The phenomenologist philosophers were dedicated to observations of
observers
observing... Nonetheless, the recording of the observervances is assumed
to
serve practical goals, I suppose. he comment by Bernard Shaw seems to
fall
into line with that idea. Why not cynicism, because that is not observing
according to Shaw. Ok. I wrote down some data related characteristics,
which came to me via early books in the computer field., and experience of
the authors, and college librarians who collect such works. I am working
on
technically friendly systems. Problem solving is a major business
practice, yet the definition of business systems is simply what IBM says
that it is ..The operative word is data propaganda (propagation) ... Too
many people follow a living god. I follow a God of Silicon and crusty
wires, and corba enterprise time. My Father : I have sinned against you
!
"WALLYWORLD" <random@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:ReGdnQW8a4HSA-PanZ2dnUVZ_h-vnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> This is a paper I wrote under gthe name Wally : The Gerry Fallwell Story
> with some observance on observance .. George ..
>
> The reference book to begin here, Access Database Design and Programming
by
> Steven Roman publ. O'Reilly and Associates, Sebastopol, California 1997.
If
> you want to have as much control over your databases as possible, you
will
> need to do some programming. In fact, even some simple things require
> programming. For instance, there is no way to retrieve the list of
fields
> of a given table using the Access graphical interface -you can only get
this
> list through programming.
>
> In addition, programming may be the only way to access and manipulate a
> database from within another application. For instance, if you are
working
> in Microsoft Excel, you can create and manipulate an Access database
with
as
> much power as if you were working with Access itself, but only through
> programming -because Excel does not have the capability to render
graphical
> representations of database objects.
>
> You can create the database within Access and then manipulate it
> programmatically from within Excel (can an Access form be opened within
> Excel, no ?). This gives the increased functionality of Access to an
Excel
> file (is it created as an Access or Excel file, Access table?). (Create
it
> using VBA code in Excel .. also, if that works.. not sure how to try
it).
>
> For the most part the preliminary interest would be to use Access data
> storage in connection with other Microsoft data sharing applications.
This
> type of office automation and data sharing will occur often with the use
of
> LAN network technology within an organization.
>
> Organization
> An organization is a formal collection of people and other resources
> established to accomplish a set of goals. The primary goal of a
for-profit
> organization is to maximize the shareholder value, often measured by the
> price of the company's stock. Nonprofit organizations include social
> groups, religious groups, universities, and other organizations that do
not
> have profit as the primary goal.
>
> An organization is a system. Money, people, materials, machines, and
> equipment, data, information, and decisions are constantly in use in any
> organization. If data is to represent a real world problem, then the
data
> must be copied into an application as a quantity, and the system will
react
> and transform the data into information which is designed to effect some
> problem in the real world. Part of the process of data design is to
specify
> how to quantify each data item.
>
> Data characteristics - applies to the use of data, as a copy translated
to
> and from, an attribute/value pair.
>
> Data File Design - internal database technology characteristics
> The issue of quantifying each data item is the issue of representation
of
> quantities with symbols such as $24/ft or $14.98 a yard. Representation
of
> a quantity can be considered in terms of a copy of a measurement in
> translation, with the use of a symbol. Data characteristics, applies to
the
> use of data, as a copy translated to and from, an attribute/value pair.
>
> Logical data modeling is a philosophy as well as a technique, for
> recognizing and do***enting the fact that business data have an
existence,
> independent of how they are accessed, who accesses them, and whether or
not
> such access is computerized. These business facts are true even if
there
is
> no current need to produce a re****t or to answer queries about these
> business facts. They have a different way of looking at business facts
in
> that they consider the potential of file relation****ps to be involved.
But
> what exists is the representation of facts as units which can transfer
into
> a processing system, and also then translate to be the effect or process
of
> transformation of the environment by the system.
>
> The propose business facts such as:
> Business Facts
> - Customers place orders
> - People eat ice cream cones
> - Some people pay bills on time
> - Some people do not pay bills on time
> - Some people do not pay bills at all
>
>
> Typical Data Characteristics
> Some typical data characteristics are:
> Location attributes (address, country, warehouse bin)
> Physical attributes (weight dimension, volume, color, material, texture)
> Conceptual attributes (name, rank, serial number)
> Relational attributes (assemblies consist of sub-assemblies, authors
write
> multiple books)
> Value attributes (currency, goodwill, esteem)
>
> And each item of data should have a description:
> Name
> General description (what is it?)
> Owner****p (who is responsible for it?)
> Data characteristics (how is it measured and how big or small can it
be?)
> Logical events, processes, and relation****ps (how and when is it
created,
> modified, and used?)
>
> Issues which involve data constitute an im****tant ****tion of the
software
> engineering process. The eventual result of (1) analysis of existing
data
> structures, (2) application do***entation, and (3) review, is to arrive
at
a
> conceptual view of your application's information. The issues of the
> application's information (What, Where, When, and Why..) describe and
> explore how various departments, organizations, and your application
itself
> need to use data to achieve a goal.
>
> A last point to be aware of is on the use of utility programs to copy
files
> and name them appropriately. The Push model involves performing an SQL
> command to create a recordset or dataset that matches the fields in the
> re****t, and passing that object to the re****t. The creation of files
> themselves should be performed in such a way the complete file is
written
to
> the media in a single procedure; which allows the compression of data on
the
> hard disk to fill the disk with the maximum amount of compressed data
per
> media sector.
>
> You can combine the recrods from the two tables by creating a query that
> shows just the information that you need.
>
>
> Today we live in an information economy. Information itself has value,
and
> commerce often involves the exchange of information, rather than the
> exchange of tangibles. Investors are using information systems to make
> multi-million dollar decisions. And financial institutions are
employing
> information systems to transfer billions of dollars around the world
> electronically, and manufacturers are using them to order supplies and
to
> distribute goods faster than ever before.
>
> In an experimental database which has tables and relations about
horseracing
> some of the entities may be:
> Horse (hname, trainer/jock, sire, dam, damsire, breeding farm, age)
> Track (race #, horse #, region, purses, race type (clm, alw), known
class
> horses, known class trainers, known breeding stables)
> Pairings of attributes (horse/track, trainer/horse, trainer/jockey)
> Indices (evaluations of indices,
> Data about data - metadata
> reference data - data warehouse environment
> transaction structure data
> transaction activity data
> transaction audit data
>
>
> The Different Kinds of Reference Data
> Reference data may be a distinct class of data, but it is still very
> diverse.
>
> Some major kinds of reference data are:
>
> (1) Things that are not involved with the enterprise: Countries,
currencies,
> and time zones are examples of things that exist, but are not parties to
the
> transactions that an enterprise carries out. Yet the enterprise still
needs
> to use the information about these things to process and re****t on its
> transaction data.
> Classification schemes: Human beings can classify transaction
information
in
> an infinite number of ways, depending on what they view is im****tant
about
> it. Classification schemes may be broadly accepted, like industry
codes,
or
> highly personal and transient.
> Constant values: "Things" are typically described by codes and
descriptions
> in reference data tables. Yet, some reference data covers specific
> properties of these things. Tax rates, economic indicators and currency
> exchange rates are good examples. They are non-key attributes of
reference
> data tables, and typically change their values over time.
>
> Non-key attributes from reference data tables
> Codes for classification (M,F)
> External references (currencies, countries, cities, time, location,
project,
> table name)
>
>
> Type codes: These define entity subtypes in a database. For instance,
> Employee Position may be Administrative or Professional. Type codes
have
> values that are known when a database is designed.
>
> Status codes: These control the life cycles of entities in a database.
An
> order may be placed, filled, ****pped, received, have payment received,
and
> have payment cleared. Each of these states has a different description,
and
> is usually represented by a code in a physical database table. Again,
these
> codes have values that are known at database design time.
>
> Other: There are other kinds of reference data, but these are the major
> cl*****. It can be seen that although they often have similar
structures -
> tables consisting of codes and descriptions - they have quite different
> functions and behaviors.
>
>
> Access Database Design and Programming , by Steven Roman publ. O' Reilly
and
> Associates, Inc.1997 suggests that database design and database
programming
> are two separate topics. And Romans suggests that while the knowledge
of
> the one does not directly lead to knowledge of the other, the topics are
> linked. A database user needs to know something about both subjects -
> database design and database programming, in order to effectively
create,
> use, and maintain, a database which will produce the information about
these
> relation****ps. What the book by Roman says is fairly close to Von Halle
and
> Fleming who evaluate the logical data model design (database design) and
the
> implementation using technology (database programming).
>
>
> Relational Database Design Considerations
> The use of multiple tables is promoted in order to overcome some of the
> following concerns which occur with the use of a flat file database:
>
> Redundancy
> Update anomalies
> Insertion anomalies
> Avoiding data loss
> Maintaining relational integrity
> Creating views
>
> As a summary of the discussion about the issues above Romans p/ 5-7 he
> writes, "It is clear that to avoid redundancy problems and various
> unpleasant anomalies, a database needs to contain multiple tables, with
> relation****ps defined between these tables. On the other hand, this
raises
> some issues, such as how to design th tables in the database wiothout
losing
> any data, and how to piece together the data from multiple tables to
create
> various views of the data. The main goal at this early section of
Romans
> book on database design is to explore these fundamental issues.
>
>
> The process of transforming data into information begins with input. In
some
> cases data is organized or processed mentally or manually. Systems
based
> upon computers are ever increasingly being used to create, store, and
> transfer information. A sales manager can manually calculate the sum of
the
> sales of each sales representative, or a computer could be used to
calculate
> this sum. What is im****tant is not so much where the data comes from or
how
> it is processed, but whether the results are useful and valuable.
>
> When using an approach that pertains to tasks, especially lower level
tasks
> such as data validation (read and match compare), file update and
> modification, etc. each task can be considered a program module. A
module
is
> a logical problem related task (problem solving) that the program
performs.
> An elementary operational task i.e., the Add New Record procedure, or
the
> Create Bill procedure is a module.
>
> Certain knowledge of using modules within designs for computer data
> processing can be used to make im****tant decisions about how an
application
> should be designed, deployed and used. Working with the design of
modules
> involves showing data passing between the process blocks, or control
> information passing between the process blocks (see James Martin and
> McClure, Diagramming Techniques.. p. 122).
>
> A module is defined (and implemented) as a sequence of programming
> instructions bounded by an entry point and an exit point. There should
be
an
> standardized communication of processes between modules. If Module A
invokes
> Module B, then Module B should not invoke Module A. And modules should
not
> call themselves recursively.
>
> Some organizational and personal productivity software only indirectly
> affects problem solving, by simplifying the creation and transmission of
> data (MIS service).
> However other productivity software such as electronic spreadsheet,
project
> management, and forecasting and statistical analysis packages provide
direct
> sup****t within DSS and other problem-solving (expert systems) management
> services functions.
>
> Special user libraries which should flow through the MIS to do***ents
loaded
> into end-user shrink wrapped software increase the group productivity
with
a
> minimum of networking issues. Groups use the do***ent library on the
> system performance platform. A < BASE > tag can simplify the addressing
of
> common series of do***ents, somewhat. Instead of locating the address
of
a
> file relative to the current file, you can define a base path for all
> relative links, in your do***ent.
>
> Using a base path you can tell the browser to locate files in relations
to
a
> specific path - that could actually point to a remote server.
>
> Data Dictionary
> An im****tant step in creating a database is to establish a data
dictionary,
> a detailed description of all data used in the database. The data
> dictionary contains the name of the data item, aliases or other names
that
> may be used to describe the item, the range of values that can be used,
the
> type of data i.e., alphanumeric or numeric, the length of the data item
in
> bytes, a notation responsible for updating the various users
permissions,
> and a list of re****ts that use the data item.
