Taking static site content to dynamic

Question on Data Assist
I currently have a well designed site. The site has over 300 products on static HTML pages. I want to replace the static product content with dynamic content by using DataAssist. I also want it accessible so that new products can easily be added by site administrators. It sounds like DataAssist is the tool to use to accomplish this. I need some advice on how to get started with a site that already has a design in place. The Tutorials are more geared towards creating a site from scratch using Site Assist or CSS Sculptor.
Any advice? Is Site Import something I should start with?

Thanks for the advice,
Danielle

I think you start by getting all of your data into a database. You are going to have to figure out what fields are necessary for each product, then create the basic database structure.

Then you can run dataAssist to create the insert/update/search pages and start entering the product data. I'd only enter in a couple until you have tested and make sure everything works the way you want. Then you will have a copy/paste exercise to get everything inserted into the database so you can update your front end catalog to be dynamic.

Hi Ray,
Thanks for the advice.
Regarding creating a simple database structure.
I have limited experience with database creation and am finding myself in unfamiliar territory. Which is one of the reasons I chose to use your products, because it sounded like a good, easy to use solution for my project.

I have my testing server installed, I did get that far. Do you have any tutorials on simple database creation that can point me in the right direction? The tutorial I found says I can use the "ecommerce-database" database that has already been created by Web Assist. This database seems quite complex, I'm not sure it's the best way to get started for the simple structure I need. What do you advise?

Thanks again for the advice,
Danielle

Look at:

database-for-php/

it is a free tutorial we have created about getting started with databases in dreamweaver.

Ray,
As you suggested, I downloaded the Database Starter Kit PHP to get started with the tutorials. Everything downloaded fine.

However, I'm unable to play the Tutorial which is initiated by clicking start.htm.
When I click start.htm the browser opens and I get an "Adobe Captivate" loading symbol in the center of my screen. Nothing else happens.

Next, I decided to just open the individual swf files that make up the tutorial. I opened the individual swf file named, "01 Overview.swf" in my browser.
I was able to follow-along up until a certain point. That point is the slide where it shows you how how to set up your machine to work with MySQL. I click on the Mac 10.5 button and nothing happens.
This tutorial seems to not be functioning correctly.

I'm using a Mac OSX 10.5.8.
Available Browsers (Firefox, Safari, and Opera)

Thanks again,
Danielle

Hi Danielle,

It looks like the most recent Flash Player update has caused these videos to not work. I tested the Starter Kit this morning and it worked until i updated to the newest Flash Player version.

However, i viewed the swfs directly within my browser and everything worked fine. When i clicked the Mac 10.5 button, it opens this page in my default browser. mamp_for_mac.php.

This may not work if you are not running the swfs from within a browser and have a standalone Flash Player instance running. If you haven't already tried, i'd suggest dragging the swf into your browser to start playing it.

I will keep you posted when we've determined a workaround regarding the Flash issue.

Thanks for your patience.

-Neil

Hi Neil,

Thanks for taking a look at the issue with the training tutorial and for providing the link. I followed this tutorial (mamp_for_mac.php) and I have my my testing server installed. And I have my site defined. I'm using PHP.

I'm still unclear on one point. I understand I can use WebAssist DataAssist to create the dynamic pages and adim pages. But what WebAssist tool is used to create the database table that you need to begin with before starting DataAsssist? Should I use the ecommerce database provided by WebAssist, see link below?
(This tutorial instrucs me to use the ecommerce database creating_db_connection.php)
Under "What you need to start:" is says you need a A MySQL database. Under that, is a note about using the free ecommerce database.

Regarding the Flash tutorial provided in the Database Starterkit PHP. The second swf file in that tutorial says to use MySQL Query Browser to create the database table. When I visited mysql.com site, I get a variety of choices and information but none are called by the name mentioned in the tutorial.
It looks like the MySQL Workbench GUI tool might be what I need but I'm unclear on how to get started in it due to the multiple actions it can perform. (Downloaded from workbench/)
Overall, I'm just a bit unclear what tool is used to create the initial database. Can you point me in the right direction as to my next step by providing the name and/or link of the tool I need to create my simple DB required to get started with DataAssist.

Thanks for your help and suggestions,
Danielle

There are lots of possible tools you can use.

Most Web Hosting Providers give you mySQL myAdmin which you can use through the browser.

You can also use tools like sqlYog or Navicat, or probably mysql Workbench though I've never used it.

I have a local server set-up on my Mac. I used MAMP. Everything is working correctly.
I'm going through the BlueSky tutorial. I'm on the step where you set up your Database.
First I downloaded the files (PHP DB starter kit) and moved to the appropriate folders:
I moved the site files (DatabaseElearning folder) to the htdocs folder. This contains all the PHP site files.
I moved the "mysqul_dbs" folder which contains the digital_gods.sql and other sql files in it, I moved these to the mysql folder in my local servers db folder
db > mysqul > mysql_dbs > physical_goods.sql


The Issue:
In Dreamweaver I click on Databases to set up the connection. The MySQL Connection box opens up. I name the connection conn_bluesky and enter all the information. Last, I click on Select Database and select "mysql_dbs" from the options listed.
Next I click TEST and the connection is successful.
BUT, when I open the Databases pannel and expand the conn_bluesky it contains no tables.

According to the bluesky tutorial, at the step "Select Database", the physical_goods databse should be one of the options to choose from. However, my choices are "information_schema, mysql, mysql_dbs, and test".

I tried moving files up and down folders and redoing the connection with no success. I've tried restarting my local server and dreamwaver. I'm missing or overlooking something.
Does something need to be done with the .sql files so that they work correctly on the local server?
Can you please advise as to what I'm missing.

Thanks for your help,
Danielle

You need to run the code in the .sql file. It sounds like you haven't actually run the .sql script yet, you've just copied it to a folder.

If you open up the datbase using a database manager like navicat or sqlyog you will be able to see if the tables exist or not... sounds like they don't, in which case you need to run the code in the .sql file provided in order to create them.