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No Brainer Database Publishing, Part 4By Wes Thomas One of the best is Everyware Development's $349 Tango for FileMaker, which is written in C++. Tango for FileMaker eliminates the need to set up calculation fields and lets you construct Web applications by using Tango Editor, a visual development environment included with the product. You simply drag and drop field names into search form containers and choose field options and formatting controls. The product's wizards will generate a lot of the HTML for you. Tango FM also includes Tango Application Server, a CGI/plug-in that links your Macintosh-based Web server to your FileMaker databases. Tango Application Server is a threaded, PowerPC-native application. It's not scripting based, so it can deliver fast performance and simultaneous access by more users. Another good choice is Blueworld's Lasso ($299). Relational databases"Instant relational databases" may be an oxymoron, but there are some products out there that valiantly attempt to bridge the Web and relational-database worlds. The interface glue that holds all this together is ODBC, the Microsoft-standard driver for accessing SQL databases, including Oracle, Sybase, Informix, SQL Server, FoxPro and Microsoft Access.The only "instant" general-purpose DBMS for importing and publishing ODBC-compliant relational databases on the Web I've seen so far is Showbase Media's Showbase ($349, www.showbase.com). Showbase was formerly called "BestWeb Pro" (not to be confused with Showbase Classic, formerly BestWeb, which doesn't import ODBC databases). Showbase comes with CGI scripts for most Windows 3.x/95/NT servers and various Unix flavors, or you can install your own. There's also an integrated Web 16-bit HTTP server that runs on Windows 3.11, 95 and NT, and supports both CGI 1.2 and DLL-ISAPI CGI. This allows for localhost testing of your database Web page. It can also be used in lieu of a Web server, with a maximum of 16 simultaneous connections. Showbase generates an indexed file and a searchable HTML page. Seven templates for various types of search pages are included. Database field values that contain a full URL or file name (for images, sounds, etc.) will be presented as clickable underlined links on the search page (see Figure 1). [Move on to the next part of the article.] This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 1997 print issue of Web Developer.
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