>
> Purpose of a Data Dictionary - To DO***ENT for all posterity the data
> elements, structures, flows, stores, processes, and external entities in
the
> system to be designed.
>
> Entities are recorded in the data dictionary by name and definition.
Entity
> names should be assigned to be intuitive and meaningful to the user.
>
>
> Organizational Environment
>
> ---------------
> Employee Decision-making
> ---------------
> |
> |
> --------------- --------------- ---------------
> Input ---- Product transformation ---- Output
> --------------- --------------- ---------------
>
> ---> --->Value Flow ---> --->---> --->---> --->---> --->---> --->
>
>
> Creating information from raw data facts in the environment is a process
of
> transformation. The transformation process is where applying knowledge
by
> selecting, organizing, and manipulating data is done. The result should
be
> useful information.
>
> The transformation process is where applying knowledge is done.
Developing
> information systems to meet business and other organizational needs is
> highly complex and difficult; it is common for information systems
projects
> to over-run budgets, and beyond planned completion dates. Because
> information systems typically are designed to improve productivity,
methods
> for measuring the system's impact upon productivity should be devised.
This
> would imply a statistical evaluation of efforts to use the system as
> proposed.
>
> As depicted above, resources such as materials, people, and money are
input
> into the organizational system from the environment, to go through a
> transformation mechanism, and are output to the environment. The
outputs
> from the transformation mechanism are usually goods or services which
were
> dependent upon information produced within the system.
>
> The goods or services produced by the organization are of higher
relative
> value than the inputs alone. Turning data into information is a
process,
or
> a set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined outcome.
>
> Through adding value (worth) organizations attempt to achieve their
goals.
>
> Data Flows
> Data flows between the several processing modules in the simple
> representation depicted.
>
> The data dictionary contains the name of the data item, aliases or other
> names that may be used to describe the item, the range of values that
can
be
> used, the type of data i.e., alphanumeric or numeric, the length of the
data
> item in bytes, a notation responsible for updating the various users
> permissions, and a list of re****ts that use the data item; to do***ent
for
> all posterity the data elements, structures, flows, stores, processes,
and
> external entities in the system to be designed.
>
> Entities are recorded in the data dictionary by name and definition.
Entity
> names should be assigned to be intuitive and meaningful to the user.
>
> Defining Relation****ps - create useful information
> Converting data into information - to select or to reject facts based
upon
> their relevancy to particular tasks
>
>
> The process of defining relation****ps among data to create useful
> information requires knowledge. The process of converting data into
> information also requires knowledge to select or to reject facts based
upon
> their relevancy to particular tasks. So information can be considered
data
> made useful through the application of knowledge Stair p. 5 Fundamentals
of
> Information Systems.
>
> Knowledge is an awareness and understanding of a set of information and
how
> that information can be made useful to sup****t a specific task or to
reach
a
> decision.
>
> The Entity-Relation****p Model
> Romans chapter tw0 (2 ) is titled The Entity -Relation****p Model of a
> Database. The subtopics are:
>
> What is a database?
> Entities and their Attributes
> Keys and Superkeys
> Relation****ps between Entities
>
> The entity-relation****p model is an informal database model of a
relational
> database. This model of a relational database provides a useful
> perspective, especially for the purposes of the initial design of the
> database.
>
> Chapter 2 The Entity -Relation****p Model of a Database introduces some
of
> the basic concepts of relational database management, like entities,
entity
> cl*****, keys, superkeys, one-to-many, and many -to-many relation****ps.
>
> Romans chapter three (3) is titled Implementing Entity-Relation****p
Models:
> Relational Databases. The subtopics are:
>
> Implementing Entities
> A Short Glossary
> Implementing the Relation****ps in a Relational Database
> The LIBRARY Relational database
> Index files
> NULL values
>
> Chapter 3 Implementing Entity-Relation****p Models: Relational Databases
> shows how the general concepts (above), and principles are applied in
> designing a real-world database. In particular, the chapter shows how
to
> decompose a sample flat database into a well designed relational
database.
>
> Chapter 4 Database Design Principles, continues the discussion begun in
> Chapter 3 by focusing on the major problem of database design, that of
> eliminating data redundancy without losing the esential relation****ps
> between items of data. The chapter introduces the notion of functional
> dependencies and examines each of the major forms for database
> normalization.
>
> Romans chapter four (4) is titled Database Design Principles. The
subtopics
> are:
>
> Redundancy
> Normal forms
> First Normal Form
> Functional Dependencies
> Second Normal Form
> Third Normal Form
> Boyce-Codd Normal Form
> Normalization
>
>
>
>
> Data Flows: Represent an input of data to a process, or the output of
data
> (or information) from a process. A data flow is also used to represent
the
> creation, deletion, or updating of data in a file or database (called a
> "data store" in the Data Flow Diagram (DFD.) Note that a data flow is
not
a
> process, but the passing of data only. These are represented in the DFD.
> Each data flow is a part of a DFD Explosion of a particular process.
Data
> Flow Listing: Same as above. Data Flow Description: Note the DFD
Explosion
> #.
> Brief Description: Same as above.
> Volume/Physical Implementation Info: What is the volume of this data
flow
> per day, week, month, whatever is appropriate? Does this dataflow
require
an
> Internet connection? A car?
> Source and Destination: Fill out as appropriate. What are the sources
and
> destinations of this data flow?
> Processes: Work performed on or in response to, incoming data flows or
> conditions. The FSS Context Diagram includes "FSS System" and all the
inputs
> and outputs of the FSS system. The DFD Diagram 0 (if you'd included
> everything, just as an example) would be 1. Accounts Payable, 2. Order
> Processing, 3. Catering Processing, 4. Payroll Processing, 5. Accounts
> Payable Processing, 6. Warehouse Processing, 7. Inventory Processing,
and
8.
> Store Processing. Each of these processes has inputs and outputs that
are
> independent of the other. Process Listing: Same as above. Process
> Description: Note the DFD Explosion #.
> Brief Description: Same as above.
> Purpose/Physical Implementation Info: Why do we need this process? State
a
> specific purpose. Indicate any implementation issues. Does the process
need
> to accept certain types of data? Certain type of DBMS or ODBC? What are
the
> inflows and outflows? (If inflows and outflows are the same... then you
have
> a data flow and not a process.)
> External Entities: A person, organization unit, other system, or other
> organization that lies outside the scope of the project but that
interacts
> with the system being studied. External entities provide the net inputs
into
> a system and receive net outputs from the system. This and the others
are
> definitions from the book. Basically, external entities are those
entities
> that are outside the scope of the project or system at hand. External
> Entities Listing: Same as above. External Entities Description:
> Brief Description: Same as above.
> Inflows and Outflows: List here. These are the interfaces to the system
(in
> this case, FSS)
> Interface Constraints/Misc. Info: For Example: ODBC, Internet
>
>
>
> Chapter 6 von Halle provides more complete or specific rules on naming
> conventions, for use when you begin to assign names to other kinds of
data
> objects. Some of the rules in chapter 6 also may assist in choosing
entity
> names. It is usually simple to name entities by using the general
> guidelines.
>
> Naming conventions such as described Chapter 6 von Halle should be in
place
> and do***ented prior to the beginning of a modeliing workshop. These
> conventions may take into consideration the facilities or constraintsof
an
> automated data dictionary tool. They amy also reflect the guidelines
used
> for existing systems and data models. Include attention to the rules on
> abbreviations. This process enables improvement in determining existing
> names (from the lists) and for creating new entity names.
>
> The Data Replication Manager
> The data replication manager manages the copyiing and distribution of
data
> across databases as defined by the information user. The information
user
> defines the data that needs to be copied, the source and destination
> platforms, the frequency of updates, and the data transforms.
>
> Refresh involves copying over the entire data source;
>
> Update only propagates the changes. Everything can be automated or done
> manually. Data can be obtained from relational or non-relational
sources.
>
> Note that almost all external data is transformed and cleansed before
it's
> brought into the warehouse.
>
> Replication or Direct Access
> Will be covering data replication in detail in the next sections p. 210
> Client Server Survivor Guide. On page 214 Client Server Survivor Guide
the
> chapter is named Replication vs. Direct Access he explains that it is
> impractical to create a centralized repository of data because of
> performance, security, availability, and local control etc.
>
> Replicated data management will increasingly be used to remove the
capacity,
> performance, and organizational roadblocks of centralized data access.
In
> the explanation replication is reference to data files which are
duplicated
> and updated on schedule to control the availability of updated data
records
> without using a centralized repository.
>
>
> The typical uses of a data dictionary
> Provide a standard definition of terms and data elements
> Assist programmers in designing and writing programs
> Simplify database modification
>
> A database approach has certain advantages which are aided by
implementation
> of a data dictionary
> Reduced data redundancy
> Increased data reliability
> Faster program development
> Easier modification of data and information
>
>
> In terms of properties what is listed above are:
>
> name of the data item
> aliases or other names that may be used to describe the item
> the range of values that can be used, the type of data i.e.,
alphanumeric
or
> numeric
> the length of the data item in bytes
> a notation responsible for updating the various users permissions
(control
> for minimum of record locking conflicts)
> a list of re****ts that use the data item
>
>
> Name of the Item in Dictionary
> As for the first issue, "name of the data item" the type of items which
are
> involved would cover a broad scope. Typically an item is only a record
in
a
> database, however when we consider that a server is something of a
> database - a server which serves many file types, an item can be related
to
> the most general case of any files org n the server as a system (a
number
of
> programs mixed with some larger applications), and the do***ent files
which
> are created or under the control of the user. Using the references data
> suggested by data warehousing may be a useful approach, to situating
data
> within a wider external context. Using a normenclature that
names/defines
> objects i.e., *.txt, or *.xcl and by a reference code for the
application,
> and an update code, may be informative. A function code may be used
sales,
> accounting, etc. as an external reference also.
>
> Name of the Machine
> It has been standard practice when do***enting LAN maintenance, that the
> machine itself is described and the resources which are added or shared
with
> the LAN. It is not standard to consider the do***entation of the
machine
> resouces (drives, software, etc.) in respect to the server and files
> particularly, but in general it should be considered as a part of the
> network maintenance. The software should be listed by version number,
and
> described by the design features.
>
> Aliases or Other Names for the Item
> One way to describe an item by name is to name it as being within a
species
> within a higher class or genus of items. A machine may be named using
the
> machine name and the network i.e., Simone.MSHOME.NET. A database is
usually
> named for the particular business function or department.
>
> A File can be considered as a part of a local website or as part of (a
> system/program model) an interactive server application. And a Re****t
can
> be considered as part of a ****pment, or part of a time-related Series of
> Re****ts.
>
> Range of values that can be used, the type of data i.e., alphanumeric,
or
> numeric
> Data types can be custom made, however many data types will be the same
as
> the machine or software has been designed to use. A data definition
> language (DDL) refers to the set of SQL statements that you use in
queries
> to define objects such as tables, constraints, stored procedures, and
views.
> DDL is used to create the persistent structure and features of your
> database. Every SQL command is considered a query, even though many
> commands don't retrieve anything.
>
> Reference modeling language should be consulted for external reference
data
> issues.
>
> Length of Data Items in Bytes
> Each data item can be thought of as a unique segment. If the item is to
be
> used in conjunction with a group of other data taken from other files,
the
> byte cound is crucial for proper alignment. Any data item which is
treated
> as an odd size by the machine will cause some memory allocation
problems.
