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Intro

In this lesson, you will learn how to set up a database for your ASP web application using Microsoft Access, including what a database is and why you need one. I will walk you through creating a simple Access database, uploading it to your web server, and configuring a connection using ASP code with help from FrontPage. We'll also cover connecting to non-Access databases like SQL Server or Oracle using ODBC on Windows Server, and you'll see how to display and add records with ASP. This is ASP 301, the first advanced ASP lesson.

Transcript

Welcome to ASP 301, brought to you by ASPLearningZone.com. I am your instructor, Richard Rost.

Today's class is all about setting up a database in our ASP web. We are going to learn how to set up a database, and more importantly, what a database is. We are going to be using Microsoft Access as our database program of choice in today's class. I am going to show you how to set up a real simple Microsoft Access database. I am going to teach you how to upload your database to your web and how to let FrontPage do some things to get your database connection set up. Then I am going to teach you how to connect to the database using ASP code.

I am also going to show you how to connect to any non-Microsoft Access database as well. So if you are using SQL Server or Oracle or some other database type, I am going to show you how to set up an ODBC database connection using Windows Server. Then, once we have all that set up and our database is on our web and it is working, I am going to show you how to display a record from the database, how to display all the records by looping through them, and how to add records to your table.

Prerequisites: This is the first advanced ASP class. So I strongly recommend you take all of my beginner and intermediate classes. That is 101 through 104, and my 201 and 202 intermediate ASP classes.

In addition, I am going to be using Microsoft Access in this class to teach you how to use a database. So I do strongly recommend you take my Microsoft Access 101 class first. However, it is only suggested; it is not necessary. I will be going through, in the first lesson today, everything you need to know to set up your Access database.

However, if you are serious about building good databases online, you really should go through some of my Microsoft Access series as well. Especially when we get to our 200-level Access series, when we talk about relational databases.

Microsoft Access is really a great tool for building offline databases, in other words, databases that you use on your desktop or on your company network in the same building. If you have any need for that whatsoever, I do strongly recommend Microsoft Access. However, if you have no need for it, then you can get along with just what I am going to show you in today's class.

I will be running through Microsoft Access and teaching you how to create a very basic database that we can use with our ASP web. If you are using a different database type, such as SQL Server or Oracle or any of those types of databases, I will be teaching you how to connect to that database using Windows Server a little bit later on in class today during lesson four. So do not despair if you are not using Microsoft Access.

A lot of today's class does center around Access. However, there is a lot of it that you will need that does not have to do with Access as well. So keep watching.

In today's class, I will be using standard ASP 3.0 on a Windows 2000 server. I will also be using FrontPage 2003 as my web editor of choice. You can use any web editor that you want, although some of the things I am going to show you today in class are going to be much, much easier if you are using FrontPage. Also, like I just mentioned a second ago, I will also be using Microsoft Access 2003. If you have a different version of Access, you should be OK, but Access 2003 is my database of choice.

There is a lot of complex stuff in today's lesson, so I strongly recommend you sit back and relax. Watch once completely through. For each lesson, watch it once, then follow it again and watch a second time following along with my examples. Do not try to take all this in at once. There is a lot of complicated stuff in today's lesson.

This is an advanced lesson, so do the best you can. I am sure you will be OK. If you have any problems or questions, you can post them to me in the student forums, which you should see appearing next to the video window while you are watching the class.

If you have any problems or questions, post them there and I will get back to you. If you do not see the student forums appear, or if you are not online, go to the website ASPLearningZone.com and follow the links for the student forums.

Quiz

Q1. What is the main focus of ASP 301?
A. Setting up user authentication in ASP
B. Setting up a database in an ASP web application
C. Creating advanced CSS layouts
D. Building JavaScript games

Q2. Which database program is primarily used in this class?
A. MySQL
B. Oracle
C. Microsoft Access
D. PostgreSQL

Q3. What is one key prerequisite suggested before taking ASP 301?
A. Knowledge of PHP
B. Completion of beginner and intermediate ASP classes
C. Java programming skills
D. Understanding of Linux servers

Q4. Which web editor does the instructor use for the course?
A. Dreamweaver
B. Visual Studio Code
C. FrontPage 2003
D. Notepad++

