How to Query FoxPro Data on the Web Using ODBC (150073)

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This example consists of three parts:

Setting up a Visual FoxPro ODBC Data Source Name (DSN)
Creating the HTML extension (.HTX) file and the Internet Database Connector (.IDC) files.
Modifying the HTML page to create a link.

In this example, you create a data source to the Tastrade database, then create a query that retrieves names from the customer table. The results of the query are displayed in an HTML page. All of these operations are accomplished from the server.

Before you follow this example, you need to install Windows NT Server version 3.51 and apply Service Pack 3 or higher. You also need to install the Microsoft Internet Information Server version 1.0, and the Visual FoxPro ODBC Driver version 1.0. For more information about installation, refer to the "Internet Database Connector and ODBC" topic in the Visual Foxpro online help.

Setting up a Visual FoxPro System DSN

In Control Panel, click the ODBC icon.
In the Data Sources dialog box, click the System DSN button. Note that this step is very important because the Internet Database Connector only works with System DSN.
In the System DSN dialog box, click the Add button to display the Add Data Source dialog box.
In the Add Data Source dialog box, select the Microsoft Visual FoxPro driver and click OK.
Enter the following information in the ODBC Visual FoxPro Setup dialog box:
- Data Source Name: Tastrade2
- Click the Visual FoxPro Database (DBC) button
- Path: path to the Tastrade.dbc file. By default, tastrade is located in the Vfp\samples\mainsamp\data directory.
Click the OK button. Note that the System Data Sources dialog box is displayed and displays the name of the data source you created. Click the Close button.
The Data Sources dialog box is displayed. Click the Close button to close it.

Creating the HTX and the IDC files

This example assumes that you want to place all of the files in the Myhome directory, and that the server name is Test. You can, however, place your HTML file in the server's root directory (wwwroot), and the HTX and IDC files in the HTML server's script directory (scripts). If you chose not to create a Myhome directory, you can skip steps 1 through 5.

Start the Microsoft Internet Server.
Double-click the WWW service. Note that the Service Properties window is displayed.
In the WWW Service Properties window, click the Directories tab.
Select the c:\Myhome directory (your home directory), and click the Edit Properties button.
In the Properties window, select the Execute check box, which will allow users to execute the query.

In the c:\Myhome directory, or the scripts directory, create a text file called Mydbf.htx. This file is a template for the information returned from the query. Copy the following information into the file:

      <HTML>
      <HEAD><TITLE>HTTP ODBC Sample</TITLE></HEAD>
      <BODY BGCOLOR="FFFFFF">
      <TABLE>
      <TR>
      <TD></TD>
      <TD>
      <HR>
      <FONT SIZE=2>
      <CENTER>
      <P>
      <!--In this example, the information is displayed in a table-- >
       <TABLE BORDER>

      <TR>
      <TH><B>Contact Name:</B></TH><TH><B>Address:</B></TH>
      </TR>

      <%begindetail%>
      <TR><TD><%contact_name%></TD><TD><%address%></TD></TR>
      <%enddetail%>
      <P>
      </TABLE>
      </CENTER>

      <HR>

      </FONT>
      </TD>
      </TR>
      </TABLE>
      </BODY>
      </HTML>

Create a text file named Mydbf.idc in the C:\Myhome directory, or the scripts directory. This file contains information about the system DSN, the user, the HTX file used as a template, and the SQL SELECT statement. For example:
```
      Datasource: tastrade2
      Username:
      Template: mydbf.htx
      SQLStatement:
      +SELECT contact_name,address FROM CUSTOMER
					
```

Modifying the HTML page to create a link

Add the following information to the HTML page you need to modify. This will create a link to the IDC file.

      <P>
      <LI><A HREF="HTTP://test/mydbf.idc?">HTTP ODBC Example</A>
      <P>

To test this setup, start your Web Browser and type the following URL, which will load the home page on your Test server, or type the URL to the HTML page you have modified.

http://test