The Attack Of The

1
The Attack Of The
900 pound
Information
IGuana
Presented by Gary Roberts
Alfred University
2
The InfoIguana
Objectives

• I will show you the difference between static Web
  pages and dynamic database-driven Web sites.

• I will explain the advantages of a
  database-driven Web site.

3
The InfoIguana

• A Patron-Driven Interface

• A Database-Driven Web site

• A Sustainable Information System

• A Scalable Solution

4
The InfoIguana

• Library Web sites have grown large.

• There are more efficient ways to manage
  information than a hierarchy of static documents.

• E-commerce has got it right.

• Content Specialists are not always the same folks
  who have Web publishing skills.

5
The InfoIguana
Library Web sites have grown large

• Research Databases--How Many Do You Have?

• Do you have list of approved Web sites on your
  Web page?-How large is that?

• How many trial databases? What is the
  turnaround time?

• Print research guides--have you made these
  available via the Web?

6
The InfoIguana
Library Web sites have become large

• How many people are contributing to your Web
  site? How many should be contributing?

• Almost enterprise-level?

• Is all of your public information funneled
  through one person?

7
The InfoIguana
What about e-commerce?

• Amazon.com--A giant relational database with a
  Web front-end.

• Amazons Web site is simply 2-3 dozen Web
  templates.

8
The InfoIguana
Static HTML Model
Web Server
Large Number Of Content-Intensive, Static Web
Pages
Network/Internet
Client/Browser
Patron Clicks A Hyperlink
Static HTML Page Retrieved
9
The InfoIguana
The InfoIguana/Database-Driven Web Model
Web Server
Template (.asp,.php,.cfm)
Database
Template merged with data (.asp,.php,.cfm)
Network/Internet
Client/Browser
Info Iguana Results
Info Iguana Request Form
10
The InfoIguana
An Intermediate Solution

• The proverbial straw-- Our Research Services
  librarian wanted to export our print-based
  Research Guides to the Web.

• We saw the absurdity of exporting still more
  information into a large body of static documents.

11
The InfoIguana
An Intermediate Solution
Static Content
Dynamic Content
12
The InfoIguana
The SourceFinder
www.vmi.edu/sourcefinder/
13
The InfoIguana
The Benefits Of A Database-Driven Site

• End-users are empowered to Search. Passive
  browsing is nearly eliminated.

• Resources which are appropriate in several areas
  need only to be edited once. All corresponding
  subject area pages are automatically updated.

14
The InfoIguana
The Benefits Of A Database-Driven Site (cont.)

• Content contributors do not need to know HTML or
  a WYSIWYG editor.

15
The InfoIguana
The Benefits Of A Database-Driven Site (cont.)

• Database content can be reused in other Web
  applications, paving the way for Web developers
  to rapidly create increasingly sophisticated
  patron interfaces to information.

• Patrons are accustomed to sophisticated
  e-commerce Web sites.

16
The InfoIguana
What About The Librarian/Staff Interface?
17
The InfoIguana
What About The Librarian/Staff Interface?
18
The InfoIguana
The Ready Reference database structure

• I spent some time thinking about how the
  database would be used.

• I wanted to make sure that the database was
  scalable. I knew that additional fields and
  tables would be developed.

19
The InfoIguana
Ready Reference database structure

• Originally the Ready-Reference database had a
  free form structure. Weve had to start
  codifying policy.

20
The InfoIguana
Technical Application Details

• Uses Microsoft Access 97 as a database back-end.

• The Web application is composed in Microsoft
  Active Server Pages.

• The e-mail component utilizes Persists
  AspEmail .

21
The InfoIguana
Technical Application Details

• What are Active Server Pages (ASP)?

• Server-Side Scripting. Like CGI

• Microsoft Proprietary Technology.

• InfoIguana could have been created in any
  Server-Side Script, ColdFusion, PHP, PERL.

22
The InfoIguana
Active Server Page (ASP) Detail
Web Server
Mix of VB script and HTML
Server Strips and Processes VB Script
Raw HTML sent back to browser
Network/Internet
Client/Browser
ASP page looks like any other HTML document
Request Sent For an Active Server Page
23
The InfoIguana
ASP (Active Server Page) Details

• Consists of a full array of programming
  structures variables, loops, conditional
  statements.

• Several Components for database-connectivity

• ODBC, and non-DSN connections.

• SQL for queries, updates and inserts.

24
The InfoIguana
Hardware/Software Requirements

• Microsoft Web Server, Internet Information
  Server, Personal Web Server.

• Persists AspEmail installed on Web Server.

• External SMTP server to bounce requests.
  Sufficient permissions on SMTP Server.

25
The InfoIguana
InfoIguana.asp
InfoIguanaResults.asp
MyList.asp
EmailThisGuide.asp
EmailGetter.asp
MyListProcessor.asp
26
The InfoIguana
Making The InfoIguana Your New Pet

• Install six ASP files within the server
  directory on your hard-drive. Dont forget the
  IguanaIncludes folder.

• Install Persists AspEmail on your Web
  Server.

• Modify line 56, 58 and 61 in MyListProcessor.asp
  to reflect your local information.

27
The InfoIguana
Making The InfoIguana Your New Pet (cont)

• Create an ODBC data source and name it
  Reference.

• Use an editor to change some of the HTML to
  reflect your library information on
  InfoIguana.asp.

28
The InfoIguana
Future Directions

• Create a ranking system that prioritizes
  resources.

• Improve E-mail component flow.

• Clean and consolidate code.

• Create Subject-Heading Links Into DRA MultiLis
  or Aleph System.

29
The InfoIguana
Future Directions

• Add several tables containing patron-
  information to create a MyLibrary Portal.