Providing search capabilities to a db enables users to query on whichever element you target them to. However allowing users to target which portion of the db they would like to query gives extra value. In this example, utilizing our db of US States (state, statename, and capital) the user can search in any of three fields (by dropdown menu input) rather than the application targeting one specific table element. Note: The db only has 50 observations in it, so it is better to search on single or double letter combinations.
DSN Connections
In my earlier article on Accessing the database from ASP I explained connecting to database via DSN in a step by step mannner. So there is no need to repeat that again, you can see it from there.
DSN stands for 'Data Source Name'. It is an easy way to assign useful and easily rememberable names to data sources which may not be limited to databases alone e.g Excel spread sheet etc.
I will now skip the steps of creating and assigning DSN to a database, you can see them by clicking here. Once you are done creating a DSN for your data source ( database lets say ), you can connect to it using following code
In this step by step tutorial I will guide you to build the fastest method to display records from the database using plain ASP. The technique we are going to use is based on a simple fact that you don't have to hit database every time you want to display records. Take for example a list box which displays names of countries from the database. How many times you are going to change the countries in the database? I bet not often. So if you have to show those countries from the database then it will be better to cache these records in the memory and display them from memory every time you want to display that country list to the user.
This application is for the beginners who wonder how to build their own web database system on their own computers. I will use Microsoft FrontPage98 and Microsoft Access in the demonstration. The reader should be familiar with the RDBMS concept and know how to use Microsoft Access tool to build a local database system. They should also have the Northwind.mdb file, which is included in Microsoft Office 97.
But why? I read Part I and I was able to implement a simple database program very easily. Why would I need to learn anything more?
You might have implemented some database program.. but I am sure it would be a very simple one. You may even be able to implement a good database program without Joins. But you wouldn't be using the features of SQL that let you do the same work much easily. Without Joins, you may manage SQL.. but with Joins you could do things very easily
Joining mailing list will entitle you
to receive occasional emails informing you of news and
updates to the site and any special offers that may be
of interest to you.