fields for "image" (or i've been reading it
| should be links to images - ones already in FP? can I somehow browse to pick
| up the links?) and fields for "name" and "price" "info" etc.
| 2. I import that database into FP and alter it when necessary from there?
| 3. I use the database wizard to completely rewrite my forms? (was doing
| quite well up to now!) This makes it easy (easier?) to transfer info from
| place to place as I've been doing?
|
| The reason I'm reluctant to start on this procedure is that my database
| would be pretty constant and not be updated very regularly!(sadly bur
| realisticly), and therefore not use all the powerful possibilities.
|
| Sorry to be so longwinded, simple advice would be greatly appreciated
|
|
|
|

 

[Steve Easton]

Peter:
Could you give us a little description of exactly what you want to take
place when a visitor clicks a thumbnail??

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[Peter Goldfield]

Ok Steve - Robo's got it easy- can't afford expresso here....
When visitor cliks a thumbnail OR a picture in a "gallery"
1. It goes through to "details page" that has a biggish brother of
thumbnail, a name, a price and maybe some generic "comments" And some
template graphics.
2. On clicking a. "offer", or b. "buy" on "details" page visitor goes
through to "offer form" or "buy form" which has same or maybe smaller
biggish brother of thumbnail, price and name from details page. It would be
nice if eveything were filled in and added up, including a delivery charge!
3. On clicking submit on "offer" form I get an e-mail with an offer, on
clicking submit on "buy" form I get someones credit card details to put into
my epos machine!!!!

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Yes, this is fairly easy to accomplish with "hand coded" ASP/VBScript and
using Access as the database. It is some what of a limited shopping cart
application.

--

==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle,
MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================

 

[Crash Gordon]

two cents from robosan:

don't forget to secure the credit card page.

or maybe just 86 all the hand coding and go with a paypal solution...easy to do if you're only gonna have a few products. ( i use it for one of my sites )

just a thought from the bleachers
back to the polo ponies !

r.


| Ok Steve - Robo's got it easy- can't afford expresso here....
| When visitor cliks a thumbnail OR a picture in a "gallery"
| 1. It goes through to "details page" that has a biggish brother of
| thumbnail, a name, a price and maybe some generic "comments" And some
| template graphics.
| 2. On clicking a. "offer", or b. "buy" on "details" page visitor goes
| through to "offer form" or "buy form" which has same or maybe smaller
| biggish brother of thumbnail, price and name from details page. It would be
| nice if eveything were filled in and added up, including a delivery charge!
| 3. On clicking submit on "offer" form I get an e-mail with an offer, on
| clicking submit on "buy" form I get someones credit card details to put into
| my epos machine!!!!
|
|

 

[Steve Easton]

I'm thinking redo things, but when the thumbnail is clicked open a page that
contains a frame. The frame would contain the text and links to click to
Bid or Order which would also open in the same frame. This way the variables
such as Picture name and price could be in the containing page and easily
passed to the frames page via javascript.
Or as you said create an access database with the text descriptions and
links to the image files.
You're hosted on an IIS server so Access shouldn't be a problem. ( I think )

Also the key word here is credit card. You're going to need a certificate
and a secure ( https:// ) server to run / process the form.

To be perfectly honest, you may want to consider "hiring" some web
developing expertise to help you get going in the right direction.
--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[Peter Goldfield]

The frames thing looks promising - thanks - can you just expand on that a
bit - is there an example anywhere you know of?
I've used a an access database before and have a secure area ready and
waiting....but would definitely prefer to keep things javascript....

 

[Peter Goldfield]

to be more specific steve - the bit that says "easily
passed to the frames page via javascript." !!

 

[Peter Goldfield]

Steve you're a genius!
Robosan if you're listening (freebie eavesdropping), using frames is b-y
obvious i't makes me want to cry.
Don't need the picture transfer now 'cos it's sitting there staring me in
the face - as are price and name.
It would be nice to transfer those to the boxes in the form but no longer
difficult for prospective buyer to enter amount as he/she doesn't have to
remember it!
Steve says it's easy to transfer from "containing" frame to "other" frame -
via javascript, tho' I'm still in dark about that....(g)

R - let me know what you're up to and where...

 

[Steve Easton]

Genius is a bit of a stretch, but thanks.

Lets approach this like building a house. You can't build the roof before
the foundation and walls are done.
Get the basics of the pages and frames worked out and then we'll go back and
add the javascript "plumbing"
;-)

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed..................
...............................with a computer

 

[Crash Gordon]

I'm here.
Looks good!
R.

| Steve you're a genius!
| Robosan if you're listening (freebie eavesdropping), using frames is b-y
| obvious i't makes me want to cry.
| Don't need the picture transfer now 'cos it's sitting there staring me in
| the face - as are price and name.
| It would be nice to transfer those to the boxes in the form but no longer
| difficult for prospective buyer to enter amount as he/she doesn't have to
| remember it!
| Steve says it's easy to transfer from "containing" frame to "other" frame -
| via javascript, tho' I'm still in dark about that....(g)
|
| R - let me know what you're up to and where...
|
|

 

[Peter Goldfield]

Ok Steve, time to bring in the plumbers!
I've replaced a few details pages with framed ones that work a dream
click any of the first three thumbnails at :
http://www.duckspool.com/goldfield/thumbnails/thumbnails.htm
to see the much improved results of clicking "but" or "Offer"

It's so easy to highlight and drag a name if you can't type that if I wasn't
the boody minded masochist that I've become I'd leave well alone! but.....

Now I'm feeling guilty about not using Jim's scripts!....

 

[Peter Goldfield]

Thanks for the test Robo - got your mail momentarily then I think my spam
buster chewed it - would you send again?
Peter

 

[Crash Gordon]

yah...just don't block siriussystems.com


| Thanks for the test Robo - got your mail momentarily then I think my spam
| buster chewed it - would you send again?
| Peter
|
|