> Test the structure using C language. Allocate any odd sized fields of
data
> to the last in the group Darnell and Margolis, C A Software Engineering
> Approach Third Edition publ Springer-Verlag 1996. The processing of
files
> i.e., merge-sort is conditioned by the contents of data vlaue in the
first
> and last records of the master file. The data should identify that
first
> record and the last record. A record with ZZZZs 'in a text field may
suit.
> Look at the coalation sequence being used by the software.
>
> A Notation Resposible for Updating the Various User Permissions
> The use of versions may be necessary when data access pemissions will
vary,
> but the views used to work with the data may be dependent upon the
function
> which has been assigned to the user for a particular job.
>
> A List of Re****ts that Use the Data Item
> This should relate to reference data and data warehousing dimensions. A
> code should indicate which activities are performed in sequence, and
their
> order of operations. A machine by machine inventory, as well as
application
> by application, program by program, system by system list.
>
>
> Information systems sup****t and work within all parts of an
organizational
> process. Input to the process module (subsystem) can come by internal
and/or
> external sources. Once data enter the input subsystem it becomes
internal.
> And likewise goods and services can be output to either internal or
external
> systems.
>
> A module is a logical problem related task (problem solving) that the
> program performs analysis and re****ting on. Control is passed to a
module
on
> the lower levels using a control statement of a programming language. An
> IF( ) statement, or a FOR( ) statement, ERROR, FLAG, RETURN, and
CONTINUE,
> are thought of as control statements. There are others we can list at a
> later point.
>
> The inputs which are gathered by lower utiltities can be treated by
lower
> level tasks as values (attribute/value pair) which have a global scope,
> because the lower level task modules in the data processing task
hierarchy
> are aware of only the entry and exit which is a return to the calling
module
> as other technicians can argue in these cases.The data which is to be
> processed within any of these task modules will reflect a certain way of
> considering the function and status of the applicaton program system.
>
> Control always p***** back to the calling module from the lower level
task
> modules. And there is only one entry point at the top module or the top
> level. There is only one exit from any of the modules, it returns
control
to
> the calling module. It is however possible for more than one module to
> transfer control to a task module on a lower level. Module A invokes
module
> C, and module B also invokes module C. And there is at most one control
> relation****p between any two modules, i.e., if A invokes B then B can
not
> invoke A. Module C is known as a common module, and module C may have a
> (lower level) task processing modules below itself. But no module can
call
> itself (recursion) these modules of the lower level are not aware of the
> upper level modules (until they have been invoked and activated). I have
> develoed the idea that the database which ac***ulates the data is a
common
> module, while the lower level tasks are as described in terms of
> attribute/value pairs.
>
> The most meaningful records for the systems analyst are those data flow
> diagrams (process control charts) depicting how the various systems are
> interconnected, since outputs from one system become the inputs of
another.
> An appreciation of the current state of the environment which we are
> interested in influencing is the place we have to begin.
>
> How functional is the network which sup****ts the environment? The
> assumptions about the performance of the network would amount to another
> *****sment of an indirect influence with regard to a plan, and a
> consideration of issues needed for a direct involvement in the
environment.
>
> Applications (systems) which are built upon their client-server network
> architecture foundation apply the instructions of Third Generation
> programming languages, and Fourth Generation programming languages which
are
> meant to perform tasks within an environmment controlled through a
useful
> distributed client server network architecture and an integrated mix of
> functional resources (function applications i.e., accounting, inventory,
> etc.). Utility applications are also used for general file management,
> system monitoring, etc.
>
> An essential technique used for planning for participating in the
changes
> occurring within the environment would need to understand and *****s the
> likely changes to occur even without intervention -indirect
participation
> can be related to the observation of changes, and can also be related to
the
> observer's position -oneself in relation****p to other systems of the
world.
>
> Another indirect participation can amount to understanding the
environment
> and preparation of a plan for intervention in the environment and this
is
in
> fact a strategy used in game theory. \how far will the systems
influencing
> the environment be totally in agreement or partly resistant to
another/new
> effort to implement changes in the environment? How much of the effort
at
> intervening within the environment depends upon a clandestine shock
attack?
>
> Whereas businesspeople are inundated with information, ideas, and
theories
> on new technologies as well as new organizational forms and changing
> business conditions and strategies, there has been little success in
> developing a coherent view that synthesizes these factors. The Digital
> Economy explains the new econoomy, the new enterprise, and the new
> technology, and how they link to one another. The role of the new
technology
> in creating the new enterprise for a new economy is a relation****p which
an
> organization must understand to master.
>
> Systems development allows an organization to effectively use computer
> technology to increase revenues and reduce costs. Well-designed,
> well-implemented information systems can help organizations to achieve
their
> goals. We discuss the use of the information systms in the
organizational
> context.. The correctness of the adherence to a theory of the design of
the
> system and applications would be the desired end result for these
> applications. The nature of such grand systems -derived from the
adherence
> to the tenets of the scientific revolution is not, in fact to produce a
> computer as the servant of man; and the bold applications of man are a
> secondary effect. Enslavement of man, put into second place by
technologies
> and an attempt at trivial tasking management is a failure to learn the
> design of the splendors of a system and the programs and the system. (I
dont
> know how this seems to you I wrote it in frustration). Stair p. 16
> Information Systems in perspective.
>
> A best selling book The Digital Economy by Don Tapscott states, "Today
we
> are witnessing the early, turbulent days of a revolution as significant
as
> any other in human history. A new medium of huuman communications is
> emerging, one that may prove to surpass all previous revolutions -the
> printing press, the telephone, the television -in its impact on our
economic
> and social life. The computer is expanding from a tool for information
> management to a tool for communications. Interactive multimedia and the
> information highway, and its exemplar the Internet, are enabling a new
> economy based on the networking of human intelligence. In this digital
> econopmy, individuals and enterprises create wealth by applying
knowledge,
> networked human intelligence, and effort to manufacturing, agriculture,
and
> services. In the digital frontier of this economy, the players,
dynamics,
> rules, and requirements for survival and success are changing.
>
> Such a ****ft in economic and societal relation****ps has occurred only a
> handful of times before on the planet. It is causeing every company to
think
> far beyond the lines of "reengineering", to transform itself. A new
> enterprise is emerging -the internetworked business -which is as
different
> from the cor****ation of the twentieth century as the latter was from the
> feudal craft shop."
>
> The term internetworked business (Tapscott note) is based on the term
> internetworked enterprise -a concept first explained by the alliance for
> Converging Technologies.
>
> "The Digital Ecoomy (Tapscott's book) attempts to answer the question:
What
> does it all mean for my business> Whereas business people are inundated
with
> information, ideas, and theories on new technologies and new
organizational
> forms as well as changing business conditions and strategies, there has
been
> little success in developing a coherent view that synthesizes these
factors.
> The Digital Economy explains the New Economy, the New Enterprise, and
the
> New Technology and how they link to one another-how they enable one
another.
>
> ---------
>
> Access Database Applications
> An application i.e., Microsoft Office (Suite) includes a number of
visual
> tools Visual Objects A Developer's Guide M & T Books of MIS Press 1994,
NYC
> 1995 p. 4 that speed the development process. Visual Editors allow
you
to
> create application components quickly, including menus, windows, (data
> entry and dialog), cursors, icons, data servers, (for both XBASE (*.DBF)
and
> SQL databases), and WYSIWYG re****ts.
>
> You can use programming to make changes to the data in a database table
> also. It is often easier to write a program to perform an action such
as
> this, than trying to remember how to perform the same action using the
> graphical interface.
>
>
> LAN applications and Access Management Information Systems (MIS)
> Topics of research into designing a LAN involves the LANs organization,
to
> be aimed toward an evaluation of the methods which can be used for
combining
> software applications of the LAN platform; also the storage of data, and
> data manipulation capabilities, of each of the LAN's connected
applications
> and machine platforms. Multiprocessing techniques (multiple servers)
have
a
> relevant use where applications are running across the LAN. Some of the
> issues relate to the development of reusable sections of code.
>
> You can use a tool such as FrontPage to help you lay out your Web pages,
if
> you can use HTML. Your application is automatically Internet-enabled
Wayne
> Freeze p. 378.
>
> A Web site based upon SharePoint Team Services from Microsoft relies on
a
> SQL server database to store information such as:
> List data, including information about Events, Announcements, Tasks, and
> Contacts.
> Do***ent library information about properties, such as do***ent title,
date,
> and size.
> Discussion and subscription data, such as subscription information and
the
> actual threaded comments from Web do***ent discussions.
> Security data, such as who is allowed to view and change site
information.
>
> System Goals to be Served by the Site -Necessary Elements Which the Web
Site
> is to Provide
> The design planning of the site involves the planning of the continuous
> management of the Web site. This is very similar to the ideas involved
with
> database management.
>
> 1- The design and planning involves the user's needs and the user's
> identity. Who is Web site intended for? What will assist the user in
the
> process involving his desire to locate and use the Web site's resources?
>
> 2- Is the Web site intended to deliver information only, or would there
also
> be some type of office automation correspondence function involving
mailing
> and recording of a user's participation in a committee or online
meeting?
>
> 3- Peer-to-peer LAN connections enable many clients machines to
communicate
> among themselves in a ring. Each client acts as a server and when the
time
> comes transmits information to the next client down the line Building
> Dynamic HTML GUIs p. 152.
>
> 4- Will additional automatic processes in connection with, the Web site
and
> the user, also require the user's responses, and an introduction to the
> automatic method being employed by the Web site?
>
> 5- Is there a MIS being shared among a connectivity group? This MIS is
> likely to include a database management system, and database management
> systems and analysis would apply.
>
> The individual Web page sections can be created using Web frames
(display
of
> multiple do***ents) or a single page. They can be created dynamically
or
on
> a batch basis, or the page may be static. The technique used depends
upon
> the type of activity. We have listed three aspects of a page as
dynamic,
> static, or batch in origination to describe their format, rather than
> content.
>
> The age of Networked Intelligence is an age of promise, involving the
> networking of technology along with the networking of humans through
> technology. It is an age of hmans who can combine their intelligence,
> knowledge, and creativity for breakthroughs in the creation of wealth
and
> social development.. It is not just an age of linking computers but of
> internetworking human ingenuity.
>
> And rather than a single expensive supercomputer used in simulations,
> sup****ting a single group of scientists, a global network of computers
can
> be internetworked to sup****t distributed teams of scientists. the
network
> iteslf is more powerful than any single computer would be. And networked
> human intelligence is applied to research, thus creating a higher order
of
> thinking, knowledge -and maybe even a internetworked consciousness
-among
> people. the same networking can be applied to business and almost every
> other aspect of human endeavor -learning, health care, work,
entertainment.
>
> Networking can change the intelligence of a business by bringing
collective
> know-how to bear on problem solving and innovation. By dramatically
opening
> the channels of human communication, consciousness can be extended
> fromindividuals to organizations. Unconscious organizations, just like
> unconsciousness people can not learn. Learnig is a precondition for
> survival. Networked intelligence is the missing link in organizational
> learning, and the consious organization may be the foundation for the
> elusive learning organization. And broader networked intelligence beyond
> organizations can be extended to create a broader awakening -social
> consciousness -in communities, nations, and beyond.
