Re: Can I use HTML alone?

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From: Al Dunbar [MS-MVP] (alan-no-drub-spam_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/02/05 

Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 20:20:42 -0700

"Roland Hall" <nobody@nowhere> wrote in message
news:uWugP5HCFHA.3444@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> "Al Dunbar [MS-MVP]" wrote in message
> news:uO6buHBCFHA.612@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> :
> : "Roland Hall" <nobody@nowhere> wrote in message
> : news:OQsPS9$BFHA.2984@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> : > "McKirahan" wrote in message
news:FsWdnZqt08Ng1WPcRVn-2Q@comcast.com...
> : > : "Roland Hall" <nobody@nowhere> wrote in message
> : > : news:uf5BF95BFHA.2540@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> : > : > "tim" wrote in message
> : > : > news:D6F94E89-96E8-44B5-8FA3-5A756CE4A321@microsoft.com...
> : > : > : Hi folks. This is my first posting. I am currently trying to
> create
> : a
> : > : Web
> : > : > : Form with a command button (Advanced button) that I hope will
> : connect
> : > to
> : > : a
> : > : > : database (SQL 2000 server) and display information from one of
the
> : > : tables.
> : > : > I
> : > : > : know how to use VBScript, but am wondering whether this will
work
> in
> : a
> : > : > simple
> : > : > : .htm file. I have read that this should be done in an ASP page.
> Can
> : I
> : > do
> : > : > it
> : > : > : without an ASP page? I am using VBScript that comes with VB6
SP6.
> : > : >
> : > : > Since HTML doesn't offer scripting, no.
> : > :
> : > : Why do you say that?
> : >
> : > A simple .htm is markup only.
> :
> : Below is a very simple .htm, but it is not markup only...
> :
> : /Al
> :
> : '============8<================
> : <html><head><title>test</title>
> : <script language='vbscript' >
> : MsgBox "Hello world!"
> : Sub goodbye()
> : MsgBox "goodbye world!"
> : End sub
> : </script>
> : </head>
> : <body>
> : testing
> : <script language='vbscript' >
> : goodbye()
> : </script>
> : </body></html>
> : '============8<================
>
> It's a simple HTML file with scripting, not to mention deprecated as you
> used it and using unnecessary processing. (O:=

I didn't present it as a best practice kind of thing - it was just in
response to your two previous comments immediately above, which seemed on
the surface to say that "HTML doesn't offer scripting", and "A simple .htm
is markup only". Admittedly, these comments were taken somewhat out of
context, as a re-read of the first makes me wonder what, exactly you meant.
If HTML doesn't offer scripting, what *does* it offer, and what does it mean
to say it this way? If you are saying that the engine that interprets the
embedded script is completely separate from the engine that interprets the
HTML markup code, I would agree. But I don't see the importance of such a
distinction here.

As for "a simple .htm is markup only", I think I have seen HTML that was
markup only, but was nonetheless definitely not something easily called
simple.

> language= should be type="text/vbscript"
> goodbye
> or
> call goodbye
> but not
> goodbye()?

Not complete air code, but tested and found to be functional (if pointless).
Definitely NOT run through any HTML standard conformance test suites, mainly
because of a lack of time and I knew it wouldn't pass.

> Perhaps you should reread the Subject line. HTML alone means HTML alone
to
> me, no scripting.

Perhaps to the OP it means something else, like, perhaps, everything in one
client side HTML file (HTML alone?)

> The OP already said he was familiar with VBScript but
> wanted to use just HTML. If he meant can he use VBScript, client-side in
an
> HTML file to make a connection to SQL, then:
>
> 1. That's not how I read it.

That *is* how I read it, and, apparently, how Tim wrote it, judging by his
next post.

> 2. It conflicts with the subject line.

When the (typically short and cryptic) subject line is at odds with the
content, I tend to give more weight to the text.

> It didn't appear the OP wanted to increase the learning curve. And if he
> already knows VBScript, why would he hesitate at using ASP?

Answered in his next post: "try and avoid having to create/set up virtual
directory (and any other extra work that needs to be done) for an ASP page".
Whether his understandings of the relative amounts of work involved and
relative benefits between server side scripting and client side are off the
mark is a moot point. If he is balking at using ASP, he is balking at ASP,
even if you think he shouldn't.

> And, how about
> the security to access SQL server in client-side scripting. Hmmm.

I wasn't suggesting that client-side scripting was the best solution, just
that it is possible to do some simple client-side scripting in a single HTML
file (or perhaps DHTML).

/Al

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