creating dynamic pages

[Pras]

I am wondering how to do dynamic pages found all over the internet. For example, go to www.linux.com. If you click on an article, they have a link that reads something like: www.linux.com/learn/newsitem.phtml?sid=XXXaid=YYY

What programming language (Perl + HTML?) would they use to generate these pages? Essentially, I think it passes on the sid and aid variables to the newsitem.phtml script and it spits out a page depending on the input. So, how would I achieve something like this? I started reading the php tutorial on php.net. Is this a good start? Thanks

Prasanna

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Bananachipsonline.com

[^hyd^]

yes, php is a good start, but generally it is only used on Apache servers (to my knowledge). Although, I've seen articles/tutorials somewhere about being able to set up PHP on IIS and Personal Web Server and believe it can be done, but it might be a nuisance to set up.

Another alternative is ASP if you are using IIS or Personal Web Server. While the basics for both PHP and ASP are fairly easy, I still prefer ASP, probably because I know VB pretty good.

I'd give you some links to both, but the other day I was playing with a new program and ended up wiping out ALL of my bookmarks and shortcuts on my whole computer... @&%$@! ...didn't even see it happen... ggrrrr was I ever P'd off...

Anyways, good luck with your ventures into the world of dynamic web pages!

[qball]

You are correct about the method of passing parameter to the next script to be executed.

Dynamic web pages are generally created through some sort of Application Server. The web server brokers requests (passing appropriate requests to app server) and allows the app server process to generate the html string returned to the web server, which returns to requester. This may or may not be evident to the developer. Meaning for scripting, ASP, JSP, PHP, CGI/PERL, the developer will write the appropriate scripts and the web/app server dance is handled by the scripting engine. For a true multiple tiered system, the web server and app server are very evident. Think EJB. Multi tiered systems are definitively superior to scripting in scalability and extensibility.

Regardless, any executable returning a valid string may be used to create dynamic web pages, you just need to configure the web and app server for this.

Now does this help you, I hope so. Regardless, continue with the scripting and you will learn how to integrate DB processing into the dynamic HTML. Once learned, and learned well, this will great experience and understanding and will be helpful in a true multi-tiered system.

[rh71]

qball, you seem to be very knowledgeable about web technologies. However, you've forgotten the simplest and quickest learning curve to dynamic web programming - ColdFusion. It may sound like I'm preaching (or selling) it all over this board, but I truly believe it to be the simplest and one of the quickest application servers out there. You want to talk multi-tiered... CF is robust and scalable... it also runs on any webserver you throw at it. Looking for the catch?... well the only downside is its price (CF Server Pro - $1295). A 30-day trial download is available at Macromedia's site (there are ways around that 30-day thing if you look hard enough).

If you already know HTML tags, all you'd need to learn are CF's tags and simple SQL (for reading off databases). Pras, all they are doing on that Linux link is pass some URL parameters... not a problem for any of these languages... but the coolest thing I've found is that it is able to talk to Flash ... which means dynamic Flash pages... easily. If you ever find yourself in a position to learn ColdFusion, I'd highly recommend it. I've played with PHP before and it's nowhere as easy as CF.

(and no, I don't work for them nor own any Macromedia stock)

[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 07-24-2001).]

[Pras]

Yeah, our site is hosted on an Apache server anyway. PHP looks cool from what I've read so far.. thanks.

[qball]

haven't forgotten, just, never used.

Oh, you are selling.

[rh71]

I have nothing to gain from this "selling"... just trying to open people's eyes a bit more... cause even under this forum's description, they only say "Discuss CGI, Perl, C, VB, web design, ASP, PHP, databases, and more."

[qball]

give a person a fish, they eat.
teach a person to fish, they eat, hopefully for a longer time.

If I wanted to teach a person to fish, why would I point them to a fishing boat (trawler)?

CF is an integrated web solution for the enterprise. Creates great dynamic content, for $$$.

Can you say SilverStream?

To understand 'dynamic web pages', you need to understand the basics, not ColdFusion.

The basics:

Client OS
Client Network
Client browser
HTTP
Web server
Web server processing, and beyond!

[rh71]

CF is an integrated web solution for the enterprise. Creates great dynamic content, for $$$.

To understand 'dynamic web pages', you need to understand the basics, not ColdFusion.

How can you say such things without ever having touched it? My intention was to show people who need dynamic page generation that there is a very easy alternative. ASP is not as easy and PHP certainly isn't either. Take a look at the original question and notice that he wanted to know how (and with what) these pages are generated. Somehow, I doubt explaining all your "basics", save for the last entry, will get them anywhere they need to go... not in a thread like this and obviously not by you dropping a list.

Look, I'm not trying to show you up or anything, so quit acting like it. I don't know why you have something against CF or me trying to put it out on the table... but we're here to help others. Turn your head buddy.

[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 07-26-2001).]

[qball]

do you know how to fish?

[rh71]

took you 3 days to come up with that huh?

oh what's the point? I don't know why I bother.

[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 07-30-2001).]

[qball]

Then don't.

Dynamic web processing is at the simplest:

HTML page with Form calling script which processes input and returns HTML back to browser.

How in the world does CF make this any easier?

By your own accord:

If you already know HTML tags, all you'd need to learn are CF's tags and simple SQL (for reading off databases).

How is this any different than ASP, PHP, JSP?

It's not, plus the three above are basically free to download. I can already run ASP and JSP, haven't tried PHP, but that is here nor there.

[rh71]

You want to know how it's easier? Okay...

CF template:

<CFMAIL TO=... FROM=... SERVER=... SUBJECT=...>
#FORM.MESSAGEFROMLASTPAGE#
</CFMAIL>

Email sent.

JSP is very comparable, but slower in processing time. We tested it against IBM Websphere, Tomcat, and Allaire JRUN. CF is quicker... probably hence the cost. But if you look above, I already mentioned the price thing as a warning. Thanks for your concern.

ASP and PHP are not simple tags. There is much scripting involved. I'm wondering if you actually knew that.

You know, I still don't understand how you can make statements against CF if you've never touched it before... people like you amaze me.

[qball]

jusst show me:

HTML page with Form calling script which processes input and returns HTML back to browser

[rh71]

Here's how it works...

1) HTML page containing the form, sent to test.cfm for processing when the Submit button is hit...

2) test.cfm contains above <CFMAIL> code that pulls any/all form field(s) from the original HTML page via #FORM.fieldNameHere#. Just add HTML after the <CFMAIL> code to show as the results page in the browser. Something simple like "Mail has been sent" will do.

3) Done.

Now show me yours.

[This message has been edited by rh71 (edited 07-31-2001).]