>
>
>
> HTML publi****ng can incor****ate many powerful features such as:
>
> HTML Publi****ng
> HTML publishers have access to powerful features such as:
> Advanced layout control
> Banners
> Client-side handling of hot spots in images
> Customized lists
> Dynamic do***ents with client-pull/server-push (views and re****ts)
> Mathematical equations
> Style sheets
> Tables
> Tables within forms (form connected to server-side IIS)
>
> Webpages created using Microsoft FrontPage can includefour powerful
> FrontPage features a PowerPoint show on this topic is located on
Artemus:
> Find and replace text across multiple pages
> Include a web page inside another web page
> Fix broken hyperlinks
> Use variables to automatically updata content of web pages using
variables
>
> Page layout capabilities are used for structuring do***ents. The
popularity
> of page layout applications stems largely from their ease of use, and
rich
> control over do***ent structure. Three popular commercial page layout
> applications are:
>
> Adobe Acrobat
> Corel VENTURA
> Common Ground
>
> The issues to consider when considering page layout application
capabilities
> for using HTML, SGML, a proprietary commercial application, VRML (a
graphics
> based media that users can interact with *.wrl filename extension) are:
>
> Page Layout Use - Considerations
> Text sup****t
> Layout
> Style
> Multiple column text
> Multiple column graphics
> Hypertext sup****t
> Hypertext options
>
> HTTP Servers (CGI)
> A form (script) as named in the HTML <FORM> tag is a program that can be
> brought to life when the user requests to work interactively with the
HTTP
> server that houses Web information and serves it over the Internet when
> requested to do so Email, Web, ActiveX, News Internet 1997 Unleashed
p.
> 756.
>
> A Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is, in simple terms a bridge between
HTTP
> servers and systems -the means of doing the CGI script involves a form
in
> the style of Microsoft's updated implementations. A database
application
is
> a somewhat more sophisticated example of CGI. A search engine is a
database
> application for example p. 756 above.
>
> Common examples of the CGI programs, which are bridges between these
HTTP
> servers and the clients are programs which are used for forms, and for
> database processing. Commonly the programs are called scripts because
they
> are written with a downsized and user-friendlylanguage implementation.
>
> Consider the following ASP page script:
> (1)
> <%
> var sum1;
> obj = 1 + i;
> %>
>
> Unlike in the case of a regular HTML page, additional information is
sent
to
> the server within a container used to create a server process. Ths
server
> process is a program running at this point. The action attribute of the
> form component defines which URL will be called to process the form (a
Call
> statement is typically used to run a program). Use of a form launched
from
> an HTML page involves the Call be swapped in the URL, for many cases.
>
> Forms are one of the common and easy-to-implement methods of adding
> interactivity to a site. This typically involves offering a series of
> questions and choices to the site's visitor, as shown p. 757 -An
> interactive form on http://www.gadabout.com/spa/wetalk.htm.
The form is
> filled out by the user on the client machine, it is processed using CGI,
and
> the information is compiled and sent along to a printer, or in some
cases
an
> e-mail, to the receiving party. The Microsoft implementations use ASP
> (Active Server Pages for IIS) components.
>
> It is possible to use the intrinsic Response ASP object, as the
following
> example:
>
> <%Response.Write("Hello world")%>
>
> The Response object is used to send HTTP server output to the client
which
> has made an interactive connection with the server. The output can be
> returned as binary output, as well as HTML.
>
> Processing HTML Forms
> The most common HTML operation that will be programmed is the processing
of
> forms. A forms process has two parts to it:
> The client side - which captures the data
> The server side - which processes the data
>
> A form process is specified by using the <Form> tag within an HTML page.
It
> creates a container that will be used to create a server process. To
make
a
> form work, the action and method attributes need to be specified as in
the
> following example:
>
> <FORM action="exampleform.asp" method=post>
> ...
> </FORM>
>
> The basic form element is the <INPUT> tag. It can represent many
things,
> depending on the type of attribute. In the first <INPUT> line, below,
the
> type attribute is text to denote a text field.
>
> <FORM action="exampleform.asp" method=post><BR>
> <INPUT type="text" name=text1><BR>
> <INPUT type="submit" value="Submit" name=submit1>
> </FORM>
>
> In the second <INPUT> line above the type attribute is submit, which
means
> that it is a button.
>
> The Server Side
> When a request is made and the ASP page starts processing, the Request
> object is instantiated. This object is responsible for parsing the CGI
> string into a series of variables. To access the form fields, the
> QueryString or Form method is used.
>
> The following example page uses both methods QueryString and Form and a
> third variant that is indifferent to how the information is passed from
the
> client to the server.
>
> The Windows Script Host (WSH) is similar to an interpreter for JScript
or
> VBScript that runs in the client browser.
> WSH 2.0 meets the top ten user requests:
> Sup****t for include files
> Sup****t of multiple engines
> Enhanced tools sup****t
> Enhanced debugging
> Access to type library constants
> Mechanism to pause a script
> stdin/stdout and stderr sup****t
> Enhanced logon script capabilities
> Drag and drop sup****t
> Quality of workman****p (counts as a feature)
>
> Any application that sup****ts Microsoft Windows Script can use these
> languages, VBScript and JScript.
>
>
> An ASP page is called. The <FORM> tag does not need to be on an ASP
page;
> it could be on an HTML page. But remember that if any server state is
> needed when the form page is requested, the HTML page must have an *.asp
> extension.
>
> A form action is a special type of HTTP request. Additional information
is
> sent to the server. This information is used to generate a stream of
HTML
> text that will be displayed by the end device. The stream most likely
will
> not be a static page.
>
> When the Submit button is clicked it will call the action URL combined
with
> the data-form variables. It is im****tant to identify each form element
> using the name attribute. When the data is combined with the URL and
sent
> to the server, the data cannot be a large array. Instead the data is
> correlated with the name given in the <INPUT> tag. This information is
then
> used on the server side.
>
> Password - a special field like a text box, but the individual
characters
> are masked as they are typed. <INPUT type="password" name=password1>
> TextArea - a multiline text field. The size the text area is defined
using
> the attributes rows (number of rows) and cols (number of columns).
> Example: <TEXTAREA rows=2 cols=20 name=textarea1></TEXTAREA>
Programmer's
> Windows DNA p. 92.
> CheckBox - a checkbox that can be checked or unchecked <INPUT
> type="checkbox" name=checkbox1>
> Radio button - a radio button which can be part of a group of radion
> buttons. The group is defined by assigning multiple radio buttons the
same
> name, but different values. Within the group only one button can be
> selected. Example <INPUT type="radio" value="Value 1" name=radio1>
> Reset button -
>
> The sup****t for VBScript goes way beyond scripting for the Internet
Explorer
> and has set up many new hosts -including the Windows operating system
> itself. The data component of ActiveX is called ADO Active Data
Objects.
> ADO is used to work with data from various sources. There are various
types
> of ADO objects as suggested on the MSDN section of ADO Programmer's
Guide.
>
> In addition to the run-time object model, WSH provides a set of objects
that
> make Windows scripts easier to write.
> Network object -
> Shell object -
> Windows operating system information - i.e., registry access
> Special folders -
>
> Data Validation
> Form processing has the disadvantage that there is no client side
> validation. This means the data is sent to the server to be validated.
In
> the case of an error in the data the user must fill out the form again.
A
> simpler approach is to use client side validation by using scripting on
the
> client side.
>
> Any requirement for data validation is not considered to be business
process
> validation. It is used as validating to make sure that the form-field
> values being sent to the server make some sense.
>
> There are different ways of doing this but the simplest way is given by
> Programmer's Windows DNA p. 95.
>
> The <INPUT> tag of type attribute submit was changed to button so that
the
> form submitting process could be controlled manually. The example
source
> code is:
>
> <INPUT type="button" value="Button" name=button1 LANGUAGE=javascript
> onclick="return button1_onclick( this.form)">
>
> I will need to reviw the context of the above code fragment. Once we
get
a
> submit of data to the server side .. this.form is an expression which
uses
> the DOM (do***ent object model) hierarchy via the current page
(this.form)
> as I believe. The return statement is associater with the onclick()
event
> of the button (button1).
>
> <INPUT type="button" value="Button" name=button1 LANGUAGE=javascript
> onclick="return button1_onclick( this.form)">
> The onclick() event of button1 has a return, from a VB function.
this.form
> is the current form i suppose, and the function code is attached to the
> button. Yeah that's probably right. Where does the return go? Probably
to
> the coded attached to the button also.
>
> The Server Side
> When a request is made and the ASP page starts processing, the Request
> object is instantiated. This object is responsible for parsing the CGI
> string into a series of variables. To access the form fields, the
> QueryString or Form method is used.
>
> The following example page uses both methods QueryString and Form and a
> third variant that is indifferent to how the information is passed from
the
> client to the server.
>
> The examples described above are not here, and need to be developed...
>
> A database is a somewhat more sophisticated example of a CGI program, as
> used in a search engine. The user types an item which he/she is looking
for
> into a search field (input). The request is sent to the ASP server side
> components.. ASP page starts processing, the Request object is
instantiated.
>
> It p***** through the CGI gateway, which commands the server to comply
with
> the user's request, which involves the search program <FORM>.
>
> As noted once above, a form process is specified by using the <Form> tag
> within an HTML page. It creates a container that will be used to create
a
> server process. To make a form work, the action and method attributes
need
> to be specified as in the following example:
>
> <FORM action="exampleform.asp" method=post>
> ...
> </FORM>
>
>
> Once that program runs, it returns the data back to the visitor through
the
> gateway, and voila! The visitor is now provided with a list of hot
links
to
> various items within the database.
>
> CGI is a very powerful tool, but as mentioned earlier many interactive
tools
> available to developers of Web sites are limited, or determined by the
Web
> servers being used. Check with your ISP to determine what functions are
> available to you and how to implement them with your provider's server
type
> Internet 1997 Unleashed p. 758.
>
> Interactive Database Applications
> These lectures by Richard Rost of 599CD.com begin with the questions:
> What is ASP?
> What do you need to use ASP?
> Basic ASP commands..
> Simple ASP pages (scipts)..
>
> The instructor advises that HTML 101, and Visual Basic introduction
sourses
> are useful to a study of the ASP server side components. FrontPage 101
is
> also useful for learning about web sites. You should also know how to
build
> a basic web page.
>
> In order to use ASP 2.0 you need to have it installed on a web server
> running IIS 4.0 (internet information server). I need to check which
> versions of these I have installed.
>
> PERSONAL WEB SERVER
> The Microsoft Personal Web Server can be the solution to a number of
> information-sharing needs. For example these three situations are
mentioned
> in the PWS do***entation:
>
> A simple do***ent sharing solution
> A custom information exchange solution
> A Web application testing solution
>
> In the Personal Web Server package, Microsoft has pulled together some
> exciting new functionality that makes your existing Microsoft operating
> system a platform for sharing information on a personal web site.
>
> The Personal Web Server package makes it easy to install any of the
> following new features:
> Microsoft Personal Web Server - a desktop Web Server that can be used to
> host a Web site on the cor****ate intranet, or to develop and test a Web
site
> before testing the site on an ISP.
> Microsoft Internet Explorer - The new version of Internet Explorer
delivers
> the essential features you need to make finding, browsing, and
communicating
> over the Internet a seamless part of the computing experience.
> Microsoft Transaction Server - Sup****ts creation of Microsoft
Transaction
> Server applications. A transaction is a server operation that succeeds
of
> fails as a whole, even if the operation involves many steps. MTS also
> sup****ts process isolation of applications (this MTS is beyond my
microsoft
> knowledge right now).
> Microsoft Data Access Components - Easy use of databases with sup****t
for
> ActiveX Data Objects and the Microsoft Access driver.
> Microsoft Message Queue Client - Allows applications to pass along
> transaction notification and continue processing without waiting for
> confirmation that the transaction has completed.
