HTML and CDML

[Silvia]

Hello,

I'm very new to FileMaker and have never created a database for the web with custom publishing. I have a database with 3 fp5 files (I use FMP 5.0 v3). I have created format HTML files with tags for each field. Here is what one page looks like:

-------------------------

(html)

(head)

(title)

[scratchmalogicalwax]

Hi

There should be some example files about somewhere for you to pull apart and have a look at .............

below i've included a sample search and response form. Maybe you need to do some more research on how the FMPro WC and the internet works in general terms and how information is moved around.

Examples

Search form: a visitor to your site will enter a value in the text box and click the submit button.

code:

---

......HTML.......

<form action="FMPro" method="post">

<input type="hidden" name="-DB" value="TheNameOfYourDatabase">

<input type="hidden" name="-Lay" value="LayoutInDatabase">

<input type="hidden" name="-Format" value="ResponseFile.htm">

<input type="hidden" name="-Error" value="CustomErrorFile.htm">

<input type="text" name="FieldInDatabaseToSearchOn">

<input type="Submit" name="-Find" value="Search">

.,........HTML.............

The WC will find the record and process the response page replacing the FMP tags with the values from the record in the database.

code:

---

......HTML.......

[FMP-Field: FieldName1]

[FMP-Field: FieldName2]

[FMP-Field: FieldName3]

.,........HTML.............

If more than one record may be found you can expand by adding other tags

code:

---

......HTML.......

[FMP-Records]

[FMP-Field: FieldName1]

[FMP-Field: FieldName2]

[FMP-Field: FieldName3]

[/FMP-Records]

.,........HTML.............

This is just an example of a search form and response. Other actions require other tags .... e.g. -Edit requires -RecID ......

You need to do some more research as some of the questions you have asked are really too general to be effectivly answered on a forum ...... as Keith says - "Research is good for the soul" ( )

If you do some searches on past posts you will find some very helpful information......

PS scuse any typos

PPS nearly forgot.........

Format files live in the web folder which is in the FMPro application folder.

Databases can go anywhere on your hard disk apart from the web folder (not good for security)

[ March 14, 2002, 06:11 AM: Message edited by: scratchmalogicalwax ]

[Silvia]

Thanks for the reply, I will have another look at it.

Does FileMaker search the entire harddrive for the database files or do I have to put a full link to where they are on my computer?! Will filemaker find the database files wherever I put them on the harddrive as long as there are no other files with the same name - even if i put just the name of the files in the documents in the web folder?

Thanks for your time!

[scratchmalogicalwax]

The databases are found because they are open on the FMPro Unlimited client with WC enabled.

The specific database is found by the combination of the FMPro action in the form tag (the FMPro tells the web companion that it is to handle all that follows in the form) and the database name (the value) in the -DB hidden form element. Some of the other hidden form elements relate specifically to the database named in the -DB form element e.g. -Lay is the layout within the database named as the value of the -DB hidden form element.

If the database is not open on FMPro the database will not be found....you can see from this that it doesn't matter where the file is stored on your harddrive as long as it isn't in the Web folder......it will still work but it creates a huge security hole........see earlier posts for more info on why you should not put databases in the web folder and other security stuff...

There are some example files.......

Example CDML Stuff From FileMaker.com

that describe what each element of the format file relates to and what it does for all the basic action you will want to perform.....I would recommend you have a look at these and experiment with them

Good luck

[ March 19, 2002, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: scratchmalogicalwax ]

[Kittrick]

Hi there. I'm relatively new to this FM thing as well. I used to work on FM 3, but I was away from it for a while and now came back to it in v5.5. One book I could highly suggest is:

Database Publishing with FileMaker Pro on the Web by Maria Langer

The companion web site alone (complete with all the examples in the book) are worth the book itself. The book is a little dated (it covers FM 4.0), but all of the html stuff and how it interfaces with the database are totally relevant still. It even has a glossary of CDML tags in the back that explain what they do.

Hope I helped!