Publishing database online - what is the best way

[smith]

We are a small school district who has assessment databases in FileMaker 6.0. and using FileMaker Server 5.5. We are interested in converting them to online databases for the staff to enter information via the web. What is the best way to do that and where do I get more information about converting - what do we need and will the databases (they are pretty simple databases now) convert easily. I'm just beginning with this. Would it be better to upgrade to 7.0 - can anyone help or recommend training

[Steve T.]

Hi, smith! I think "best" is relative and depends on a lot on your equipment, budget, resources, and priorities, among others, so I cannot really say "I think you should do ABC and not XYZ...". Here are some things you can factor in, though...

FM 5, 5.5, and 6 all use the same format. FM recommends that you do not publish your actual db's and recommend publishig copies or web-versions instead, but I have not found a good way to do this while keeping them in sync. I publish directly using the FM db's we use every day. We use FM-Unlimited 5.5 which has no restrictions on number of IP addresses that can connect. If you web publsh w/standard FM (right out of the box), it will only really work sufficiently for a handful of regular users (10 IP's in rolling 12 hours).

Right now, I'd suggest you make a copy of the db and try it out w/what you've got. Activate the Web Companion plug-in, share the db w/web companion, have the db open, and visit that machine's IP address. That will give you a feel for how INSTANT WEB PUBLISHING works. FM7 is supposed to be pretty good at IWP, whereas FM4-6 IWP was found lacking to most users. "Most" (relative term) folks chose to use Custom Web Publishing using CDML which required a little bit of coding. Someone already familiar with web page design and a little bit of coding experience could pick up CDML without much trouble. Folks on these forums would be able to help a lot. CDML has been elminated in FM7, though, so folks will either have to go w/IWP or change their solutions to XML/XSLT (used in 7 Advanced Server) or switch technologies altogether (e.g. PHP/MySQL). The latter 2 options raise the bar somewhat on web skills needed, though.

FileMaker can publish your datbases by itself, but knowing other web technologies will help and can fill-in where FileMaker sometimes falls short. FileMaker can also be used in conjunction with more standard/professional web servers such as Apache (and I think IIS since you're Win 2000), but IMO this would be better left for your professional web staff to set up and configure for you if you have them. Such Apache/IIS based systems would require coding using tools such as PHP.

When I started using FM on the web, I was mostly a "front end" web designer (web pages, artwork, interface) who did some amateur programming as a kid for fun. Putting our FM db's on the web was a good "next step" level where I could use minimal coding to do things like search engines, sign-ups, and surveys. I ran into what I considred limitations in FM web publishing for my latest project, so gave myself a crash course in PHP/MySQL (which I'm glad to have done since I feel like a pro web developer now but it's definitely old-fashioned line-by-line coding and de-bugging and probably not for most people except those who like programming).

Here's how I generally think of web publishing, but you'll find others who disagree and various factors change things...

FM4-6 Instant Web Publishing

-- good for folks w/no programming or web design experience

-- can operate from an old workstation

-- personally, I'd only use for small, internal access to db but it can serve to internet

FM4-6 Custom Web Publishing

-- good for folks w/web design experience

-- a little coding needed; solid HTML understanding helpful; JavaScript big plus

-- personally, we use it for search engines, signups, surveys, etc... nothing complex, nothing needing security (encryption or logins)

FM4-6 w/Apache or IIS web server and Web Server Connector

-- good for advanced projects utilizing PHP, SSL, and other powerful, standard web technologies

-- good for RAIC (multi-webserver) systems

-- we don't do this but this can be a must for some sites; IMO this requires professional-level web development and server admin skills

FM7 ?

-- don't have FM7 and FM7 changes web service so we probably won't upgrade since we need to interact w/our FM5-based web solutions; don't know XML or XSLT, either and am not looking forward to converting existing CDML solutions to XML even if we decide to pay $$$$ for FM7 Advanced Server whenever it's out if it's not out already

Hope this helps some,

--ST