>
> A Typical Installation of Personal Web Server includes:
> FrontPage Server Extensions, FrontPage Server Extension files,
> Microsoft Data Access Components (easy use of databases with sup****t for
> ActiveX Data Objects, and the Microsoft Access driver)
> SQL Server, MDAC: ADO, ODBC, and OLE DB (with ADO do***entation)
> Data Sources - Jet and Access APIs
> MDAC core files: ADO, ODBC, and OLE DB,
> Personal Web Server (uses TCP/IP)
> Personal Web Manager
> World Wide Web Server
> MTS (Transaction Server)
>
> I installed everything, but could not install Microsoft Message Que.
>
> Microsoft's "Active Internet" strategy has evolved with cor****ate
> communications in mind. And in conjunction with their "Active Internet"
> strategy, Microsoft has invested considerable time, effort, and
financial
> resources into the development of their ActiveX technology, which is a
> robust and impressive mixing of technologies that will allow users to
create
> and maintain interactive content using a number of software components,
> scripting languages (see VB script), and other currently available
Microsoft
> applications by embedding them directly into either static or
dynamically
> generated HTML pages.
>
> ActiveX is based in part upon OLE controls, and the data sharing that
has
> previously been facilitated by OLE. ActiveX initiated in Microsoft as a
> multimedia extension for Web pages. This means that if your
organization
> has used MS-Internet Information Server (IIS), SQL and other MS
products,
> your organization is now in a favorable position to design and implement
> complex intranet systems easily with use of the compatibility across the
> Microsoft suite of applications. The data component of ActiveX is
called
> ADO (Active Data Objects).
>
> The Microsoft Personal Web Server (PWS) sup****ts ActiveX Data Objects,
and
> the Microsoft Access driver. The Microsoft Data Access Component MDAC
core
> files are : ADO, ODBC, and OLE DB.
>
> ActiveX
> ActiveX and the Windows WScript object model is an environment which
> sup****ts many Windows programming ideas and languages that include
JScript,
> Windows Script Host (WSH), and VBScript and VBA (Visual Basic for
> Applications).
>
> ActiveX initiated in Microsoft as a multimedia extension for Web pages.
> Eventually it grew into being an environment which sup****ted the notion
of
> scripting, for the browser which is the same idea as Sun and its Java
> language meant to solve. This says that ActiveX is essentially meant to
> adapt same approach as the Java standard.
>
> The sup****t for VBScript goes way beyond scripting for the Internet
Explorer
> and has set up many new hosts -including the Windows operating system
> itself. The data component of ActiveX is called ADO Active Data
Objects.
> ADO is used to work with data from various sources. There are various
types
> of ADO objects as suggested on the MSDN section of ADO Programmer's
Guide.
> Also see ADO do***entation provided with PWS.
>
> WordPerfect 10
> WordPerfect 10 sup****ts object linking and embedding (OLE). Object
linking
> and embedding is the process of inserting an object created in one
> application (the server) into another application (the client).
>
> An object can be text, a graphic, a chart, a spreadsheet, a sound or
video
> clip, or any file created by an OLE-compliant application.
>
> To share information with Windows applications created before Windows
95,
> you must use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) instead of OLE.
>
> In this section you'll learn about:
> linking and embedding objects
> linking and embedding data created in other formats as regular text
> linking and embedding TextArt images
> linking and embedding video
> linking, embedding and using sound
> changing links
> updating links and editing OLE objects
> changing and hiding link icons
>
> Linking and embedding objects - WordPerfect lets you link and embed
objects
> from any application registered with Windows as being OLE- or
DDE-compliant.
> You can also link or embed selected information from a file. When you
link
> information, it resides in the source (server) file where it was
created.
It
> displays in WordPerfect (the client file) in a graphic frame or as an
icon.
> If you change the object in the source file, you can update the link in
the
> WordPerfect file too.
>
> Linking is useful when you want to be able to edit an object in a single
> location and have the edits reflected in the linked locations as well.
>
> The server application is used to create and edit linked OLE objects,
either
> in the source application or in WordPerfect.
>
> If you want to edit DDE linked information, the server application must
be
> used.
>
> FrontPage 2001
> The 599CD course is using FrontPage XP as the web editor. It would be
> useful to practice using the features of FrontPage and to integrate ASP
> examples from the 599CD course on ASP. The scripts an be tested using
> Windows Notepad.exe a text editor, and copies could be used as templates
in
> future web server projects.
>
> Active Server Pages differ from static HTML pages because they are able
to
> create content on the fly, for a specific request of the user. ASP
pages
> are really HTML pages with scripting language added to them. The
scripts
> are used as noted above:
>
> As noted once above, a form <FORM> process is specified by using the
<Form>
> tag within an HTML page. It creates a container that will be used to
create
> a server process. To make a form work, the action and method attributes
> need to be specified as in the following example:
>
> <FORM action="exampleform.asp" method=post>
> ...
> </FORM>
>
> ASP tags are added within the HTML, where the dynamic data ill be
co-mingled
> on the web page which is served in response to the user's request.
>
> What is a script?
> A script is a series of programming codes embedded in a web page to
execute
> commands. A script can takes advantage of the Data Access Components
core
> objects, Microsoft Data Access Components (easy use of databases with
> sup****t for ActiveX Data Objects, and the Microsoft Access driver).
>
> A script can also be used with Window Script Host (WSH). But that would
be
> a server side script.. I made it to the point that WSH is a client side
> idea, where the server ide is fundamentally ActiveX. Adding this ..
>
> Any server script files using ADO which connect the data to ODBC, to
display
> data within HTML devices also need a source tempate directory. Data
update
> procedures require do***entation. Data replication procedures require
> evaluation and description, etc. Look into Dalgleish's chapter on
Superbase
> project file maintenance.
>
> The Windows Script Host (WSH) is similar to an interpreter for JScript
or
> VBScript that runs in the client browser.
> WSH 2.0 meets the top ten user requests:
> Sup****t for include files
> Sup****t of multiple engines
> Enhanced tools sup****t
> Enhanced debugging
> Access to type library constants
> Mechanism to pause a script
> stdin/stdout and stderr sup****t
> Enhanced logon script capabilities
> Drag and drop sup****t
> Quality of workman****p (counts as a feature)
>
> Any application that sup****ts Microsoft Windows Script can use these
> languages.
>
> For example, to show the current date and time or include some data
value
> from a database.
>
> <%=Time()%>
>
> The above is used to show the current time, and date. The parameters
are
> not shown but I will expand on this section of this paper later.
>
> There are two types of scripts - Client Side and Server Side scripts.
> Client -Side scripts run in the browser. VBScript is used with Internet
> Explorer which interprets the VBScript in the browser if that is how we
> write it. A request for a page located on the server is made. The
server
> sends the page back to the client browser along with the VBScript
(JScript)
> code, which is interpreted by the browser. (will need to study this
with
> some examples). 599CD says, the script is run after the page is
received
by
> the client, from the server. And the script can be run several times,
> without reconnecting with the server.
>
> A Server Side script runs at the server. ASP is a server side script.
A
> request for a page located on the server is made. The server interprets
the
> script first, and then sends to page to the browser. The browser
receives
> only HTML. As for the request it often contains parameters in the query
> string which has to be explored during this lesson. Each execution of
the
> script requires a round trip to the server, and back to the client.
>
> Rost of 599CD states, the user types some information into a form <FORM>
> (like his name and address), and that information gets submitted up to
the
> server... The server does all the processing to figure what values to
put
> into the script. The server then sends an HTML do***ent back to the
> browser.
>
>
> How do I work on the server?
> The server I am using is LEONARDO, on the network MSHOME.NET. I type in
> file:\\LEONARDO and the online (shared) network directories are
displayed
as
> follows:
>
> The directories which I have made available on various occasions are
being
> displayed.
>
> The dorectories shared online are are :
>
> Data Sources C:\Program Files\Common Files\ODBC\Data Sources on
> Leonardo.MSHOME.NET - for ODBC uses
> LiveWeb D:\LiveWeb\WebTmpl\ on Leonardo.MSHOME.NET -
> http://leonardo.mshome.net/liveweb/
(default.htm)
> MyDo***ents
> Web D:\Projects\Internet\WEB\ on Leonardo.MSHOME.NET -
> http://leonardo.mshome.net/web/
(index.htm)
> wwwroot C:\Inetpub\wwwroot on Leonardo.MSHOME.NET -
> http://leonardo.mshome.net/
(default.asp)
>
>
> <a href="/scripts/test.asp">test2</a>
> http://leonardo.mshome.net/scripts/test.asp
SCRIPT from WEB directory
>
>
>
> Doing the Exercise
> An exercise to test the function of the Active Server Pages (IIS)
components
> running on the web server. I know that my components will work. I have
> expanded the example to work on a problem.
>
> The issue is to plan a small part a web network application which can be
> used for some personal / investment interests involving data management,
and
> decision sup****t systems, and the "use" of raw data to cause some
effect.
> According to the class on statistics www.learner.org with Prof. ? and
> Theresa Amabile in her class also, statistics is a way to understand
data
> which may already be known or anticipated (lightening, rain) or data
which
> is based on a survey or other data gathering method (Coke or Pepsi).
The
> lecture by Prof. Bill Kirby on regression describes how the % of
predictable
> variation can be calculated when a set of data is considered together.
What
> I want to do in this exercise is consider ASP client/server applications
> which involve simple data issues. The point is to master some ideas
about
> gathering data, and writing scripts which contain data.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Web Site Activities
> The purpose and features of a Web site will vary according to the
business
> process associated with it. For example, sometimes page content is
static
> and available for everyone to see, and other times a token (cookie) is
given
> to a browser so that when the site is visited again, that token can
identify
> the user as someone who has visited the site previously.
>
> The different Web site activities can be classified as follows:
>
> Information distribution
> Interactive Information distribution
> Data Manipulation
> Anonymous Data Manipulation
> Add-on Activities
>
>
> Information distribution is the simplest type of Web site activity. It
is
a
> read-only operation that can be made of password-protected,
database-driven,
> or static pages. The reason why it is informational is that the global
key
> (or cookie) has no impact on how the data is generated or displayed.
This
> information may be generated directly with ASP, or by calling a
component.
> This type of task is a one-to-many distribution mechanism. An example
is
> the display of news or cor****ate pages.
>
> Interactive Information distribution is a read-only activity like the
> informational activity above, but it is dependent upon the global key.
When
> the page content is generated, it is customized to the user's
> specifications. The global key then associates the user with specific
> content and can be used to "recognize" the user if he or she returns.
An
> example is displaying a paycheck which is unique for each person.
>
> Data Manipulation is an input-output activity. It is dependent on the
> global key and it displays information that directly correlates to the
> global key. When data is input, the global key is required to correlate
the
> data being saved with the user. A key characteristic of this task is
that
> it uses server side components for its input-output operations. An
example
> is the buying and selling of your stock ****tfolio on the internet.
> Incremental updates are saved on user's machine until he places the
order
to
> transact his business with the network.
>
> Anonymous Data Manipulation is an input-output activity, but it does not
> require a global key. The difference between this and the application
task
> is that there is no global key. The input-output is a generic operation
> that can be performed by any user. An example is an attendee
registering
> for a conference, where the details are filled out once and never seen
again
> on the Web site.
>
> Add-on Activities are activities that do not fall into any of the
preceding
> categories. They may require a global key or they may not. These tasks
> might not even be Web based. These tasks are designed to do certain
things
> that are not part of the main business process. Code may need to be
> written, and some parts of other tasks may be reused but they are still
> separate functions. Examples include data backups, database-filling
> operations, and system maintenance.
