NEWBIE - FMP database as part of website

[uncommon]

Well, I'm completely new to databases and I'm doing a project that requires the use of a database.

Here's the scenario, I need a database that will be on a webhosting company that will be accessed via web. Basically it will be a part of a website for an animal adoptiona agency. The website will have the organizations info on it like any other website, but it will also have a database of animals and their information and picture, that the end user (via the web browser) can sort through to see which animals are up for adoption.

I thought FileMaker would be the one to do this, but it looks like i misunderstood their Instant Web publishing. Now, if I understand this correctly, IWP needs FMP to be used as the database "engine" ( don't know if I'm saying this right.) So FMP would have to reside in the server, but since I'm using a 3rd party hosting solution, I don't think that is possible.

What I wanted to do was just export the database onto a webserver and have it a part of a website.

Is this possible with FMP? Or should I be looking for a different solution?

any and all help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Garry Claridge]

You can use MySQL/php on the hosting site to exchange data with FM on your local network. Alternatively, you can find a Hosting service which offers FM hosting.

Good Luck.

Garry

[uncommon]

thanks for the suggestion. I was hoping the client could just update the database on the local machine and then just upload it to the webserver.

I also have very little programming experience. any easy tools to help me use the mysql/php combo?

the website will be built with dreamwearver.

thanks again for all your help.

[Reed]

If you just want to create static html from your database, the easiest way to do it would be to export the records as an HTML table and upload that to the website. The HTML for the table could be modified or pasted into whatever dreamweaver template you've created to make the page look pretty.

[uncommon]

thanks, I'll go ahead and try that.

[Steve T.]

Howdy, uncommon! FM web serving works best on a standalone server with a static IP address... you would probably need FM-Unlimited or FM Advanced Server (if it's out yet) if you do not go with a web hosting company that offers FM service. If you have a tech-wise buddy, though, you may want to look at what are called CONTENT MANGEMENT SYSTEMS (or CMS). There are many good free ones that run on PHP/MySQL and many web hosting companies offer PHP/MySQL as free services in a standard account.

Once set up, a CMS does not require any computer skills other than web browsing and allows you to change the text, pictures, and other content for your site through a web browser interface. There are some CMS that specialize in galleries; other CMS look like forums/discussion boards kinda like FMFORUMS, and there's many others. Some are as easy to install as downloading and ftp-ing to your website; some require more advanced web or coding knowledge. If you tech person wants some background material, try http://www.opensourcecms.com.

Your current web hosting provider may already have something like that available to you, too.

--ST