Accessable online database

This is an example of an Access database that is used as the backbone for online use.

The basic database (explained elsewhere) is a compilation of about 1.5 million pieces of data about collectible stocks and bonds. The goal is to make the database accessable to users around the globe. Access to the database is gained by ordinary browsers. It appears as part of a large informational web site.

The master database is rather large. In order to save space on the host server, only those parts of the database that are directly relevent to collectors is uploaded.

Collectors have no direct access to the database. However, they can retrieve usable information by using typical browsers like Internet Explorer, Netscape, MSN, or AOL.

The first step to using the database is to find a company name. Because users are so prone to typing errors, they are advised to enter only parts of company names.

Behind the scenes, we created Visual Basic code that parses user entries into separate words. Then the code uses those words to create database queries using structured query language (SQL).

The code sends instructions to the host server, telling it how to query the database. Those instructions then tell the server how to repackage the database information so it will display in proper form on users' browsers. All the work is done at the server level using "asp" (active server page) coding.

The user is then presented with series of possible company names. By clicking on a name, asp coding again sends another query to the remote database and returns specific information about the types of certificates known for that particular company.

Still more links are offered so collectors may discover additional information such as serial numbers and biographies of individuals represented by valuable autographs.

Currently, over 8,000 images are available to users. This represents a cost-effective functionality of databases to deliver information that could not be effectively, or cheaply, delivered by other media.

This online database is updated every few days, depending on the number of new discoveries. Macros are easily constructed in Access, and these macros export selected parts of the master database to use online.

The point here is to give you some suggestions of the things you might be able to accomplish with a database. Please understand that a database need not be static. And it can be shared with users separated by hundreds or thousands of miles.