>
> Partitioning a Web
> Partitioning a Web site is not simple. By defining the various
activities
> as depicted in prior paragraphs, it is possible to partition the Web
> application. When a Web site is partitioned, it is simpler to maintain
and
> extend.
>
> Another reason for partitioning a Web site is if the various activities
use
> different Web site structures. Information-oriented Web sites may only
> contain a few pages. To manage thousands of pages, different tools are
> required than those used to build a data manipulation Web site. The
types
> of Web sites that are focused on in this book are data manipulation and
> add-on activity Web sites.
>
> Separating the Structure from the Presentation
> With HTML 4.0 it is possible to define your Web page presentation using
> style sheets. Style sheets make it possible to assign a location and
style
> to various items on an HTML page. The advantage of using this approach
is
> that it is possible to define various style sheets that will apply to
> different situations. For example, the style sheet for the visually
> impaired may require large fonts. Using style sheets also makes your
site
> more extensible for future designs. Style sheets will be discussed in
the
> next chapter A Programmers Introduction to Windows DNA p. 81.
>
>
> <HEAD><TITLE>Welcome to the Virtual Mall!!</TITLE>
> <LINK title="Text-only version"
> rel="alternate" href="text-only"
> media="aural, braille, tty">
> </HEAD>
>
> The above example shows how to create an alternate Web site for users
who
do
> not have the capability to view the graphics A Programmers Introduction
to
> Windows DNA p. 82.
>
>
> Client Server Networks
> The benefits to be gained from proper consideration of the 4GL GUI and
> client server network architecture, and appropriate implementation of
the
> client server system are:
>
> Functionality can be delivered in stages to end-users. The first pieces
of
> the project are deployed more quickly
> Graphic user interfaces commonly used encourage the users to utilize the
> functionality
> Flexibility and scalability facilitate business process re-engineering
> More processing can be performed close to the source of data being
processed
> (distributed network data) reducing network data traffic
> Client server architectures allow the development of Web-enabled
> applications, facilitating the ability of organizations to communicate
> internally, and to conduct external business over the Internet
>
> HTML 404 Error
> A better 404 message? It is possible to log the errors of users, find
out
> where the bad links are coming from (which subsystem) and inform the
user
> that they entered is incorrect (and, where applicable, sugget to those
users
> where they should go).
>
> Create a page in your site called 404.asp. This is the page that will
be
> presented instead of that stock grey page, so you'll want to use the
same
> template as the rest of your site pages for this page.
>
>
http://classicasp.aspfaq.com/general/how-can-i-give-thedor)m-a-better-404-message.html
>
>
> Issues of Information Networks
> What are the broad issues of the network site, i.e., marketing,
analysis,
> information resource, information storage?
>
> These are indirect references to the class of the project which the web
site
> might be planned to involve. A marketing website project, an
information
> analysis project website, a human resources website.
>
> We are involved with the design model of the system. This model serves
a
> useful purpose for overseeing the life-cycle and the functions of the
> information system. And a model is used to formulate a site which
formally
> addresses some of the planning items mentioned above i.e.,
>
> The design and planning involves the user's needs and the user's
identity.
> Who is Web site intended for?
> What will assist the user in the process involving his desire to locate
and
> use the Web site's resources?
> Is the Web site intended to deliver information only, or would there
also
be
> some type of office automation correspondence function involving mailing
and
> recording of a user's participation in a committee or online meeting?
>
> Implementing an entity class (model) of a particular category of system
> requires extensive do***entation. The entity class is described by its
> attributes where relational database design is being considered. Yet
there
> object-oriented systems design is performed the terms used to refer to
class
> categories are encapsulation, inheritance, etc. The implementation
would
> involve aspects of many objects including tables, and various
application
> models too detailed to mention in entirety.
>
> About Do***ent Libraries
> A do***ent library provides a structure for storing files in your Web
site
> that is easy for you to set up and maintain, and is easy for site
visitors
> to use. You can create separate do***ent libraries for different kinds
of
> files. For example one for expense re****ts, and another for memos.
>
> Im****tant: To create a do***ent library, your Web site must be on a
server
> that is running SharePoint Team Services (this is copied from a
Microsoft
> site).
> Do***ent libraries provide a built-in structure and commands for adding
> do***ents. By using do***ent libraries, site visitors can contribute
> content to the appropriate page on your web site even if they know
nothing
> about the structure of your web site. Hyperlinks to do***ents are kept
up
to
> date automatically, and a view of the library is automatically displayed
on
> a page on your web site. Lesser applications for webs i..e., Microsoft
> FrontPage can be useful to achieve design and site maintenance.
> When you create a do***ent library, a do***ent library folder is added
to
> the folder list of your web site. The pages in this folder enable site
> visitors to add do***ents to the library, edit and delete do***ents and
> properties, display properties, create custom views, and modify the
do***ent
> library.
> Using commands on these pages, site visitors can start the program
> appropriate for creating a do***ent for the library, and site visitors
can
> also subscribe to be notified of changes to the library.
> Templates provide a seamless experience for users of a SharePoint Team
> Services -compatible client program, such as Microsoft Office XP.
>
> Users fill in custom properties when they save a do***ent. By defining
a
> custom set of properties for a do***ent library, you can make the
library
> informative and make do***ents easy to find. You can also use do***ent
> properties in conjunction with rules to automate the flow of information
on
> your web site.
>
> Select Information from a Database
> About Selecting Information
> After creating a database connection, the Database Results Wizard shows
the
> record sources (the names of the tables and views) in that database.
See
> Microsoft online help View: Select information from a database.
>
> Once you have selected the fields to display, the Database Results
Wizard
> enables you to filter the database results - that is, to display only
the
> records that match the criteria you set. You can also sort records.
You
> can sort records alphabetically by last name, and then by first name.
>
>
> Relational Information (Data Warehouse)
> We can consider the MIS (information network) to be defined as a
collection
> of persistent data Romans p. 9. He distinguishes the offline data
stores
as
> persistent, and replaces them with new data in an update to take effect
> within confines of his system management. Also most real-life databases
> consist of data that exist for a specific purpose, and thus are
persistent
> Romans p. 9. The idea is related to permanence through their purpose
for
> existence.
>
> The purpose of a database (network information system) is to store
> information about certain types of objects. In database language these
> objects are called entities. If object-oriented programming concepts
are
> familiar an object is an entity. While an entity class would be a class
(in
> object programming terminology), where the object is an instance of that
> class.
>
> Again, the purpose of a database (network information system) is to
store
> information about certain types of objects. It is im****tant at the
outset
> to make a distinction between the entities that are contained in a
database
> at a given time and the world of all possible entities that the database
> might contain. This is im****tant because the contents of the database
are
> constantly changing, so our decisions should require input about what
might
> be involved in the database (network information system) at a future
time.
>
> The world of all possible entities of a given type that a database might
> coontain is referred to as an entity class. Thus, the world of all
possible
> books in the Books entity class and the world of all possible authors in
the
> Authors entity class.
>
> Romans emphasizes that an entity class is just an abstract description
of
> something, whereas an entity is a concrete example of that description.
>
> A modest example database named LIBRARY involves these following entity
> cl*****:
>
> Books
> Authors
> Publishers
>
> The set of entities of a given entnty class that are in the database at
a
> given time is called an entity set.
>
> To clarify the difference between entity set and entity class with an
> example Romans p. 10 the BOOKS table is populated by 20 books. The
entities
> are known books, the entity class is the set of all possible books, and
the
> entity set (at this moment) is the specific set of 20 books listed in
the
> BOOKS table.
>
>
> Attributes
> Within an entity class we have entities, which possess certain
properties,
> called attributes. We usually refer to these attributes as attributes
of
> the entity class itself.
>
> It is up to the database designer to determine which attributes to
nclude
> for each entity class Roman p. 11. These attributes correspond to the
> fields in the tables of the database.
>
> The attributes of the entity classs in the LIBRARY (example) database
are:
>
> Books attributes
> Title
> ISBN
> Price
>
> Authors attributes
> AuName
> AuPhone
> AuID
>
> Publishers attributes
> PubName
> PubPhone
> PubID
>
>
>
> LAN Database
> In chapter 9 The Client /Server Database Environment the discussion
includes
> a comparison between API and ODBC. Even though ODBC is difficult to
program
> and implement, it is accepted because it allow programmers to make
> connections to many vendor's databases without learning proprietary code
> specific to that database. It is most useful for accessing relational
data
> and not well suited for accessing other types of data such as ISAM
files.
>
> An API might work with existing front-end software, like a
third-generation
> language or custom re****t generator. And an API may also include its
own
> facilities for building applications. By clicking on windows, menus and
> re****ts the visual browser (display) of the particular object class is
> launched.
>
> Open database connectivity (ODBC) is similar to API. This is generally
in
> relation to their pre-compiled executable modules format which lends to
a
> certain manner of programming. APIs are sets of routines that an
> application program uses to direct (execute) the performance of
procedures
> by the computer's operating system.
>
>
>
>
> The structure of a LAN and business services is based upon information:
to
> utilize the raw data of the environment and respond with the management
of
> responsive services. In fact the entire LAN is a means to extend the
impact
> of files where data is maintained or created, to the world of an
audience
> where they can view these files as input to their questions.
>
> The audience can participate in a visual or sound, or data processing,
or
> do***ent reading experience. The designing of the LAN is embedded in a
> process of developing the front end routines for a database. A LAN as a
> tool, can be used for a goal. To lend itself as a tool for information
> literacy, and a resource of a business Information Management
(Information
> Services Organization). A LAN leds itself to the management of many
types
> of resources i.e., plant and equipment, capital, personnel, as well as
> information.
>
> A Web site based upon SharePoint Team Services from Microsoft relies on
a
> SQL server database to store information such as:
> List data, including information about Events, Announcements, Tasks, and
> Contacts.
> Do***ent library information about properties, such as do***ent title,
date,
> and size.
> Discussion and subscription data, such as subscription information and
the
> actual threaded comments from Web do***ent discussions.
> Security data, such as who is allowed to view and change site
information.
>
> Defined, each virtual server (One of multiple Web sites running on the
same
> server, each with a unique domain name and IP address), a Web server
that
> sup****ts virtual servers is called a multi-hosting Web server, has its
own
> database. Webs and subwebs on the same virtual server share a database,
> although their information is stored in separate tables within the
database.
>
>
> Web Page Editors
> Web page editors assist Web authors by providing an environment where
the
> HTML coding for a Web page can be produced in a WYSIWYG environment (IDE
> development environment). The Web page can be fine-tuned after the
initial
> HTML code is developed with the Web page editor.
>
>
>
>
> What is already going on, and what contribution is the information
network
> being designed to deliver. An indirect relation****p with the
participants
> themselves (individually) requires that the program designer have a good
> knowledge of the broadest activities which his site is designed to
assist,
> and that his design will not even involve the users in the program
design
> itself for the most part.
>
> Yet the information site will feed information in response to conditions
> which are pre-programmed by management. What are specific case issues
> involving the web site?
>
> What are the related issues in terms of the broader purposes? What is
being
> market, and to whom?
>
> What type of analysis is to take place? What information will be
available,
> and what information update schedule is in effect?
>
>
> The information storage features may be specifically to deliver a
solution
> to a question? How is information retrieved and processed to provide
the
> solution efficiently?
>
> What about FAQ's (frequently asked questions)?
>
> Will the Web site offer op****tunities for sponsor****p of the resources
that
> it provides?
