ASP.Net Program with an SQL Server Database
This is the best format for data-driven websites. ASP.Net is Microsoft's latest
and most advanced avenue for data-driven web applications. Microsoft SQL Server
is a robost database application with the ability to grow in size and complexity
as your needs increase. This may be a good option for your application even
if it is used only on your local network or intranet.
Advantages
Ease of Installation on Multiple Computers - An ASP.Net/SQL
application will basically run on any computer with a working copy of the latest version
of Internet Explorer. Typically, no installation programs need to be run for the worskstations
that will be using the ASP.Net/SQL application..
Effecient Use of Your Network Server Resources - The Access/SQL and Access/Access
options usually stay connected to your network server the entire time the application
is open on a workstation, slowling down the server and limiting the maximum number
of simultaneous users. The ASP.Net/SQL application uses a quick connect/disconnect
method, connecting, sending or receiving data,
then disconnecting. This places a smaller load on your server, and speeds
up the application.
Allows an Extremely Large Number of Users - The maximum practical
number of concurrent users for an Access/SQL or Access/Access application is about
twelve users. ASP.Net/SQL applications allow large numbers of users because
of the quick connect/disconnect method used.
Quick Response Time - The connect/disconnect method used for this
application type creates a quick response time in most instances. The application
can operate in a speedy manner even if the user is connected from a remote location.
This speed of this application type will not be affected by the size of the database
as much as with Access/SQL or Access/Access applications.
Can Be Accessed Remotely - If hosted on the World Wide Web, the
application can be accessed from virtually any comptuer with a high-speed Internet
connection. Access to the application can be limited by the use of login procedures
with user names and passwords as well as other security measures. You can
also run this type of application on your local network with security measures in
place
to control access to the program.
Can Be Hosted Remotely - User-Friendly Custom Software Inc. can install
your custom ASP.Net/SQL application on a remote hosting site with the ASP.Net portion
of the application on one computer configured only for ASP.Net web hosting and the
SQL portion of the application on another computer configured only for SQL Server
hosting. The cost for this service can be as low as $300/year saving you
the cost of maintaining local network servers for web and SQL hosting.
Disadvantages
More Hours Required to Develop the Application - With this application
type, most of the code must be written from the ground up.
As a result this
application type typically takes longer to create than an Access/SQL or Access/Access
application, and is therefore more expensive.
Need to Purchase SQL Server Software - Unless you have the application
hosted remotely, you will need to purchase a licensed copy of Microsoft SQL Server.
Multiple versions of SQL Server are available. The version you need will depend
on the size and complexity of your application and data as well as the number of
local users. The low-end cost
for a licensed copy of SQL Server is approximately $600 to $1000.
Examples
Example 1: An ASP.Net Select Records Page
Example 2: Sample of an UFCSoft Training Module Illustrating Data Entry for an ASP.Net page
Example 3: Screen Shot of an ASP.Net Page Used to Add Users to the Database
Example 4: Screen Shot of an ASP.Net Page Used to Download Data To Excel Files
Previous Page
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Click on one of the links below to see samples of ASP.Net/SQL applications developed
by User-Friendly Custom Software Inc.. The example windows will appear on top of
this window. Check your Pop-Up Blocker if nothing happens when you click
on one of the links.
The first example is an application that uses an SQL Server database to populate
property listings for a real estate company. The SQL data is also used to
populate a PDF flyer for each of the properties. The images for the flyer
are stored in the SQL database along with the property information. After
clicking the first example link below, click
on the 'Begin Search' button on the
page that appears to view a list of properties. Then, click on
the 'View' link on one of the property rows to view a property flyer generated with
data from the SQL database.
The second example below is a short clip from a training module created by Access
Programming Services. The client's identifying information has been removed,
and slides before and after the training slides you will see have been removed to
shorten the presentation. This module provides a good example of how a user
enters database data using an ASP.net page.
Many of our clients' applications are for in-house use only and cannot be viewed
on a public website. The last two links below display some
sample screen shots from some of these applications. Example three is a screen
shot of an ASP.Net page used to add or edit database users. Example four is
a screen shot of an ASP.Net page used to download data from a SQL database into
an Excel file.
