URGENT HELP PLEASE

[Ricardo]

Hi All

i have been asked to create a filemaker db and host it via the web - but it needs to look err good. not just the boring interface which you are given when you just host out your fm solution via the web plugin!! things such as advertisments to show dependent when a search is carried out and certain criteria are found!

it needs to be read only!!

i've got dreamweaver - but not sure if i can use this or how to get dreamweaver and my db to interact together.

i've got limited web knowledge and so i could really do with some easy to follow help on what the best way to get through this project is!!!

thanks in advance,

ricardo

[Anatoli]

You need to build nice HTML pages in DW, text editor or GoLive and populate them with CDML tags which will talk to FM via WebCompanion in Custom publishing mode.

HTH

[Ricardo]

You need to build nice HTML pages in DW, text editor or GoLive and populate them with CDML tags which will talk to FM via WebCompanion in Custom publishing mode.

HTH

can the CDML tags be done from Dreamweaver? how do i link the HTML file to my FM database

thanks for your reply

[Anatoli]

First -- get the CDML reference database.

CDML tags are just text. In source mode or text editor you can do as you wish.

From CDML RD Syntax example(s)

Create an editable area for field data using an HTML file

First Name: <input type="text" name="First Name" value="[FMP-Field: First Name, Raw]">

Return field data using an HTML file

First Name: [FMP-Field: First Name]

<!-- After processing it could look like:

First Name: John

-->

[Ricardo]

First -- get the CDML reference database.

CDML tags are just text. In source mode or text editor you can do as you wish.

From CDML RD Syntax example(s)

Create an editable area for field data using an HTML file

First Name: <input type="text" name="First Name" value="[FMP-Field: First Name, Raw]">

Return field data using an HTML file

First Name: [FMP-Field: First Name]

<!-- After processing it could look like:

First Name: John

-->

sorry but this is double dutch!!! can you help any further.

for example in my html web page i want to automatically link to my filemaker db after entering the web page.

my fm database is called 'Web Track' i have set up the wes security databses.

sorry to be a nusence but to me its like been put in a aeroplane and told to fly it!!!

[Unable]

"...its like been put in a aeroplane and told to fly it!!!"

Yeah, but your boss put you there. Since (s)he is paying you to fly this plane, it would probably be a good idea to get an instruction manual and READ IT ON THE JOB. Otherwise the plane won't take-off.

In answer to your specific question "...how do i link the HTML file to my FM database?", aside from getting a book which you READ ON THE JOB, you can look in the Sample Files forum here. There are several examples of CWP. Guess what. Each example makes contact with a FMP db file. Get them and STUDY THEM ON THE JOB. Osmosis does not work here.

If your boss was willing to read a book to find out how to do it, you wouldn't have a job.

That's as good a picture as I'm going to draw for you.

Good luck

[Anatoli]

I have UK passport, I can go there and help, or you can come here to Prague and I can give you lessons. That will be cheaper by 50-60% with much better food

[Vaughan]

Anatoli -- you are a tart! ;-)

[Ricardo]

Anatoli said:

I have UK passport, I can go there and help, or you can come here to Prague and I can give you lessons. That will be cheaper by 50-60% with much better food

can you not just tell me how to link from a web page - (created in dreamweaver) to a filemaker database please. im stuck

[Anatoli]

I do not know where you are in your progress.

Do you have CDML reference and/or FileMaker samples?

Show us your code, please...

Do you have everything set up properly?

[Anatoli]

Vaughan said:

Anatoli -- you are a tart! ;-)

From Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: tart

Pronunciation: 't

[Ricardo]

i have a web page which needs to link to my filemaker database so it can be viwed on the web.

my web security dbs are set up with user name and password already allocated.

this was created by someone else and now i have inherited it and need to understand how it is working!!

its the bit that links to the filmaker db which i dont understand!

See below for web page source,

thanks.