>
>
> Project Objectives:
> § Evaluate the all server variables, and folders and drives on
designated
> development website computers in association with the COM interfaces
> (Windows Script Host).
> § Evaluate minimum page coding necessary for Web page template and HTTP
user
> agent Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
> § Create a data management and storage area for organization and
conversion
> of data files when using an executable for conversion
> § Evaluate form processing and queries and form routines using form
fields,
> PWS interactive forms (with ADO DSNless database connection) and
application
> tools i.e., form designer and standard form templates
> § Evaluate HTTP valid server directives and MIME and ODBC server side
> extensions
> § Evaluate links for a site using anchors
> § Evaluate links for a site using frames and anchors
> § Evaluate VBScript and Cascading Style Sheets
> § Evaluate connection to a database
> § Evaluate development tools Microsoft FrontPage and Microsoft InterDev
6
> and Adobe GoLive 6 etc.
> Use Lotus FastSite on Maria to evaluate any HTML pages
> Conventions:
> · List the reference book and page number of the code samples
> · Use a do***entation convention in each folder (compile similar
> do***entation)
> · Organize pages in demonstration sites using generic variables (link
names
> can be unique)
>
>
> Windows Script (Microsoft Interdev 6)
> Script can be created in several different ways:
> Use DTC (design-time controls) which allows you to set property values
and
> enter values in dialog boxes, and then generates script for you.
> Write your script in Source View with the Microsoft Interdev HTML
editor.
>
> HTML Editor
> Source view in the HTML Editor enables you to:
> View and edit text and HTML tags.
> View and edit scripts in the page.
> Work with DTC, java applets, and most other objects using the visual
> representation which they will have in the browser. (Intrinsic HTML
controls
> are displayed as HTML text.)
> Drag items from the Toolbox (to HTML edtor) and from the Project
Explorer
to
> create elements on your page.
> Use the Properties window and custom properties dialog boxes to edit the
> appearance and behavior of HTML text and controls on the page.
>
> Note: In Source View, the Properties window does not display style
> properties. You can edit style style properties directly in an HTML tag
or
> by using the Properties window in Design view.
>
> Also, there is a long explanation about how to modify text or copy DTC
> controls to be modified using the HTML Editor. Differences are
conceptual
> for editing purposes with various windows of Microsoft Visual Interdev
(DTC
> controls are apparently not interpretted but compiled, and they have
> functional dependencies (cannot use HTML Editor source view). Script
> Outline window is often the preference.
>
> Use the HTML Outline window to jump to any element in the page.
> Use Script Outline window to view and create scripts for elements in the
> page.
> Perform debugger functions, such as setting breakpoints and viewing the
> current line indicator.
> Microsoft Visual Interdev sup****ts a complete scripting object model
that
> allows you to use standard object-oriented techniques for creating Web
> pages. See The Scripting Object Model (Microsoft Interdev help file -
> Scripts in Web applications)
>
>
> THE SCRIPTING OBJECT MODEL
> The Scripting Object Model is easiest to understand if you compare it
with
> how Web applications are created using the combination of ASP and HTML.
To
> create a form for example, you place HTML elements on a page, including
text
> boxes, list boxes, and buttons. One of the buttons is typically a
"Submit"
> button, which causes the form to be sent to the Server, and which
specifies
> an ASP page containing server script to process the form. (The ASP
lesson
> from 599CD.com also offers an example of this method)
>
> Scripts on the destination page must manually examine the state
submitted
by
> the browser (client), and there is no association with the object that
> created the state. (what is the creator of the state? a query, a
formula,
an
> application??)
>
> On the other hand, the Scripting Object Model allows you to work with
any
> controls and the destination page using standard object-oriented
techniques.
> For example, rather than use the complex form submission process
required
by
> ASP and HTML, you can simply place a button on the page and write a
handler
> for its On_Click method to process the form.
>
>
> Database Design
> What are some of the concepts of modern relational database theory? How
are
> these concepts realized in the Microsoft Access software application?
For
> purposes o a simple discussion, a databas is just a collection of
related
> data. A database management system, or DBMS is a system that is
designed
> tfor two main purposes:
>
> To add, delete, and update the data in the database
> To provide various ways to view (on screen or in print) the data in the
> database
>
> Why Use a Relational Database Design
> In an effort to remove as much redundancy as possible from a database, a
> database designer must split the data into multiple tables. In Access
> Database Design and Programming the LIBRARY_FLAT example data, is being
> split into four separate tables.
>
> A BOOKS table, in which each book has its own record
> An AUTHORS table, in which each author has his/her own record
> A PUBLISHERS table in which each publisher has its own record
> A BOOK/AUTHOR table which includes only the ISBN catalog number, and the
> AuthorID number
>
> Most database applicatons that are worth maintaining contain many
thousands
> of records which are intricately related. This is where a full-fledged
> relational databas program becomes essential. the primary issues are
again
> to maintain and update the database and to avoid the issues asociated
with
> flat file databases i.e.,:
>
> Redundancy
> Multiple-value problems
> Update anomalies
> Insertion anomalies
> Deletion anomalies
> Avoiding data loss
> Maintaining relational integrity
> Creating views
>
>
>
> Since Microsoft has been well known for its development of pioneering
OLE
> technology, that is where we begin this discourse about OLE DB. Most of
the
> newer design recommendations stress the preference of ADO in a database
> environment, or I believe. I'll look for the particular issues.
>
> Access 2.0 now sup****ts Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 2.0 as a
client
> application, giving you the benefits of in-place activation of objects,
such
> as Excel 5.0 worksheets and Microsoft Word 6.0 do***ents stored in
Access
> databases.
>
> Entities and Entiy cl*****
> Keys, Superkeys, and Primary keys
> One-to-one, one -to-many, and many-to-many relation****ps
> Referential integrity
> Joins of various types (inner joins, outer joins, equi-joins,
semi-joins,
> 0-joins, and soon)
> Operations of the relational algebra (selection, projection, join,
union,
> intersection, and so on)
> Normal Forms and their im****tance
>
>
> Once you have a a basic understanding of how to create an effective
> relational database, you will want to take full advantage of that
database,
> which can only be done through programming. Additionally, many of the
> programming techniques in Romans book can be used to create and maintain
a
> databas frm within other applications, such as Microsoft Visual Basic,
> Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word.
>
> The book by Romans assumes the reader already knows how to create a tble
or
> query using Microsoft Acess. The more im****tant aspect of Microsoft
Access
> programming is database design. After all, once the database
application
is
> complete, the interface components play only a small role, whereas the
> design continues to affect the usefulness of the application
(extensibility
> into the environment). The Romans book is a ove beyond the interface to
the
> ability to create programmable Access applications, and application
> development skills.
>
> At one level, topics such as normal form or the details of the
relational
> algebra are almost exclusively the preserve of the academic world. The
> Romans book offers a readable guide, which is concise to use for
reference
> during databse design or SQL querydef statement writing.
>
>
>
>
>
> Defining OLE
> OLE is a member of a class of computer operations known as interprocess
> communications (IPC). IPC operations enable different applications to
send
> data to and receive data from other applications by an agreed-on
procedure.
> The Clipboard is the primary IPC path for Windows; most present-day
> communications of data between running applications (other tan by
reading
or
> writing to disk files) involves using the Windows Clipboard.
>
> Windows defines a set of standard data types that you can copy to or
paste
> from the Clipboard. OLE uses these standard Windows data types:
bit-mapped
> and vector-based graphic images, plain and formatted text, digital audio
> sound, and so on. OLE is a major improvement over DDE because OLE is
easier
> to implement than DDE. OLE 2.0 is expected to ultimately replace DDE.
>
> OLE operations differ from conventional Windows copy-and-paste
> operations -performed with Cntrl+C and Cntrl+V, or by way of DDE
-because
> OLE includes a substantial amount of information about the source of the
> data, along with the actual data. An OLE object copied to the Clipboard
by
> Excel 5.0 for example, includes the following information:
>
> The name of the application from hich the data originated (in this case,
> Excel)
> The type of data, such as worksheet, macro sheet, or chart (Excel
worksheet)
> The full path to the file, beginning with the drive letter and the file
> name, if the data was derived from a file or was saved to a file.
> A name assigned to the sheet or chart the contains the data, if the data
> isn't derived from or saved to a file. The name usually is a long
> combination of numbers and letters.
> The name or coordinates of the range of the data, if only a ****tion of
an
> object is included.
> The presentation of the object in Windows meta file (*.WMF) format. If
the
> object is not an image, the icon of the application that created the
object
> is the object's presentation.
>
> When you paste data copied to the Clipboard from an Excel worksheet and
then
> double-click the cell's surface, Escel pops up to enable you to edit the
> data and disappears when you finish. With OLE, you paste complete
objects,
> rather than just data, into an element of the application; reference
book,
> Using Access 2 for Windows, Special Edition p. 704.
>
> Access 2.0 is the first application to use Microsoft's new OLE 2.0
server
> for creating graphs and charts Using Access 2 for Windows, Special
Edition
> by Roger Jennings publ. QUE Cor****ation 1994 p.2. Access lets you
> manipulate objects created by other recently released Microsoft
applications
> for Windows using OLE automation. Access is the first Microsoft product
to
> take advantage of the new OLE 2.0 Custom Controls that Microsoft, third
> party add-in software publishers and you can create, with Microsoft
Visual
> C++ 1.5, the Microsoft Foundation Class Libraries, and the new OLE 2.0
> Control Development Kit (CDK).
>
> This is about the OLE DB, and/or ADO. I have no clear ideas where much
of
> this information fits in with Microsoft Access , but I know that it does
at
> times.
>
> Object Oriented Applications
> Applications and the programming languages -which are also
> applications -that programmers used to create the applications are
> object-oriented if the applications can encapsulate properties and
methods
> within an object container. Before object-oriented programming was
> invented, programmers considered properties and methods to be two
separate
> entities. Separtate data file contained the properties that the
> programmer's application manipulated. In xBase a set of *.DBF files
> contains properties (data), and a separate collection of *PRG files
contain
> the methods (programs) applicable to the set of *.DBF files.
>
> Access in contrast, takes an object oriented-approach to database
> management. Access combines the data (tables) and the methods (queries,
> forms, re****ts, macros, and Access Basic code) into a single, often
massive
> *.MDB container, known as the Database object. Form and Re****t objects
act
> as containers for Control objects. Querydef objects consist of
Structured
> Query Language (SQL) methods applied to Table objects.
>
> Although it is lacking in some characteristics of a truly
object-oriented
> programming language, Access Basic comes close enough that you can
consider
> Access Basic to be an object-oriented programming language.
>
> Access asabove noted, has a unique database structure that combines all
> related data tables and their indexes, forms, re****ts, macros, and
Access
> Basic code within a single MDB database file, the Database object.
>
> Data Im****t/Ex****t Capability
> Access has the capability to im****t data from and ex****t data to the
more
> popular PC databases and spreadsheet files, as well as text files.
>
> Access can also attach dBase, FoxPro, Paradox, and Btrieve table files
to
> databases and manipulate these files in their native formats. You also
can
> use Access on workstations that act as clients of networked files and
> database servers in client-server database systems. Access thereby
fulfills
> the requirements of a professional relational database management
system,
as
> well as a front-end development tool for use with client-server
databases.
>
> The new version of software applications of the Microsoft Office suite,
> Access, Exce 5.0, Word 6.0, and PowerPoint 4.0 provide a variety of new
> capabilities with OLE 2.0. OLE is a method of transferring information
in
> the form of objects between different Windows applications. This method
is
> somewhat similar to copying text or graphics by using the Windows
Clipboard.
