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The Attack Of The

The Attack Of The. 900 pound. Information. IGuana. Presented by Gary Roberts. Alfred University. The InfoIguana. Objectives. I will show you the difference between static Web pages and dynamic database-driven Web sites. I will explain the advantages of a database-driven Web site.

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The Attack Of The

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  1. The Attack Of The 900 pound Information IGuana Presented by Gary Roberts Alfred University

  2. The InfoIguana Objectives • I will show you the difference between static Web pages and dynamic database-driven Web sites. • I will explain the advantages of a database-driven Web site.

  3. The InfoIguana • A Patron-Driven Interface • A Database-Driven Web site • A Sustainable Information System • A Scalable Solution

  4. The InfoIguana • Library Web sites have grown large. • There are more efficient ways to manage information than a hierarchy of static documents. • E-commerce has got it right. • Content Specialists are not always the same folks who have Web publishing skills.

  5. The InfoIguana Library Web sites have grown large • Research Databases--How Many Do You Have? • Do you have list of “approved” Web sites on your Web page?-How large is that? • How many trial databases? What is the turnaround time? • Print research guides--have you made these available via the Web?

  6. The InfoIguana Library Web sites have become large • How many people are contributing to your Web site? How many should be contributing? • Almost enterprise-level? • Is all of your public information funneled through one person?

  7. The InfoIguana What about e-commerce? • Amazon.com--A giant relational database with a Web front-end. • Amazon’s Web site is simply 2-3 dozen Web templates.

  8. The InfoIguana Static HTML Model Web Server Large Number Of Content-Intensive, Static Web Pages Network/Internet Patron Clicks A Hyperlink Client/Browser Static HTML Page Retrieved

  9. The InfoIguana The InfoIguana/Database-Driven Web Model Web Server Template (.asp,.php,.cfm) Database Template merged with data (.asp,.php,.cfm) Network/Internet Info Iguana Request Form Info Iguana Results Client/Browser

  10. The InfoIguana An Intermediate Solution • The proverbial straw-- Our Research Services librarian wanted to export our print-based Research Guides to the Web. • We saw the absurdity of exporting still more information into a large body of static documents.

  11. The InfoIguana An Intermediate Solution Static Content Dynamic Content

  12. The InfoIguana The SourceFinder www.vmi.edu/sourcefinder/

  13. The InfoIguana The Benefits Of A Database-Driven Site • End-users are empowered to “Search.” Passive browsing is nearly eliminated. • Resources which are appropriate in several areas need only to be edited once. All corresponding subject area pages are automatically updated.

  14. The InfoIguana The Benefits Of A Database-Driven Site (cont.) • Content contributors do not need to know HTML or a WYSIWYG editor.

  15. The InfoIguana The Benefits Of A Database-Driven Site (cont.) • Database content can be reused in other Web applications, paving the way for Web developers to rapidly create increasingly sophisticated patron interfaces to information. • Patrons are accustomed to sophisticated e-commerce Web sites.

  16. The InfoIguana What About The Librarian/Staff Interface?

  17. The InfoIguana What About The Librarian/Staff Interface?

  18. The InfoIguana The Ready Reference database structure • I spent some time thinking about how the database would be used. • I wanted to make sure that the database was scalable. I knew that additional fields and tables would be developed.

  19. The InfoIguana Ready Reference database structure • Originally the Ready-Reference database had a free form structure. We’ve had to start codifying policy.

  20. The InfoIguana Technical Application Details • Uses Microsoft Access 97 as a database back-end. • The Web application is composed in Microsoft Active Server Pages. • The e-mail component utilizes Persists’ “AspEmail .”

  21. The InfoIguana Technical Application Details • What are Active Server Pages (ASP)? • Server-Side Scripting. Like CGI • Microsoft Proprietary Technology. • InfoIguana could have been created in any Server-Side Script, ColdFusion, PHP, PERL.

  22. The InfoIguana Active Server Page (ASP) Detail Web Server Mix of VB script and HTML Server Strips and Processes VB Script Raw HTML sent back to browser Network/Internet ASP page looks like any other HTML document Client/Browser Request Sent For an Active Server Page

  23. The InfoIguana ASP (Active Server Page) Details • Consists of a full array of programming structures: variables, loops, conditional statements. • Several Components for database-connectivity: • ODBC, and non-DSN connections. • SQL for queries, updates and inserts.

  24. The InfoIguana Hardware/Software Requirements • Microsoft Web Server, Internet Information Server, Personal Web Server. • Persists’ “AspEmail” installed on Web Server. • External SMTP server to bounce requests. Sufficient permissions on SMTP Server.

  25. The InfoIguana InfoIguana.asp InfoIguanaResults.asp MyList.asp EmailThisGuide.asp EmailGetter.asp MyListProcessor.asp

  26. The InfoIguana Making The InfoIguana Your New Pet • Install six ASP files within the server directory on your hard-drive. Don’t forget the “IguanaIncludes” folder. • Install Persists’ “AspEmail” on your Web Server. • Modify line 56, 58 and 61 in “MyListProcessor.asp” to reflect your local information.

  27. The InfoIguana Making The InfoIguana Your New Pet (cont) • Create an ODBC data source and name it “Reference.” • Use an editor to change some of the HTML to reflect your library information on “InfoIguana.asp.”

  28. The InfoIguana Future Directions • Create a ranking system that prioritizes resources. • Improve E-mail component flow. • Clean and consolidate code. • Create Subject-Heading Links Into DRA MultiLis or Aleph System.

  29. The InfoIguana Future Directions • Add several tables containing patron- information to create a MyLibrary Portal.

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