Introduction

What is WordPage?

WordPage is a system for creating Active Server Pages (ASP) that takes advantage of what you already know by leveraging the power of Microsoft Word 2000. Most of the pages created with WordPage retrieve and display information from SQL databases but WordPage makes it easy to create complex inquiries even if you know little or nothing about SQL. The ASP pages created with WordPage support rich filtering and sorting of queries based on information supplied as part of the request that invokes the page.

Microsoft Word 2000 is great for editing static HTML content. WordPage extends it to the dynamic realm of Active Server Pages. Using WordPage you work entirely in Microsoft Word to author your pages. The cosmetic aspects of the document are controlled just as they would be for any other Microsoft Word document. WordPage provides you with easy database access and a publishing capability to create ASP pages from your document.

This example (which is from the tutorial later in this document) shows what it looks like while you’re authoring a document using WordPage.

The quickest way to get an overview is to step through the tutorial at the end of this manual.

What are the pieces of the WordPage system?

The pieces of WordPage in the order in which you’ll use them are:

1. WordPage menu in Word 2000

The WordPage menu is used to create datasources, save ASP files, and perform other activities on the document that are specific to WordPage.

2. WordPage Datasource

The heart of accessing SQL databases using WordPage is the WordPage Datasource. It is a control that is placed in your document, usually using the WordPage menu. The datasource provides the capabilities to:

• define the query to be executed
• insert field references into your document
• define the capabilities available to the user of the ASP document

3. ASP Translator

To test your documents you convert them to ASP files using the Create ASP option of the WordPage menu.

How do I create ASP pages using WordPage?

1. Insert a datasource in your document and define the query.
2. Place field references, WordPage commands, and ASP commands in your document in curly braces {}.
3. Save your ASP files and test them.