Web Development...where to start?

[kim]

Okay, this is what I need to achieve....

I have developed a standalone quoting system for our sales people. They are running individual runtime solutions on their laptops. It's a bit of a complex app. It consists of 65 Filemaker files (of which many are price lookup tables), and I have about 20 different layouts in total. The next stage would be to set this up on the Web so that we can centralize the application and so that salespeople can have access to it over the web. The sales manager would like to be able to have access to all the quotes anytime, from anywhere.

I have enabled Web Companion and started by taking a shot at setting it up locally on my Mac. The problem is, in form view, I do not have the same functionality at all as I do in Filemaker. I understand it is not just as simple as 'Plug and Play'. What I need to know now, is what do I use to get started? I don't know any HTML or CDML....I think I will definitely need to learn this. I was on MacAcademy's website and found the Filemaker Learning Summit in Las Vegas this July. They have classes on many topics, including Web Development and Lasso. Has anyone ever been on this Summit before? If so, is there value in going?

Would appreciate your response.....Thanks Kim

[eguzman]

Hi Kim

I never been on a course or event of this type.

If you don't have time to learn by yourself is OK to attend that kind of seminars. Be sure that, according to your experience in HTML/CDML programming, will be woth it. Many of those classes need some background/skills on programming.

In the other hand, if you have the time, you can start by using the CDML reference.fp5 and CDML Tool.fp5 that are in the Web tools folder, is very easy to start, within a few days you can pass from the easy to the complex. You'll only need a little assistance on the html, perhaps somebody in your company or a friend can help you out.

Regards

[Keith M. Davie]

First learn html. You can use an editor, but if you don't know html you will have difficulty trouble-shooting the problems which you will inevetibly create. CDML tags are embedded into html code.

You will also find there is a limit to the number of FMPro db files which can be open and running at any given moment.

Good luck.

[Anatoli]

From one web server (the Unlimited) you can open 50 files.

To start with HTML is good point and I will recommend the Adobe GoLive. It will make your HTML life easier.