Web Pages (version 6.5)

By using three new SQL Server stored procedures, you can generate HTML documents for web pages. Other than the information needed to use these stored procedures, no programming knowledge is required to create a web page. In addition, the SQL Server Web Assistant provides an interface for using the sp_makewebtask stored procedure.

For more information about creating web pages with the Web Assistant, see SQL Server Web Assistant earlier in this document.

For more information about creating web pages with the new SQL Server stored procedures, see sp_dropwebtask, sp_makewebtask, and sp_runwebtask, later in this document.

Important The Web Assistant can be run only on Intel-based computer systems. The sp_dropwebtask, sp_makewebtask, and sp_runwebtask stored procedures can be run only on Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5 databases and on any supported platform. Running these procedures on earlier version databases will result in errors.

You can use the sp_dropwebtask, sp_makewebtask, and sp_runwebtask stored procedures to:

• Create standard HTML pages from your SQL Server data.
• Improve performance and scalability compared to CGI applications.
• Generate HTML pages automatically through powerful scheduling options.
• Generate trigger-based HTML pages.

These are example uses for generating dynamic web pages in SQL Server:

• With your inventory information stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database, you can keep track of what items are in stock, what items are on order, and what items are on back order. By using these stored procedures, you can create a web page that displays current inventory levels. This web page can be updated every hour so customers can see your up-to-date inventory status.
• An investments firm can use a Microsoft SQL Server database to store prices of stocks, mutual funds, and precious metals, and to store performance statistics associated with each investment. Current and potential customers can browse a web page that displays the weekly top ten recommended investments.

Before you use sp_dropwebtask, sp_makewebtask, and sp_runwebtask, consult your web browser or HTML documentation for more information.