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HTML Database Publishing Program ("HTMLDB")

HTMLDB is a program for publishing databases. It converts data in databases to static HTML, using templates of desired pages in which special symbols indicate the insertion points for database fields; other symbols control nested recordsets; still others determine control flow; etc. Typical uses include publishing product catalogs, chapters of books, or other publication of information from a database.

For example, the following template fragment

My name is <<name>> and the date is <<=Now()>>.

would produce HTML output similar to

My name is Igor and the date is 4/12/2009 11:13:40 AM.

For a larger sample of an actual template, click here.
For a sample of the kinds of pages it can produce, click here.

The program requires Microsoft Access 98 and Microsoft Windows 98 or later. You should have some familiarity with Access queries and forms before using it. It does not help you to write HTML; you will need another program such as Microsoft Word's FrontPage or Hot Dog or Web Author to do that. It also does not (presently) act as a CGI server because I have not written the front-end program to serialize CGI requests. If you are considering this program, you might also want to review other database products at http://WWW.Stars.com/Vlib/Providers/Database.html.

The program is free. I don't charge for it and you can use it as much as you like. Source code is included, and you are welcome to enhance it. If you enhance it in ways that you think are of general interest, I welcome your sharing the enhancements. Extending the program with user-defined functions, if you want to do that, will require knowledge of Access Basic.

To cover myself against a possible legal problems, I do put a few limitations on your use of the program. These are listed below. Following this disclaimer and agreement is an opportunity to download the program.

Disclaimer and Agreement

This program is offered with a disclaimer and subject to several conditions. Read them. By downloading this program, you agree to abide by all the conditions listed here. I think the conditions are emminently reasonable among honest people, but, if you don't like the conditions, don't download the program.

This program is offered as is, with no guarantees, and in fact with the warning that it is a prototype and is not up to commercial quality standards. You should not use it unless you are an experienced Access programmer. I disclaim all responsibility for all harm caused by use of this program.

Further, I and my employer (Microsoft Corporation) retain all rights in this program beyond those that are explicitly granted here. You agree to respect my ownership of the program. You may use the program as much as you want, and modify it if you like, but you may not redistribute it or any part of it.

Further, if after looking at the program you decide you actually want to use the program, you must send me mail at linda@lindamann.com. Tell me your name, electronic address, company name, and what you will use the program for (I'm curious what it will be used for).

Finally, I reserve the right to cancel your permission to use the program (or any part of it) if I decide that your use of it in some way harms my interests (of which I am the sole judge). If I cancel your permission to use the program, I will give you 30-days notice, after which you agree to stop using the program. In all cases, I will contact you by sending mail to your electronic address, or other address, as reasonably determined by me.

The Program

You may download it (in a .zip file, 0K) by clicking here.

A small amount of documentation is enclosed. To use the program, find the form called "Templates". This shows records from the templates file, each of which is a template for a HTML page, or a component of one. I usually maximize the form. By studying the templates and the documentation, you should be able to figure out how it all works.

If you find errors in the program, or have suggestions for further improvement, please mail them to me at my electronic address. I work on this program only on odd weekends, so I can't promise how quickly I can incorporate your suggestions, but those that include actual, tested code always get higher priority!

Best wishes,

Andrew Layman

Revision notes:

May 5, 1996, changed from curly braces to "<<". and fixed some bugs. To upgrade previous versions, use Access's Find and Replace on the template file, both the template and the output file name fields.