IWMW 1998: Web front-ends to databases
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This document discusses the development of a web-based front-end to student databases at the University of Manchester. It describes problems with large class sizes requiring significant administration. A solution was developed using an Access database with a web interface for students and Visual Basic interface for staff. Active Server Pages were used to dynamically generate pages connecting to the Access database. Future plans include expanding use across the university and upgrading the backend database.
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IWMW 1998: Web front-ends to databases
- 1. “He left the course 3 months ago?” - Web front-ends to student databases Nick Gould Faculty of Economic and Social Studies University of Manchester N.Gould@man.ac.uk
- 2. Nick Gould, University of Manchester2 Aim of Talk • Describe efforts to develop web-based front-end to student databases • Discuss problems • Describe solutions used • Are we going the right way about it?
- 3. Nick Gould, University of Manchester3 Problem • Large student numbers on modules – 400 plus on some first year modules • Requires a lot of administration – tutorial attendance – work done - essays, projects, exams – end of semester reports for each student on each module • Hard to keep track of students • Time spent on “paper-chasing”
- 4. Nick Gould, University of Manchester4 Solution? • Computer based system for storing/retrieving student information • Information to be stored: – student details – staff details – module details – which student is on which module – which staff member does what on which module – tutorial attendance – work done
- 5. Nick Gould, University of Manchester5 System Requirements • Teaching staff – recording tutorial attendance and work done – Generating reports • Administrative staff – monitor attendance across modules – Generate warning letters • Students – get information on staff, modules and tutorials • bulletins, dates, times, staff office hours, email addresses – join tutorial groups
- 6. Nick Gould, University of Manchester6 System Chosen • Access database – use student registration number/staff payroll number as unique ID • Web front-end (limited functions) – for student use – off-campus staff (tutors) • Visual Basic front-end (all functions) – for module administrators – departmental administrative staff and Faculty Office
- 7. Nick Gould, University of Manchester7 Why this system? • Access - previous experience • Interface - why not all Web? – Visual Basic - quicker/easier to develop front-end – Developing Search/browse Web interface is easy – updating/inserting - not so • validation • Student access mostly read-only – apart from selecting tutorial groups
- 8. Nick Gould, University of Manchester8 Web interface Overview • Start with login form • one for students, one for staff • Enter ID number and password • password self-selected via registration form • Student provided with a list of their modules • click on module name for tutorial information • if not booked on a tutorial given option to do so • Staff can • mark tutorial attendance • get student information • Web interface uses Active Server Pages
- 9. Nick Gould, University of Manchester9 What is Active Server Pages? • Used for interactive pages - dynamically generated • Provides server-side scripting. – Built-in to IIS 3+ • page consists of HTML and scripting language code • Browser calls .asp file instead of .htm or .html • Server processes script then returns HTML to browser
- 10. Nick Gould, University of Manchester10 Example Active Server Page <HTML> <BODY> <% For i = 3 To 7 %> <FONT SIZE="<% = i %>">Hello World!<BR> <% Next %> </BODY> </HTML>
- 11. Nick Gould, University of Manchester11 Active Server Pages and Databases • Assign ODBC data source name to database. • In the ASP – generate SQL query string – connect to ODBC data source – execute query – results stored in recordset – to return results loop through recordset generating HTML table, say. • See http://nt2.ec.man.ac.uk/aspcourse
- 12. Nick Gould, University of Manchester12 Advantages of Active Server Pages • Flexible, powerful – compared with FrontPage, dbWeb • In-built database interfacing elements, no extra modules required. • Choice of scripting languages – VBScript, Jscript, Perl • “Free”
- 13. Nick Gould, University of Manchester13 It’s worked before! • Web-based multiple-choice system – recording of marks, submission date etc. – administration interface • get scores for student X. • e.g. list all students who have not completed exercise X. – 470+ students in system. Each doing an exercise every two weeks.
- 14. Nick Gould, University of Manchester14 Disadvantages of ASP • Microsoft only – use Perl/CGI for portability • Programming required • Debugging - trial and error – but scripts short • Need to investigate other tools – takes time!
- 15. Nick Gould, University of Manchester15 Maintaining State • User logs into system with unique ID – ID used to generate personalized pages • Problem - statelessness of the Web – series of one-off transactions. • Need to pass variables from page to page. • Can store in HTML hidden fields - not very secure. – listmarks.asp?ID=97633&module=EQ1040 • appears in browser
- 16. Nick Gould, University of Manchester16 Using the Session Object • Feature of ASP • allows you to maintain state between pages • Can store values from forms as Session variables • More secure – listmarks.asp?module=EQ1040 • Easier to program • Session closed after 20 minutes of inactivity (default)
- 17. Nick Gould, University of Manchester17 Future Developments • Initially used on a few modules in one department – go faculty-wide • Investigate Development tools • Upgrade to SQL Server from Access – Access not-really multi-user – transaction logging required – won’t need to recode ASP • Interfacing with central databases? – Needs to be university-wide