Static Web Pages

[mtpaper]

I need to put information from my database on a website, via static web pages. I will only update the date a few times thru the year.

I have read the guide over and over, but I'm stuck on one basic point.

I understand that I can manually export to HTML, over and over and over. Then, at my website, I can link from page to page.

But I have to believe that there's a better way.... some script or something that I can use with FM, so that I'll wind up with a folder of html files, and a index.html file as the front end.

Can someone please point me towards what I need?

Thank you -

Marion in NY

[*susan*]

Marion,

Filemaker gives you only one rudimentary tool for exporting data... the html table. I don't think you could consider this the basis for a web site.

It is possible to create static pages using scripting, but you will need to build the html coding into a large export. It is helpful to have a .css file to control the formatting, but then the

tags will need to be included i your export. If your site will maintain some common elements, regardless of content, you could create a template and fill the new uploaded content via PHP.

Here is an example of a static site that is populated using Filemaker. It isn't live yet, so it is still on my server.

http://www.prettycoolsolutions.com/publicvr/index.php

Hope this gives you some food for thought.

*susan*

[mtpaper]

*susan*

Thank you for replying, and the link to your site -

Which part of your site is populated with data from FM?

The Public VR, or the PlanetJeff?

[comment]

Filemaker gives you only one rudimentary tool for exporting data... the html table. I don't think you could consider this the basis for a web site.

Filemaker gives you another tool for exporting static data to web pages: export as XML and use a stylesheet to transform the data into HTML. This is far from being "rudimentary" - in fact, there are practically no limits to what can be achieved (a few examples are included with the application).

For another possible approach, see:

http://xtech06.usefulinc.com/schedule/paper/19

[*susan*]

Comment,

You are, of course, correct. I should have prefaced my statement with "for a simple web site that will only be update a few times per year"....

Thank you for pointing this out. All the best,

*susan*

[*susan*]

Marion,

The publicVR content is generated from Filemaker.

*susan*

[comment]

I am afraid I don't see your point. Exporting through XML is the ideal method "for a simple web site that will only be update a few times per year".

[mr_vodka]

I just wanted to reaffirm what Michael posted here. This situation is perfect for using XML / XSL. That is the way to go. You can have FileMaker export out the XML and wont have to manually recreate all your HTML files each time.

[*susan*]

I am going to investigate this method more thoroughly.

However, what I like about my system, is that I don't have to ever rebuild the html, php and javascript. I simply use includes to feed the static Filemaker data into the site. I can use elements, images and links that don't need to reside in Filemaker, and finally, clients can mess with the look/feel of their web site without touching Filemaker.

I hope to build a test website using XML early next week to determine if this is a better method for my clients.

Thanks for the information!

*susan*

[mtpaper]

I have a lot to learn.

I don't know what publicVRcontent is.

I don't know anything about exporting to XML

Am I right that I need FileMaker Server for all of this?

[comment]

Am I right that I need FileMaker Server for all of this?

No. You can export as XML from any version of Filemaker. You do need a custom stylesheet to transform the XML into HTML - or better put, to insert the exported data into your HTML template.