An Overview of Database Access on the Web An Overview of Database Access on the Web Using ASP and Microsoft Database Technology Sheffield Hallam University 2003

Structure of Session Lecture: An Overview of Database Access Over the Web (30 mins) Lecture: An Overview of Database Access Over the Web (30 mins) Reading exercise 1 (20 mins): Reading exercise 1 (20 mins): A. Introduction to Client Server technology on the web B. Introduction to HTML, Scripting Languages ASP technology C. An introduction to ASP D. Getting acquainted with Microsoft Access databases Activity 1: Experimenting with HTML (20 mins) Activity 1: Experimenting with HTML (20 mins) Activity 2: Experimenting with ASP (25 mins) Activity 2: Experimenting with ASP (25 mins) Activity 3: Playing with the Shopping Cart e-commerce Site (15 mins) Activity 3: Playing with the Shopping Cart e-commerce Site (15 mins)

Structure of Presentation Introduce ASP and Microsoft Database technologies Introduce ASP and Microsoft Database technologies 3 Tiered Network architecture 3 Tiered Network architecture Example scenario Example scenario Simulate working example of ASP Simulate working example of ASP Demonstrate Shopping Cart e-Commerce Site Demonstrate Shopping Cart e-Commerce Site Summarise Presentation Summarise Presentation Discuss areas for further study Discuss areas for further study

What is Microsoft Access? Microsoft’s economical, Small-Scale RDBMS Microsoft’s economical, Small-Scale RDBMS Currently release is Access 2002 (XP) Currently release is Access 2002 (XP) Little brother to Microsoft SQL Server Little brother to Microsoft SQL Server Front-end GUI building functions Front-end GUI building functions Moderate performance, 100 max simultaneous users, good enough for smaller e-commerce projects Moderate performance, 100 max simultaneous users, good enough for smaller e-commerce projects Intuitive GUI, VBA programming, can build self- contained database applications Intuitive GUI, VBA programming, can build self- contained database applications

Access 2002 – Integrated Development Environment

SQL Server SQL Server is very popular SQL Server is very popular Similar functionality to Access Similar functionality to Access Many more advanced features e.g. stored procedures, triggers Many more advanced features e.g. stored procedures, triggers SQL suitable for larger scale e-commerce i.e 1000’s simultaneous users SQL suitable for larger scale e-commerce i.e 1000’s simultaneous users Well worth being familiar with it! Well worth being familiar with it!

SQL Server IDE

What is ASP? ASP stands for Active Server Pages ASP stands for Active Server Pages Developed by Microsoft Developed by Microsoft Normally coded using VBScript Normally coded using VBScript Language used to ‘script’ operations on the server – invisible to client machine Language used to ‘script’ operations on the server – invisible to client machine Highly popular, used by 1000’s Web sites e.g. Halifax.co.uk Highly popular, used by 1000’s Web sites e.g. Halifax.co.uk Enhances Web pages by adding dynamic content Enhances Web pages by adding dynamic content

What can ASP do (that HTML can’t)? Interact with databases to read and write data Interact with databases to read and write data Read and write ‘cookies’ to a users computer Read and write ‘cookies’ to a users computer Track user activity within a Web site Track user activity within a Web site Check user input (validation) Check user input (validation) Talk to other applications on server e.g. Word Talk to other applications on server e.g. Word Talk to custom built applications on server Talk to custom built applications on server Send bulk or automated responses Send bulk or automated responses Return dynamic HTML code back to the client Return dynamic HTML code back to the client Read data from the end of a URL (called a query string) Read data from the end of a URL (called a query string)

What is ASP used for on Web? Search engines Search engines Online banking Online banking E-commerce E-commerce Web mail Web mail Financial calculators Financial calculators Online mortgage, credit, loan applications etc Online mortgage, credit, loan applications etc

Sample of ASP code <% dim req, copyright copyright =" This sample program Copyright SHU, 2003" req=request.QueryString("action") if req = "search" then response.write(“Searching Database”) call searchResponse() end if %>

Scenario – Phase Test Marks Students take phase tests on a regular basis Students take phase tests on a regular basis The tutor logs the marks for these tests on a table called tblmarks, on an Database called phase The tutor logs the marks for these tests on a table called tblmarks, on an Database called phase The course leader uses an ASP page to request the mark of any student and a pass/ fail status The course leader uses an ASP page to request the mark of any student and a pass/ fail status

Scenario – Phase Test Marks Test Marks Student completes Phase Test Test Marks Tutor records marks Student Data Course Leader requests mark Database phase database Request

Architecture Model of Client-Server Architecture Web Server (e.g. Microsoft IIS)Client (e.g. Windows 2000) The Internet Data Out Data in ASP Pages ASP pages Keyed Data Data Req.Data Request Database

ASP 1 - Phase Tests

ASP Code Walkthrough ASP code is contained within <% tags ASP code is contained within <% tags VBscript syntax almost identical to VB VBscript syntax almost identical to VB ASP code reads querystring from URL to determine actions ASP code reads querystring from URL to determine actions ASP dynamically returns HTML via response.write ASP seamlessly connects to SQL database ASP dynamically returns HTML via response.write ASP seamlessly connects to SQL database Uses server-side validation to check form data Uses server-side validation to check form data Uses inline script e.g. to insert data directly into HTML code Uses inline script e.g. to insert data directly into HTML code

ASP 2 – Small E-commerce Site

ASP 3 – Pushing the limits of ASP

Summary of Lecture Introduced ASP, HTML and Access technology Introduced ASP, HTML and Access technology Reviewed client-server architecture Reviewed client-server architecture Simulated how ASP can be used to retrieve data from an SQL Server database Simulated how ASP can be used to retrieve data from an SQL Server database Explained ASP code in detail Explained ASP code in detail

Areas For Further Study What are the pros and cons of using ASP?- How do alternatives compare e.g. JSP What are the pros and cons of using ASP?- How do alternatives compare e.g. JSP How does the performance of ASP compare to VB – why is there a difference? How does the performance of ASP compare to VB – why is there a difference? How much of an improvement is ASP.net? How much of an improvement is ASP.net? How much better is SQL Server 2000 than Access? How much better is SQL Server 2000 than Access? In which business situations would you choose SQL Server over Access? In which business situations would you choose SQL Server over Access?