Making a website/database. Check list of what to learn...

[iamme]

I would like to make a online database. It will allow users to search an inventory for things for sale. Also, users will be able to add to the database, for other users to browse.

I just got done taking a beginner VB.NET class. My professor mentioned something about VS.NET doing a good job of handling Active Server Pages. I plan on picking her brain some more later, but I'd figure i'd pick the collective brain of AT

What other aspects should I study, so that I can accomplish this website?

I know i need to study database management some more. I'm not asking for detailed instructions, but more of a checklist of subjects i should know about (although please feel free to provide as much detail as you can).

 

[UCJefe]

This is assuming you want to make an ASP.NET page in VB/C# which you mentioned in your post. If you want to go PHP or Perl/CGI or something else the skill set changes.

ASP.NET
ADO.NET
SQL
SQL Server (or whatever DBMS you choose to use)
HTML

And for good measure you probably should know (although you can probably get away with not touching these):
Client side scripting technologies (Javascript, VBScript)

If you pick up a good ASP.NET book, it should walk you through the basics of most of those technologies to get you up and running. With ASP.NET building a data-driven website is not all that difficult. Building a GOOD data driven website is another story.

 

[SharkyTM]

css for the site would help with formatting, plus has some nice options (not that they work in IE)

 

[AFB]

:thumbsdown:

PHP + MySQL

 

[BurnItDwn]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy
:thumbsdown:

PHP + MySQL

Learn SQL

When it comes to choosing which DB to go with,
Mysql is good, but you should also consider PostgreSQL ... they are both free and both excellent databases.
The only other DB I would touch with a pole less than 10 feet in length is Oracle, but its kinda pricy.

PHP is great.
If you don't know HTML, learn it
if you don't know CSS, it's a good idea to learn it, but not necessary

 

[Regs]

Since I have no real experience with programming I have to ask maybe a dumb question.

If I create a database in MS Access and page view the source, is what I see generated SQL language? If it is, MS Access would be a great place to start to learn SQL.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: Regs
Since I have no real experience with programming I have to ask maybe a dumb question.

If I create a database in MS Access and page view the source, is what I see generated SQL language? If it is, MS Access would be a great place to start to learn SQL.

No, you might not even see the programing language. All you should see is HTML. The job of the programing language is to query the DB and translate that into HTML.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

Originally posted by: Regs
Since I have no real experience with programming I have to ask maybe a dumb question.

If I create a database in MS Access and page view the source, is what I see generated SQL language? If it is, MS Access would be a great place to start to learn SQL.

No, you might not even see the programing language. All you should see is HTML. The job of the programing language is to query the DB and translate that into HTML.

Is there a program for SQL which is the equivalent as Front Page is to HTML?

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

Originally posted by: Regs
Since I have no real experience with programming I have to ask maybe a dumb question.

If I create a database in MS Access and page view the source, is what I see generated SQL language? If it is, MS Access would be a great place to start to learn SQL.

No, you might not even see the programing language. All you should see is HTML. The job of the programing language is to query the DB and translate that into HTML.

Is there a program for SQL which is the equivalent as Front Page is to HTML?

Sorry, there is not. Basic SQL commands are easy to learn though. SELECT * FROM table ;

Get all the fields from "table"

Your best bet is to get a book for web programing with DBs.

Also, there are many GUI tools to help setupup a database that even many pros use.
http://www.mysql.com/products/administrator/

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

Originally posted by: Regs
Is there a program for SQL which is the equivalent as Front Page is to HTML?

Sorry, there is not. Basic SQL commands are easy to learn though. SELECT * FROM table ;

You should look up a program called MySQL-front. It lets you treat a MySQL database almost like an excel spreadsheet.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: amdfanboy

Originally posted by: Regs
Is there a program for SQL which is the equivalent as Front Page is to HTML?

Sorry, there is not. Basic SQL commands are easy to learn though. SELECT * FROM table ;

You should look up a program called MySQL-front. It lets you treat a MySQL database almost like an excel spreadsheet.

Did not know this. :beer:

*AFB hugs nofred

 

[FrustratedUser]

*Bookmarked* for future reading.

 

[Armitage]

What you need to learn:
SQL: how to create tables, insert data, build queries to retrieve data, etc.
HTML: Basics of building a web page
A web scripting language: Don't know anything about the MS centric options. I'd reccomend Perl or PHP This is what ties together the SQL & HTML When a user loads your page, the webserver actually runs a script written in Perl, PHP, etc. which generates the HTML that is sent back to the user. This script can do things like use form data, query the database, etc.
Webserver: How to configure your webserver of choice to interact with the above.

 

[kamper]

I vote for LAMP (that'll leave you with a little research )

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: kamper
I vote for LAMP (that'll leave you with a little research )

Linux
Apache
MySql
PHP

Very popular.

 

[tinyabs]

Use Data-binding. Searching can be done through filtering (SQL conditions).

I recommend you work out the entire flow first followed by UI prototyping. After that, just insert the codes.