Flash and Access

[billy wardrop]

Alrighty folks

I want 2 integrate access 2000 and flash mx to store customer data. how?

[Flash-db]

1) Create your database.  With the correct fields, rows, columns etc.

2)  Write an ASP script that access's the database and grabs the data that is specified by a parameter you send it.  For example ID.

3)  Use Loadvariables in Flash to call that script.  Whatever is printed out by that script will be returned to Flash.  Such as Var1=Value1&Var2=Value2.   You can also use XML to exchange data between the Flash Client and the Database.  Either by writing a new XML file with the needed data each time - or in some case's calling it directly.

4)  That's about it.  Their are some tricky parts in their though.

[billy wardrop]

Thanks for the advice.  

What would be your preferred method - ASP or XML? I have no knowledge of either so I need to use a method that I can learn quickly.

Cheers

Billy

[Sergio Pernas]

I think that ASP integration is easier to debug that XML... but you need a server that supports it (a lot do).

In fact, if you know some scripting ASP is very easy. XML, on the other side, needs some scripting too, and you`ll be working twice because you cannot use the HTML facilities from XML 'cause you're heading into flash. Sure, ASP. I think.

[billy wardrop]

Thanks!! I'll give it a try

[Flash-db]

ASP and XML are two different items.

Eventually you will have to know both when you start to get into some more advanced applications.

XML is more of a way to store and describe data - while ASP is a scripting language.  XML is not a language in itself but more of a standard way to (store, describe, display) data.

In order to write dynamic XML for example you will have to know something like ASP.

ASP, PHP, Perl, JSP - are all basically the same.

XML is completly different - for Example HTML is basically like a really specific set of XML but is not that useful because it does not describe the data and is only used for display.

Anyways you'll have to know both so pick up your favorite scripting langauge (either ASP, PHP, JSP, etc - then you can use that with XML at the same time).  

By only knowing one or the other (and not both) - you'll limit yourself.