Does anyone know how to create a database and what I would need to do to have people register to a site...?

PS: I'm not asking for reference to my site below, I am working on one for my gaffer...

Cheers guys :thumbsup:

creating a database for a site depends on what you have available on the server your using... it could be SQL which you can combine with PHP to control users... or it could be a Windows server and have access and use ASP.

you'd have to find out which software you have access to first, if you even have access to SQL or Access ;)

I take it it's not as simple as knocking summit together in Access 2003 and then uploading it then, and then creating a java script..?

Theoretically, yes. I started doing it once with ASP but the package I was on at the time didn't support it. I found loads of detailed tutorials via Google, pretty simple really although I've not got around to doing it yet.

What kind of server space do you have? i.e. ASP or PHP enabled? SQL server or My SQL or even just Access files?

Be very careful using Access as a web site back end database. It will do the job but it's not the best bet.

Also, the technical issue of how to do it is the wrong question to ask first; the first question is to ask what your boss wants, what he hopes to get from it, etc.

Do the database design before you start cooking the database.

I know this sounds a bit callous, but if you're asking this question you're not quite ready to do the job yet!

Have a look on Google and find a few articles about putting a database online. They'll help you know what questions to ask!

Joe

I've never had a problem with Access as the database to my sites and it is the primary function of www.futurecelltech.com and stands in excellent stead.

However a current site upgrade is planned fairly soon and everything is being moved over to ASP.NET and MS SQL which is superior to Access and MySQL anyway :D

BobDaBuilder: are you able to give us any more details on what your boss wants? Chances are if it's simple then it's already been written and freely available in the open source community.

Yeah, sorry guys..basically just wants a basic java script prompt for a user name or password which will direct you should you enter it correctly or just keep popping up if entered wrong...

Personally I think he's given the job to the wrong person...me and my big mouth eh...lol

If that's to difficult then anything basically as long as it requires the user to be registered....whatever is the easiest, @ the end of the day you guys all know what you're doing and I have no idea @ all.....more like a learning curve for me as well...:thumbsup:

You don't want javascript. Even so called encrypted javascript files are amazingly insecure.

If all you want is a popup asking for a username and password then you can do create a htaccess file and upload it to a webserver. It'll only work on certain types of webserver but it's really simple. Here's a link to a site explaining it http://webdesign.about.com/od/htaccess/

You'll probably need some kind of password manager software to maintain the list of usernames and passwords but it's the simplest way of password protecting an area with little or no programming.

Alternativly, and if your feeling creative, learn PHP or ASP and write something yourself. At first it can be daunting but they are both good skills to learn.