>
> Prior to the release of Windows 3.1 OLE implementation was performed
from
> within the application, as in the cases of Excel 3.0 and PowerPoint 2.0.
> Windows 3.1 made OLE a function of Windows by providing two (2) new
files
> OLECLI.DLL and OLESVR.DLL which orchestrate OLE. OLE 2.0 compliant
> applications add many sup****ting DLLs toyou Windows\System\ directory.
And
> OLE sets the course of future Windows applications and operating
systems.
>
> OLE is based on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM), which is
likely
to
> become the de facto inductry standard for object-oriented application
> programming in the Windows environment.
>
> The Advantages of Objects
> p. 708 Access 2 reference.
>
> OLE
> Microsoft complicated the concepts of cutting and pasting considerably,
with
> their development of something called Object Linking and Embedding, also
> known as OLE. It is an idea which begins with the "object". The object
is
> merely the information you want to paste into a window. It can be a
> sentence, a road map, a sound, or anything else that you can cut or copy
> from a window (in another application).
>
> Normally, when you paste an object into a window, you're pasting the
same
> kind of information. For example, you paste text into a word processor
and
> pictures into the Windows Paintbrush program. This procedure works very
> well for placing images into web pages using Microsoft FrontPage.
>
> However, what if you want to paste a sound into Write, the Windows word
> processor? That's where OLE comes into play, offering subtle changes to
the
> paste concept. Beware, OLE awareness is the first step to computer nerd
> certification (Windows 3.1 for Dummies).
>
> Understanding of the Im****tance of OLE
> OLE is the sole method by which you may add graphic images to your
Access
> forms and re****ts, and add or edit data in OLE objects (data type)
fields
of
> Access. Using OLE as the method of applying and storing nontext
information
> holds the following advantages over built-in graphics processing offered
by
> some RDBMSs.
>
> You can use any image-processing application that functions as an OLE
server
> to create and edit bit-mapped graphics; from the simple Windows 3.1
> PaintBrush applet to photographic-quality editors, such as Micrografx
> Picture Publisher.
> You can embed or link vector-based images from simple OLE 1.0 applets
such
> as Microsoft Draw, or from full-fledged illustration packages, such as
> CorelDRAW! 4.0, an OLE 2.0 server, or Micrografx DEsigner. Microsoft
Chart
> 5.0, called MSGraph5 in the book, is included with Access 2.0. MSGraph5
is
> an OLE 2.0 server applet.
> The added overhead associated with bit-map editors incor****ated in the
> application is eliminated. Self-contained bit-map editors and drawing
> functions are seldom as capable as stand-alone, shrink-wrapped OLE
server
> applications.
> You do not need to install a collection of im****t and ex****t filters for
> different kinds of files. OLE server applications provide file im****t
from,
> and ex****t to, a variety of file types.
> You can ex****t objects stored in OLE Object fields in Access tables or
> stored within bound or unbound object frames to other applications via
the
> Clipboard. Bound object frames display the presentation of OLE objects
> stored in OLE object fields of Access tables. Unbound object frames
display
> the presentation of static OLE objects, such as company logos used to
> embellish forms and re****ts.
> You can store a variety of OLE objects in one OLE Object (data type)
field.
> You can link or embed in one OLE Object field waveform audio (*.wav),
MIDI
> music (*.MID), animation (*.FLI and *.MMM), and audio visual interleaved
> (*.AVI) files. You need a large-capacity fixed disk to embed *.AVI and
long
> duration *.WAV files, however.
> You can choose between embedding the data within a table, form, or
re****t
or
> linking the OLE object to a file that contains the data. The behavior
of
an
> OLE 2.0 object differs, depending on whether you link or embed an object
>
>
>
> Embedding an object looks just like pasting it. The object shows up in
the
> window, but when you embed an object, you're also embedding the name of
the
> program that created that object. When you double-click on the object,
the
> program which created it jumps to the top of the screen, ready to edit
the
> object again.
>
> For example, you can embed a spreadsheet chart showing your current net
> worth in a letter you're writing (uses Microsoft Word). Then if the
stock
> prices change, you can easily update the letter's chart. To do it, call
up
> the letter, and and double click on the spreadsheet chart. Then the
> spreadsheet application pops open ready for a user to make changes to
the
> spreadsheet chart. I can speculate that if Microsoft Word do***ents can
be
> ex****ted into HTML pages, it may still allow embedding in the sanme
manner
> described.
>
> When you're done you close the spreadsheet file and the application.
The
> spreadsheet disappears, leaving the updated chart in your letter.
>
> Native OLE DB
> Microsoft Access provides a native OLE DB, which is a component database
> architecture that provides efficient network and Internet access to many
> types of data sources, including relational data, mail files, flat
files,
> and spreadsheets, with the use of Microsoft Access. The user and
> programming interface that you can use to access a Microsoft Access
> database, or a Microsoft SQL Server database, or other data sources.
(not
> clear. ..from Access helpfile search OLE DB).
>
> OLE DB is a component database architecture that implements efficient
> networks and internet access to many types of data sources. OLE DB may
be
> the basis of extensibility by connections with ODBC 2.0 drivers. In the
OLE
> DB architecture, the application that accesses the data is called a data
> consumer (for example, Microsoft Access or a Microsoft Visual Basic
> program), and the program that enables native access to the data is
called
a
> database provider (for example, Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL
Server,
or
> Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider).
>
> A data source is a collection of data which is related to a particular
> subject or purpose. Within a database, information about a particular
> entity, such as an Employee or Order, is categorized into tables,
records,
> and fields.
>
> Table-Level Domain Integrity
> The early sections of the reference book point to new features and
> improvements to Access 2.x. Access 2.0 now enforces domain integrity at
the
> field and table level. This distinction is im****tant. Field-level
> validation rules relate only to the values of the field itself. You add
> field-level validation rules in the Validation Rule text box of the
Field
> Properties pane of the selected field pg. 42 fig 1.2.
>
> Access 2.0 has two new field properties Required, which applies to all
field
> data types, and AllowZeroLength, which applies only to fields of the
Text
> field data type.
>
> Access Reference
> The reference which I use to begin this paper is Using Access 2 for
Windows,
> Special Edition by Roger Jennings publ. QUE Cor****ation 1994. Roger
> Jennings is a consultant specializing in Windows database and multimedia
> applications. He was a member of the Microsoft beta-test team for
Microsoft
> Access 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0, Excel 4.0, and 5.0, Word for Windows 2.0 and
6.0.
> He has written two other books about creating database applications for
> Microsoft Access and Visual Basic.
>
> Contents at a Glance
> Who is this book for? This book makes assumptions about your interest
in
> Microsoft's relational database management system:
> You have PCs operating in a business, professional, institutional, or
> government agency setting.
> You have decided to use Microsoft Windows, as the operating system
> environment for at least some of your PCs.
> You have access via your PC to data that you want to process with a
Windows
> database manager. You also want to use Microsoft Access more quickly
and
> effectively. Or you may be considering using Access as the sole
database
> manager for yourself, your department, your division, or your entire
> organization.
> Your existing data is in the form of one or more database, spreadsheet,
or
> even plain text files that you want to manipulate with a relational
database
> management system. Access can process the most common varieties of all
> three types of files.
> If your data is on a mini - or mainframe computer, you are connected to
that
> computer by a local area network and a database gateway or through
terminal
> emulation software. Otherwise to be able to transfer data using floppy
> disks "Footware".
>
>
> Introduction - (1) How is this book organized?
> The reference book, Using Access 2 for Windows, Special Edition by Roger
> Jennings publ. QUE Cor****ation 1994 is divided into eight parts that are
> arranged in increasing levels of detail and complexity. Each division
after
> Part I draws on the knowledge and experience gained in the prior parts.
Us
> of the book in a linear, front to-back manner through Part IV, "Powering
> Access with Macrtos," is recommended during the initial learning
process.
> After you have absorbed the basics, Using Access 2 for Windows, Special
> Edition becomes a reference tool for advanced topics.
>
> Learning Access Fundamentals
> Introduces you to many of the unique features that make Access the
easist
to
> use of all database managers.
> The chapters in Part I deal almost exclusively with tables, the basic
> elements of Access databases.
> Access 2.0 What's New? Chapters 1 - 7 in this section
> Up and running with Access Tables p. 6
> Navigating within Access
> Working with Access Databases and Tables
> Entering, Editing, and Validating Data in Tables
> Sorting, Finding, and Filtering Datain Tables
> Attaching, Im****ting, and Ex****ting Tables
>
> Querying for Specific Information
> Part II explains how to create Access queries to select the way you view
> data contained in tables and how you
> take advantage of Access's relational database structure to link
multiple
> tables with joins.
> Using Query by Example (QBE) Chapters 8 - 11 in this section
> Understanding Operators and Expressions in Access p. 287
> Creating Multi-table and Crosstab Queries
> Using Action Queries
>
> Creating Forms and Re****ts
> An introduction to the primary application objects of Access (Tables and
> Queries are considered database objects).
> Forms make your Access applications come alive with the control objects
you
> add using Access 2.0's new toolbox.
> Access's full featured re****t generator lets you print fully formatted
> re****ts or save re****ts to files that you can process in
> Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word.
> Creating and Using Forms Chapters 12 - 15 in this section
> Designing Custom Multi-Table Forms p. 437
> Printing Basic Re****ts and Mailing Labels
> Preparing Advanced Re****ts
>
> Powering Access with Macros
> An introduction to the first level of programming provided by Access
2.0.
> Automating Applications with Macros : An Overview Chapters 16 - 18 in
this
> section
> Understanding Access Macros p. 603
> Creating Macros for Forms and Re****ts
>
> Integrating Access with Other Applications
> Describes how to use the Object Linking and Embedding features OLE of
Access
> 2.0 together with Microsoft Graph 5.0,
> Microsoft Excel 5.0 and Microsoft Word 6.0.
> Using OLE 2.0 Chapters 19-22 in this section
> Adding Graphics to Forms and Re****ts p. 699
> Using Access with Microsoft Excel
> Using Access with Microsoft Word and Mail Merge
>
> Using Advanced Access Techniques
> Exploring Relational Database Design and Implementation
> Working with Structured Query Language
> Securing Multiuser Network Applications
> Connecting to Client-Server Databases
>
>
>
> Defining Connection Information
> A data link is the connection information that a data consumer uses to
> access a data source through the OLE DB provider of that data source.
In
> the Microsoft Access user interface, you use the Data Link Properties
dialog
> box to define a data link for an OLE DB provider in the following ways:
>
> To connect to a Microsoft SQL Server database when you create a
Microsoft
> Access project by using the New command on the File menu or by using the
> Database Wizard.
> To redefine the connection information for an Access project by using
the
> Connection command on the File menu. You might do this to easily switch
> from a test to a production database or from a primary to a secondary
> server. -
> To redefine the connection information of an existing data access page
in
> Page Design View by right-clicking on the field list and clicking,
> Connection. - When you first create a Data Access Page, Microsoft
Access
> automatically defines the connection information for you by connecting
to
> the currently open Access database or project.
> To connect a Web page that you opened from the Open dialog box (File
> menu/Open) from a null database window.
> To create a Pivot Table list or modify the connection to a Pivot Table
list.
>
> Each OLE DB provider defines specific connection information. for
example,
> Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server requires a Server name, Server
> location, and a User name, and you may want to define additional
> information, such as a password, or whether you want to use Microsoft
> Windows NT integrated security.
>
> In general, to define connection information in the Data Link Properties
> dialog box:
> Click the Provider tab, select the OLE DB provider, and then Click next
to |
