Database Applications on the WebAIR Pre-Forum WorkshopMay 30, 1999

John Milam University of Virginia

Mike WoodGeorge Mason University

A Shared Vision of the Web• HTML (forms and tables)

• ODBC/OLE drivers

• SQL

• Web servers

• Middleware products/data streaming

HTML• forms for getting or posting data

• tables for presenting results

ODBC/OLE• Open Database Connectivity

(ODBC) drivers, which make it possible to connect to and use a database without launching the database program itself

• Example - using Access files on the Web withoutrunning Access

SQL• Structured Query Language (SQL) for

sending queries (information requests)to a database

Web servers• Netscape Enterprise Server, Microsoft

Internet Information Server, and Apache which serve documents and data on the Web

• Available in NT, Unix, Solaris, Mac OS

Middleware for data streaming• Software which works between the Web

server and the HTML-based website to publish dynamic (as opposed to static) pages

Middleware Products• Cold Fusion• Active Server Pages (ASP/ Visual InterDev) • Internet Database Connectivity• Perl• Tango• Drumbeat 2000 (ASP)• NetObjects Fusion (ASP)• FrontPage 98/2000

Middleware Products - continued• WebObjects (Mac)• mSQL• Java• IBM Web Connectors• Informix Universal Web Connect• WebFocus• Sapphire Web• Programming languages - C and Cobol

• Page-based Applications

• JIT Compilation and Page Caching

• Web Server APIs

• Multithreaded Service Architecture

• Distributed Objects

• Cold Fusion Studio

• Integrated with Dreamweaver andNetObjects Fusion

• NT, Solaris

Issues

• Cost

• Platform

• Scalability

• Throughput

• Client vs.Server

• Browser

• Graphics

• Staffing

• Training

• Complexity

• Security

• Politics

• Nature of Data

• Mapping

• Driven by Performance Indicators

• Problems w/ admin systems for analysis of aggregate data

• Admin systems focus on transactions

• IR office knows extracts, data dictionary, data administration issues, and analysis tools

Database Apps at GMU (1995)

• Create data source, link ODBC

• Design application

• Pass query parameters with form

• Process queries via .cfm templates containing SQL, special CF tags, and output statements

Cold FusionApplication Development

Data Source

(1) Createdatabasetables

(2) LinkODBC driverswithin Cold FusionAdministrator

SampleTemplate #1

Selectsdistinctlist ofindicatorsto create adynamicallypopulatedform.

SampleTemplate #2

Creates homepagebased onparametersbased fromtemplate #1

Template #1Results

Template #2Results

Internet Resources for IR - Offices.cfm

• CF 4.0 Application Server• Windows NT Server 4.0• Internet Information Server 4.0• Dual Pentium II w/256 MB RAM, three

4.5GB Ultra-Wide SCSI HD’s, hot swappable, RAID5, redundant power supplies & cooling systems

• Moving to database server (SQL Server 7?)

Current Architecture

Operational w/New CF Apps• Faculty workload• Faculty equity database• Budget request/tracking/workflow system• Online surveys for assessment, others• Affirmative action/faculty demographics• University student awards system/voting• Enrollment targets/projections• Provost’s Document Repository

More Apps• GMU website• Membership directories for IR associations• Performance indicators application• Internet Resources for IR• IRR Office website• Degrees Conferred• Space Management Analysis• Student Ratings of Instruction

• Drill down from exec, div, or dept to account and object code level

• Examine sub-groups

• Historical account analysis

• Bar/pie graphs with Java

• Move to Chart FX

• Daily expenditure & revenue data, with special end-of-month files

• Drill down bydivision

• Summary acctdata

• Drill down byacct to objectcode data

•

• Biweekly payroll extracts

• Drill down from exec/div/dept

• Summary data by exec/div

• Detail dept/acct data

• Ethnicity by gender crosstab

• Glossary and data dictionaryof terms used

• Base faculty info

• Tenure by rankcrosstabs

• Rank by agecrosstabs

• Drill down byvarious fields

• Credit hours matrix

• Course FTE matrix

• Drill down at collegeor division level

• Alpha list of faculty

• Matrix of coursestaught by semester

Budget Request System

Course Data:Consumptionvs. Contribution

Enrollment Targets

Student Ratings of Instruction

Space Analysis1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

AIR Structures of Data Project

• Political issues (access, who sees what data)

• Security (NT, SSL, digital certificate, web server permissions, CF app, IP, cookies, tokens, not tied to LAN)

• Support, staffing, resources, communication

• Nature of data (ownership, data dictionary, clean-up, frequency, level of aggregation, historical, census vs. operational

Issues and Constraints

• Mapping of exec/div/dept/unit/acct codes• Graphics, browser support, lowest common

denominator.• Javascript and Java• Database and ODBC drivers• SAS code base, drivers; SPSS Smart Viewer• Scalability• Image as data mart vs. warehouse (what it’s not (for

grade lists, rosters, mailings)

Issues and Constraints - continued

Starting Recommendations• Take the risk. Build it and they will come• Build it (IT) in-house to get more control• Use NT• Learn SQL. Use it everywhere you can.• Webify everything you can. • Network with colleagues (at conferences like AIR)

• Don’t be attached if someone tries to take it.• Be seen as the leader in aggregate use of web-enabled data

for decision-making• Be sure what you want to do with your life

Contact info

John Milam

(804) 924-3880 (voice)jmilam@shentel.net (email)

Curry School of EducationDept. of Leadership, Policy, and FoundationsUniversity of Virginia405 Emmet Street SouthCharlottesville, VA 22903

Mike Wood

(703) 993-8840 (voice)wwood@gmu.edu (email)

Institutional Research and Reporting

George Mason UniversityMS3D2, D205 Mason HallFairfax, VA 22030-4444

Database Applications on the WebAIR Pre-Forum WorkshopMay 30, 1999

John Milam University of Virginia

Mike WoodGeorge Mason University