With Firestorm Two, you can use DataPerfect to create a dynamic browser-based application. This is based on the latest version of DataPerfect, DP2.6x (available here).
In a browser-based application, the user experience with the application takes place on a user machine running browser software. Possible browsers include Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Netscape Communicator, and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
The application itself is a DataPerfect application which is connected to webserver software that runs on a server machine.
As described in the possible configurations, it is possible for the server machine to be either:
This single machine will be both the user machine and the server machine. You will need to have rights to download and install software on this machine.
One machine on the LAN will be the server machine. Ideally, this should be the same machine on which the database files reside. This machine, and any other machine on the LAN, can be the user machine. You will need to have rights to copy new versions of the database onto the server machine.
A machine on the Internet will be the server machine. You will need to have rights to upload and run CGI scripts on this machine. Any machine with an Internet connection, anywhere in the world, can be the user machine.
Once you have identified the server machine, you will need to install and configure webserver software. One possibility for Windows operating systems is the KF Web Server. For Linux machines, consider Apache.
On the same machine as the webserver, you will need the FS2 executable program (available here), and the DPWEB database files (available here). You will need to configure the webserver software to associate the FS2 executable program with the ".STR" filename extension.
Create your application database, and make entries in the DPWEB database to describe your application. You can do this either directly with DataPerfect, or through the DPWEB browser-based application (which is, itself, implemented as a Firestorm Two application).
An initial design document is available for comment. A tutorial on the initial design of the DPWEB database is also available for comment.
