Duration 3 days

Objectives
These days it's not too difficult to build a static web site. But what if you need to show listings, news and other information that changes regularly? It's not efficient to keep manually updating individual pages on your web site. Database-driven web sites are now the foundation of almost all commercial web sites and corporate intranets. Dreamweaver MX helps you seamlessly integrate database content into your site for a wide variety of online applications. Based on the PHP server model, this course will show you all you need to know to build a fully-functional Web-based application from the ground up, based on an example site that includes database connectivity with dynamic text, images, search facilities, user accounts, content management, and even basic eCommerce capabilities.

Requirements
Good working knowledge of Dreamweaver MX or recent version. Ability to build a static web site in Dreamweaver using tables and frames. Ability to test and deploy a site on a remote hosting server. Prior programming knowledge not necessary.


Course Outline

Introduction to Dynamic Web Sites
• Why do we need dynamic content?
• Typical Applications
• Hosting considerations

Overview of Dreamweaver MX 2004
• Advantages of using Dreamweaver MX
• The Dreamweaver MX Environment
• Dreamweaver MX Workflow

Setting up the development workstation
• Overview of the Web Server Process
• Installing Personal Web Server or IIS
• Installing PHP
• Configuring IIS to run PHP as CGI
• Defining a site in Dreamweaver
• Setting up the local test server

Setting up the database for the Web
• Overview - Database models
• Using MS Access for the Web
• Using MySQL for the Web
• Installing MySQL
• Creating a simple Database for the Web

Connecting the Web Site to the Database
• Setting up a local DSN
• Setting up a remote DSN
• Making a database connection without a DSN
• Defining a recordset and a query
• Testing your recordset

Displaying Data in a Web Page
• Setting up a table to display data
• Adding data from the recordset to the table
• Defining a repeat region to display multiple records
• Creating a detail page
• Displaying dynamic images

Username Validation
• Creating a User Account form
• Log in and out forms
• Password verification and validation
• Email notification of password
• Security and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
• Maintaining user authentication across the site

Adding Search Capabilities
• Single parameter searches
• Making a results page
• Creating an advanced search page
• Adding dynamic images and text to search results
• Navigating through search results
• Using a record counter to aid navigation

Adding Administration to the site
• Creating the login and logout page
• Redirecting unauthorised users
• Searching the site
• Adding products
• Adding, Editing and Deleting records
• Confirming Additions, Edits and Deletions

Adding eCommerce to the Site
• Single-Transaction eCommerce
• Setting up the database for eCommerce
• Creating a link to purchase an item
• Shipping confirmation and information page
• Payment information and acceptance page
• Confirmation and order completion page

Extending the model to build a Shopping Cart
• About Dreamweaver MX extensions
• Macromedia Exchange and Extension Manager
• The UltraCart II Shopping Cart Extension
• Defining the Shopping Cart Parameters
• Linking to the Cart
• Linking to product Detail
• Showing the contents of the Cart on a page
• Checking Out

Finishing Touches
• A look at some useful ASP coding techniques
• Other Macromedia Extensions
• Questions and Answers