<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">

<html>

<head>

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">

<csactions>

<csaction name="B65A8B080" class="Set Status" type="onevent" val0="Click here to link to Company Name.">

<csaction name="B65A8B9E1" class="Set Status" type="onevent" val0="">

</csactions>

<csscriptdict>

<script><!--

CSStopExecution = false;

function CSAction(array) {

return CSAction2(CSAct, array);

}

function CSAction2(fct, array) {

var result;

for (var i=0;i<array.length;i++) {

if(CSStopExecution) return false;

var actArray = fct[array];

if (actArray == null) return false;

var tempArray = new Array;

for(var j=1;j<actArray.length;j++) {

if((actArray[j] != null) && (typeof(actArray[j]) == "object") && (actArray[j].length == 2)) {

if(actArray[j][0] == "VAR") {

tempArray[j] = CSStateArray[actArray[j][1]];

}

else {

if(actArray[j][0] == "ACT") {

tempArray[j] = CSAction(new Array(new String(actArray[j][1])));

}

else

tempArray[j] = actArray[j];

}

}

else

tempArray[j] = actArray[j];

}

result = actArray[0](tempArray);

}

return result;

}

CSAct = new Object;

function CSSetStatus(action) { self.status = action[1]; }

// --></script>

</csscriptdict>

<csactiondict>

<script><!--

CSAct[/*CMP*/ 'B65A8B080'] = new Array(CSSetStatus,'Click here to link to Company name .');

CSAct[/*CMP*/ 'B65A8B9E1'] = new Array(CSSetStatus,'');

// --></script>

</csactiondict>

<meta name="generator" content="Simpletext">

<meta http-equiv="REFRESH" content="5;URL=FMRes/FMPro?-DB=FILEMAKERDB.fp5&-Lay=Web%20Form&-Token=25&-Max=&-Format=ZFormVwCSS.htm&-Error=ZErr.htm&-Findany">

<meta name="Author" content="Richard Russell">

<title>Company Name</title>

</head>

<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#009999" link="#0000EE" vlink="#551A8B" alink="#FF0000">

<center>

<h3>

<img SRC="images/logo.jpg" height=142 width=454></h3>

<p><b><font size="+2">Welcome ICI (UK).</font></b></p>

<p></p>

<p><font size="+1"><b>If your browser fails to re-direct within a few seconds<br>

</b></font></p>

<font size="+1"><a href="../../../../Documents%20and%20Settings/Richard%20Russell/Desktop/TEST%20WEB/FILEMAKERDB.fp5?-DB=FILEMAKERDB&-Lay=Web%20Form&-Token=25&-Max=1&-Format=ZFormVwCSS.htm&-Error=ZErr.htm" title="Go to FILEMAKERDB" csover="B65A8B080" csout="B65A8B9E1" onmouseover="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'B65A8B080'));return true;" onmouseout="CSAction(new Array(/*CMP*/'B65A8B9E1'));"><font color="blue"><b>please

click here</b></font></a></font>

</center>

<p><font size="+1">&nbsp;<br>

</font>&nbsp;<br>

&nbsp;</p>

<center>

<p><img SRC="images/LOGO.jpg" height=122 width=122></center>

</body>

</html>

[Anatoli]

That bit:

< font size="+1"><a href="../../../../Documents%20and%20Settings/Richard%

20Russell/Desktop/TEST%20WEB/FILEMAKERDB.fp5?-DB=FILEMAKERDB&-Lay=Web%20Form&-

Token=25&-Max=1&-Format=ZFormVwCSS.htm&-Error=ZErr.htm" title="Go to

FILEMAKERDB" csover="B65A8B080" csout="B65A8B9E1" onmouseover="CSAction(new

Array(/*CMP*/'B65A8B080'));return true;" onmouseout="CSAction(new Array

(/*CMP*/'B65A8B9E1'));"><font color="blue"><b>please

click here</b></font></a></font>

is silly.

First -- refrain from any spaces in names.

Second -- refrain from any GL specific things in CDML code

Third -- for local test URL link start with 127.0.0.1 or localhost

Fourth -- build just CDML pages to test functionality

Do you have the CDML db and the CDML Tool?

[Ricardo]

"Do you have the CDML db and the CDML Tool?" no, what is this?

which is the bit that actually links the web page to the filemaker db?

thanks for your on-going help - very much appreciated :-)

ricardo.

