Visio HTML custom properties database connectivity

[Salman]

I have 30+ network maps in a single visio file (< 3MB). These are posted on a
webpage using visio's export to html. The size of the website is less than 10
MB.
I want to link the shapes to a back end data base (Access) that defines the
custom properties of certain shapes such as routers/switches etc.
I am using Visio 2003 Professional SP1. Where do I start?? My front end is
ready, all I need is to create a back end and link it to my visio shapes
somehow. Also, will the properties show up in my HTML pages dynamically or do
I have to export to HTML each time a change is made in the database?
How will the size of my webtsite be affected if i made the necessary changes.
Finally, is there a way to execute some commands such as traceroute etc on
the website hosting the pages?
There are a lot of detailed questions here, and I appreciate your help

 

[Al Edlund]

the linking of object custom properties to a database can be accomplished
with the db wizard
custom properties can be exported/displayed in html
update of html is not automatic
calling executables from an html page is probably an appropriate question
for the IE forum

al

 

[Salman]

Thanks Al
I managed to connect a few objects to the database and it seems to work
fine. But I have too many objects to manually link each one to the database.
Is there any way to automate this process?? Can I link the primary key of the
database to the shape name or something and have it set the properties? I
want to do this since the same router appears in several maps....
Thanks once again

 

[Al Edlund]

it's a "yes, but" type of answer. you end up doing it when you create the
drawing, not after it has been created.
the alternative is to write code to create the drawing's from the database.
this alternative has the advantage of allowing you to then have the code
export as html (or whatever supported format you require) and save a step.

al

 

[Salman]

thanks once again Al
it seems like i might be able to link the objects on the diff pages with
some code...can u point me in the right direction? how do i get started?
i dont have the sdk and since im a student employee at texas a&m i dont have
the authority to buy software....

i appreciate your help

 

[Al Edlund]

visio sdk is 'free' from the msdn web-site, assumes you know one of
vb6/vb.net/c#. The vb examples of course in most cases can be done in vba
which is embedded in the product.

al