Q5. If you are using a non-Access database like SQL Server or Oracle, what will you learn in this class?
A. How to write SQL queries
B. How to convert databases to Access
C. How to connect using an ODBC connection via Windows Server
D. How to program in Java

Q6. What is recommended if you want to build good databases online?
A. Only take the ASP classes
B. Go through some of the Microsoft Access series
C. Learn only JavaScript
D. Focus solely on HTML and CSS

Q7. Which version of Microsoft Access is the instructor using?
A. Microsoft Access 2000
B. Microsoft Access 2003
C. Microsoft Access XP
D. Microsoft Access 2010

Q8. What does the instructor recommend for understanding the complex material in the lesson?
A. Memorize all examples in one viewing
B. Watch only the summary at the end
C. Watch each lesson twice, once to watch and once to follow along
D. Skip to the database connection section

Q9. Where should students post their questions if they have any issues during the lesson?
A. Email the instructor directly
B. The student forums next to the video window or on the website
C. Social media pages
D. Comment section of YouTube

Answers: 1-B; 2-C; 3-B; 4-C; 5-C; 6-B; 7-B; 8-C; 9-B

DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Summary

Today's video from ASP Learning Zone focuses on how to set up a database for your ASP website. My goal in this class is to show you how to create a database and explain exactly what a database is, using Microsoft Access as our main tool. I will walk you through the process of building a simple Access database, uploading it to your website, and using FrontPage to assist in configuring the connection. After that, I'll show you how to connect to your database using ASP.

Even though our class examples use Microsoft Access, I'll also talk about how to connect to other types of databases such as SQL Server or Oracle. I will explain how to create an ODBC database connection using Windows Server, so if you are using a non-Access database, you will be covered as well. Once all the setup is complete and your database is operational, I will teach you how to display a single record, show all records with looping, and add new records to your table from your ASP web application.

This is the first course in my advanced ASP series, so you should complete all of my beginner and intermediate ASP classes first. Specifically, make sure you have finished ASP 101 through 104, as well as 201 and 202, to get the foundation you need for today's topics.

Since we are working with Microsoft Access in this course, I also recommend that you take Access 101 beforehand, but this is optional. I do provide all the necessary instructions for setting up your Access database in the first lesson today, so you will be able to follow along even if you are new to Access. However, if you want to develop more advanced database applications, especially when you reach relational databases in the Access 200-level series, it is a good idea to get comfortable with Access.

Microsoft Access is an ideal tool for desktop and small network databases. If you need to build databases for personal use or for a workplace where everyone is on the same local network, Access is an excellent choice. If that's not necessary for you and your focus is entirely on web-based databases, you can still follow along with today's lesson.

Throughout this class, I will be showing you how to create a simple Access database that will work with an ASP web application. Later in the lesson, specifically during lesson four, I will go into details for those using other database types like SQL Server or Oracle. So, if you are not using Access, don't worry, as the information will still apply to you.

While much of today's material is centered on Microsoft Access, there are plenty of concepts that apply to any database system. Be sure to watch the whole class, since many important concepts will be relevant even if you use a different database program.

For today's examples, I'll be working with ASP 3.0 on a Windows 2000 server, and FrontPage 2003 as my web editor. You are free to use any web editor you prefer, but some steps will be much easier if you are using FrontPage. I will also be using Microsoft Access 2003, but if you have another version, you should still be able to follow along without issue.

Because today's lesson covers some more advanced and occasionally complex material, it's a good idea to watch each lesson through once before attempting the steps on your own. Allow yourself time to let the information sink in, and when you go through it a second time, try following along with my examples. Don't try to do everything at once since there is a lot to absorb.

If you run into any issues or have questions as we go along, be sure to visit the student forums. You should see a link to the forums appear next to the video window during the lesson. If you do not see it, or if you are offline, you can always find the forums by visiting ASPLearningZone.com and following the appropriate links.

You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions for everything discussed here on my website at the link below. Live long and prosper, my friends.

Topic List

Setting up a Microsoft Access database for ASP web
Understanding what a database is
Creating a simple database in Microsoft Access
Uploading a database to your website
Using FrontPage to configure database connections
Connecting to a database using ASP code
Connecting to non-Microsoft Access databases
Setting up an ODBC connection on Windows Server
Displaying a single record from the database in ASP
Looping through and displaying all database records
Adding new records to a database table via ASP