[IdealData]

I think you're going to need FMP Developer as this contains most of the tag information and html construction methods you need to do it right.

The files that Anatoli refers to were issued with FMP 5.0, but ceased after that and were only on Developer versions - but they are freely available from

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads

See also teh Filemaker Developers guide on the same page. Chapter 9 is what you need.

[Anatoli]

IMHO no need for FM Developer. I've never used it for web work.

Otherwise -- get those FM databases. It's must.

You must read a lot about what is what in web work. I cannot help you with advises much if you will not understand what I am talking about.

If you are just starting, learn basic of HTML code.

Then learn about CDML principles.

After that how to connect both in web pages.

[Ricardo]

right guys i have got the CDML tool and i specified that all i want to do is open and view my fm database via my HTML page - so this is what i have done

opened my database - made sure that the web conpanion is on and that the web sharing is on.

this is the CDML tag which i have created using the CDML tool db and enterd in my HTML page:

<a href="FMPro?-DB=DATABASE.fp5&-Format=format.htm&-View">View</a>

now when i click on the link is just states that the page cannot be displayed -what have i done wrong?

thanks again,

ricardo.

[Anatoli]

Just before the "FMPro?-DB=DATABASE.fp5&-Format=format.htm&-View" you need IP or URL of the machine which have the WC running, see my post above, it is the

"Third -- for local test URL link start with 127.0.0.1 or localhost"

HTH

[Unable]

"There are several examples of CWP. Guess what. Each example makes contact with a FMP db file.", Unable.

""Third -- for local test URL link start with 127.0.0.1 or localhost"", Anatoli.

Last week I put up an example on the Sample Files forum with three different approaches to the entry of which you speak. Anatoli has provided a fourth solution. What more do you need?

[Ricardo]

still not able to link from the html to the filemaker - in that the web page opens up the filemaker db on the web.

So i've decided to revert back to the old html page (one in above posts) but the problem i keep getting when logging on to the db is FORMAT FILE NOT FOUND -the format file zformvwcss.htm could not be found - do any of you know what this means?

thanks,

ricardo.

[Anatoli]

RE: still not able to link from the html to the filemaker - in that the web page opens up the filemaker db on the web

Actually that is probably your problem; you do not understand the principle how FM/web is working.

FM/WC is serving the HTML as well as CDML.

When your page will be served from FM/WC, then everything will work. If you are calling that page as link to file and not URL link to served FM/WS page, nothing will work.

[IdealData]

http://www.socs.co.uk:591/clients/FMPro?-db=contacts&-Format=login1.html&-Lay=Web&-view

The above piece of code actually works (you can't gain access from the outside world).

Notice that this is a URL submission, and the only reference to a html file is "login1.html". this is actually a "format" file that FMP uses as a template to return the results of the HTTP submission. It DOES NOT create a file for these purposes, but uses the "format" file to substitute the data.

FMP has it's own HTTP engine (a web server!), and the default IP port is 591 (that's the bit after the IP address), otherwise this would clash with the normally default port 80 for HTTP

You are not dealing DIRECTLY with FMP files, but a processed version of the original.

I noticed in one of your earlier postings there was a URL string that contained "FMRes/FMPro?". This is strange for FMP 5+, I thought FMRes was an FMP 4.x method.

Incidentally, get rid of the spaces in you filenames, formatfiles, fieldnames, layouts etc. - FMP is not very good with these.

You also made reference to format files that were outside the FMP "Web" folder - they MUST live there, so put them back.

[IdealData]

Just another thought...

You started this thread with the objective of web publishing from an FMP DB - do you have the publishing resources :

If the DB is dynamic (the content changes rapidly) then you'll need to host from your own connection, which means a 24/7 connection and a domain name and a fixed IP address to resolve against.

If the DB is fairly static then you need an FMP "friendly" hosting service. These charge monthly per DB etc..

There's not much point in doing the development if you can't show it off in the end !

(I know someone who will host for you if you need)

Still think Rugby's a tough game ? - Try golf, or FMP web publishing.