DB to HTML Converter

[Tom]

I started learning how to use Apache, MySQL and PHP but was not finding it an enjoyable experience. One of my main reasons for learning the stuff was to generate static HTML files from a database. There are PHP scripts which do this and, as you know, I am sceptical about how spiders treat databases.

I used to do the job with a cumbersome set of Word macros for running a mail merge and splitting up one large HTML file into 1,000 smaller files with the correct filenames. Then I used a shareware search and replace programme to adjust table borders and convert text to hyperlinks and to draw in images. It used to take 2-3 days to run the macros and I dread to think how long it took to set them up.

But ah-ha! I found a programme today Primasoft (http://www.primasoft.com/dbhtmlp.htm) which does this job and nothing else - and does it beautifully. You can use your own HTML template and insert special Primasoft fields which pull out data from the database and, if you wish, convert some text strings into hyperlinks before saving the file with a filename drawn from the database and with images drawn from the database.

I costs $104 and nothing would persuade me to use a pirated copy.

[David]

It's almost always the case that someone has already come up with a solution to your problems and the web is fantastic at providing a route to them. I look forward to seeing your new site Tom.

[Tom]

As so often, an hour of passion was followed by a night of remorse: DB-HTML is a cranky old wreck. But if anyone is interested, I found another programme which does the job efficiently Webmerge. (http://www.fourthworld.com/index.html)

[francis]

Mmm, you've got "Bo syndrome". Go to bed with Bo Derek, wake up with Bo Diddly :o

[Tom]

Webmerge works beautifully. Any problems can be posted on the Discussion Forum and one of the two programmers replies. You don't get this kind of service from 'Ol Bill.

Most Webmerge users are using it for e-commerce and the advantages they get are (1) greater search engine visibility (2) less load on the server (3) less mucking about with MySQL etc.

[francis]

Originally posted by Tom Turner@Oct 11 2004, 6:10 pm
Webmerge works beautifully. Any problems can be posted on the Discussion Forum and one of the two programmers replies. You don't get this kind of service from 'Ol Bill.
Not as such, but you can talk to MS staff via the Channel 9 blogs (http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx) that were set up a few months ago. Fr'instance, you can give feedback on the Netscape 4.x of the 2000s (http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/Channel9.InternetExplorerFeedback) (that's IE6...).

For an organisation that size, it's better than nothing and takes away some of the 'faceless monolith' accusations that abound.

There, I made a (nearly all) positive MS post!

[Tom]

Fortune Mag has an article this month about 'Microsoft Glasnost' saying that:
(1) the company's response to the 'open source threat' has been to let people see the MS source code [governments have been requiring this anyway, in case MS has left open a window for the CIA to use)
(2) the future policy is to rely on patents (instead of secrecy) to protect their intellectual property
(3) MS also hope to score some points over the open source crowd by assuring MS users that they are not exposed to legal action by companies which claim part of the 'open source' code as their property

Its nice to see MS running scared! But there is also an article to say that only wild enthusiasts have a Linux desktop so far.

Another point: Apple's share of the computer market continues to decline: its too expensive and there are too many aps which are PC-only.