Macromedia dreamweaver 8-using dreamweaver User Manual
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CHAPTER 32
Obtaining Data for Your Page
Web-based applications and dynamic websites require a content source from which to retrieve
data. Both data and data sources can take many forms. Typically, data consists of text or
numerical information returned to a web page, and displayed in some form to the user.
data. Both data and data sources can take many forms. Typically, data consists of text or
numerical information returned to a web page, and displayed in some form to the user.
This chapter contains the following sections:
Using a database to store content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .673
Collecting data submitted by users. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674
Accessing data stored in session variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .679
Collecting data submitted by users. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674
Accessing data stored in session variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .679
Using a database to store content
Using a database to store content allows you to separate your website’s design from the
content you want to display to users of the site. Instead of writing individual HTML files for
every page, you only need to write a page—or template—for the different kinds of
information you want to present. Using a database, you can provide new content to a website
by simply uploading content into a database and then having the website retrieve that content
dynamically in response to a user’s request. A key advantage of storing content information in
a database is the ability to update information in a single source, and then populate that
change throughout the website without having to search through the pages that might contain
the information and manually edit each page.
content you want to display to users of the site. Instead of writing individual HTML files for
every page, you only need to write a page—or template—for the different kinds of
information you want to present. Using a database, you can provide new content to a website
by simply uploading content into a database and then having the website retrieve that content
dynamically in response to a user’s request. A key advantage of storing content information in
a database is the ability to update information in a single source, and then populate that
change throughout the website without having to search through the pages that might contain
the information and manually edit each page.
Databases come in many forms depending upon the amount and the complexity of the data
they must store. A database commonly installed on Windows computers is Microsoft Access.
If you are new to databases, Access provides an easy-to-use interface that lets you work with
database tables. While you can use Access as a data source for most website applications, be
aware that Access has a file size limitation of 2 gigabytes (GB), and is limited to 255
concurrent users. For this reason, Access is a reasonable choice for website development and
corporate workgroups. However, if you anticipate a large user community accessing the site,
plan on using a database designed to support your site’s intended user base.
they must store. A database commonly installed on Windows computers is Microsoft Access.
If you are new to databases, Access provides an easy-to-use interface that lets you work with
database tables. While you can use Access as a data source for most website applications, be
aware that Access has a file size limitation of 2 gigabytes (GB), and is limited to 255
concurrent users. For this reason, Access is a reasonable choice for website development and
corporate workgroups. However, if you anticipate a large user community accessing the site,
plan on using a database designed to support your site’s intended user base.