This is an example of the true power of the Internet. Web-enabled databases allow flexibility, dynanism, and easy scalability. For this client, we developed a fully-relational database architecture for the site (in this case, a rock climbing route database). Then we implemented a web interface to manage(add, update, or delete) the information in the database in a simple, easy-to-use manner. Finally, we enabled the front-end applications so that users could view the information in an intuitive manner.

The following graphic shows the beauty and elegance of this solution. Data comes into via a single method. Then, it is served to many different outputs, all off the single master database. When the data changes, the data available to all out these outputs is instantly available. This translates to much less time on tedius updating and copying.

• Newest Routes - Every time a route is added into the database, it automatically appears at the top of the list.
• Database Stats - The numbers are drawn directly from the database, and instantly change if new entries are added or old entries deleted from the database.
• Search the Database - One can type in a text string, query the database, and return any matching records. The beauty of this function is that a person can add a route, and 5 seconds later a person searching may find this route as a response.
• 3 Star of the Day - Every morning at 1:00 AM, the server queries the database for all the "3 star" (ie Best) routes, randomly chooses one, and puts the output here.

This client had a large form that allowed individuals to list their property information for sale. After some discussion, we decided to break it up into different pages, with form elements. Each page has some required fields - if the user leaves those items blank and clicks submit, they will receive an error page that prompts them to re-enter the information that they are missing. On page 5, contact information, the Email field is automatically filled out with the value entered in at the first stage of the process. On the last page, a confirmation page shows all the values entered in over the last 5 pages. On submission, an additional confirmation email goes to the user, and an email goes to denverspace.com, where they begin processing the order. Additional future developments may be that the information is added to a web-enabled database, allowing the site to work directly from that database, rather than disparate emails.

A simple, yet nice touch for some situations is a page that loads a different image each time it is viewed. For Climbingboulder.com, we placed this application on the front page. Each time someone visits the home page, one of seventeen possible images is loaded into the front page, along with an accompanying description below the image. The two images below show a portion of the home page and the theme illustrated. What is especially nice about this application is a simple, web-based form to add another photo(for administrators). This makes it very easy to add and/or remove pictures from the selection of images. This will work for two images, or a hundred.

       

Many times sites utilize a "what's new" or news section for developments on the site. It is nice to be able to do this updating without resorting to modifying html, since the look should be constant. Regardless of need, a web-based system for modifying html pages is a valuable tool for allowing updates to a site by people without technical expertise about HTML. The below graphic shows the form for adding the page (in a password-protected area of the site) as well as a snippet of the actual page output that shows up on the home page. Lines are drawn to see how the data gets inputted.

There are many reasons to have a password-protected area of a site, or to even password protect your entire site. We can implement by user(s), group(s), and even ip addresses(specific computers).

Many applications do not simply desire transportation of text and html documents. Word documents, images, and spreadsheets are sometimes desired to be transferred between a web site and clients. Normally this is done via FTP (File Transfer Protocol), but a useful web-based method is also available. In the example here, users upload photos of themselves or their friends, and they are entered automatically into a public photo album, where any one can see the pictures.