The project presented in this chapter creates an online registration program for a hypothetical event. The project uses a back-end database to store information about the registrants. The program accesses the database on the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) by using OLEISAPI technology. OLEISAPI calls an in-process ActiveX component, formerly called an OLE server, that you will create by using Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0. Front-end validation is performed with Microsoft Visual Basic, Scripting Edition.
The discussion of this project assumes that you are familiar with Visual Basic 4.0. Detailed knowledge of ActiveX components is not required but is helpful. Because this project is intended to be a complete online solution, you will need to be familiar with Microsoft Windows NT Server, Microsoft Windows NT networks in general, and Microsoft Windows 95. We also assume that you are building the solution directly on a Windows NT server. However, it is possible to construct the necessary files on a computer with Windows 95 and then transfer them to a Windows NT server for final configuration and testing. No matter which method you use, it is a good idea to have Visual Basic installed on the server so that changes can be made on the server.