urgent help regarding a web development project.

Dear all,

I need urgent help regarding a web development project.
I would be very pleased if you can guide me in this regard.

My requirement is as follows.

i need to have a web based project that should also work offline. (also using a website)
its just a small (but sensitive) database of say 100-200 fields and has attachment links to the files that are uploaded on a server.

both online and offline versions have same functionality and modules
all forms same! (can it be just one downloadable software with online-offline modes? to access database? )

end users -- around 50, located anywhere

software when online:
1. the latest database should be download, according to user privileges, locally and should be very secure that no one can open it using tools other than the software. it must also be encrypted? (how?)
2. the local changes that i save in the software should be syncronized to the online database. (how?)
3. core software for report generation etc.

software when offline:
1. according to user privileges, locally i can view/use the downloaded offline data without internet connection.
2. i should be able to save local new records/changes that i add in the software (can be done in a temporary database for syncronization)
3. ?data must be encrypted
4. offline software for report generation etc.

questions:

what is the ideal SERVER side programing language for such a dev project? ASP.NET, VB.NET, PHP, JSP ???
what is the ideal CLIENT side programing language for such a dev project?
what should the ONLINE database and OFFLINE database backend be? MYSQL, MSSQL, ACCESS ???

how should the general structure of callbacks and serverside and clientside software be?
can AJAX help? (like ComponentArt GUI)
are there any third party tools that make working with online-offline apps easier?
how to have minimum fuss for the end user (no complex installations/ no webservers running etc)

how should one secure such apps? locally and online?
also is decompiling such apps possible? how will i know?

--- I WILL BE VERY THANKFUL IF ANYONE CAN GUIDE ME -----

i was planning on using ASP.NET with mysql.....but i dont know about the offline version!


THANKS AND REGARDS

CINGO S.

Most of my experiance with Internet is via using ASP.NET
ASP.NET lacks proper compilation and code can be decompiled again.
Still, some of your parts could use a generic dll (not created with .NET) so decompilation is harder.

I did a very brief test lately using Abyss Web Server.
By modifying it's config you can let it start from any folder-location.
(Iow, without pre-install)
This ws does do asp.net as well.

For synchonizing you could use a webservice, not so hard to do.
It saves you the trouble of writting http send code.

You said that the files are not stored inside the database, only references.
That's fine, maybe ms access will do but it is not a very good engine.
Still, it is a nativly embedded part so you won't need any other installation.

ASP.NET offers encryption but usually you'll need to look for some code to make it work.

Don't forget to think about https on your webserver.

AJAX?
I would not make that a main goal, there are so much other things to worrie about.

>(no complex installations/ no webservers running etc)
Hmm, no webservers heh?
You may still consider checking this ws out as i mentioned above.
A simple app could run it for you.

Imo your desire to work offline is a bit obsolete, i suspect you are trying to solve a situation you may better push towards an online situation.
But then, i don't know the situation, sometimes you have to fight to make this work :)
"Been there done that.."

:)

Thanks Edwin!
for your quick reply and great tips!

The situation is very bad so not likely to push towards an online situation. Offline mode is a must!

about web server -- i tried Abyss Web Server.
its good one for database server...
BUT SHOULD I KEEP CLIENT SIDE software app with local database running on that?
(will it give issues like 404-not found or some thing ...i am worried because client side is not tech savvy ....and its not possible to support so many users for silly things like webserver not running etc.)
(OR should it be a standalone app in VB6 or so?)

You did say "For synchronizing you could use a webservice, not so hard to do."
Can you please explain or give some references please.
also is it possible in other platforms like PHP etc?

is there any "third party" software to do that? synchronizing thing directly from database?

i actually need to do it fast as well..

Thanks again for your kind support

Imo your task is way to complex to make it work on short notice.
Think of months, not weeks.
I mean if you still have to decide which language and have to learn some of the needs you will need a bunch of time.

Webbased things can be done in several languages, i assume php would do fine.
It's one of the most popular languages of today.
I do ASP.NET only and i don't know anything about other web languages.
I do know what ISAPI and CGI means but that's about it.

I may have misunderstood but running the ws locally should be no problem.
You may have a slight firewall issue/warning but solvable for the administrator isn't?

I meant locally as on *one* computer, not intranet based which is basically like internet to me.
So every user has it's own webapp on his own webserver was my thought.

>You did say "For synchronizing you could use a webservice, not so hard to do." Can you please explain or give some references please.

I did some stuff with webservices but using ASP.NET.
Most ideal to me was compiling webservice access to an assembly.
The webservice provides a link, you call wsdl.exe using the link + ?wsdl and it will generate some c# code.
I simple batch file to compile the code to an assembly is peanuts.
See:
http://www.hellobasic.com/cgi-bin/fo...num=1202649022

(and forget the PwrDev IDE, it's not your target)

>also is it possible in other platforms like PHP etc?
I am sure but i don't know crap.

Old fashion webservices are soap based, in fact simply xml being exchanged.
Though using it my way you'll never see the xml.
You can send or obtain binary data through such a service so it could be used to invoke something on a internet webserver to update.
How you implement it is yours.

We update our database by a direct ADO.NET connection on a SQL server.
Just prepare a query and parameters and let ADO.NET do the work.
In out case it goes over an https connection.
Still, this saves you the trouble of using a webservice.
ASP.NET is awesome since it is so versitile but still steep to learn or to make things work.
But that counts for any language just do not think ASP.NET is simple.

>BUT SHOULD I KEEP CLIENT SIDE software app with local database running on that?
Ho can i tell, you said it must run locally, i assume you would not have access to a remote database??

>(OR should it be a standalone app in VB6 or so?)
Of course it should, you can equally write using c# (windows app)
It has all the best from an ASP.NET webapp.

I will not give much references since developing is a matter of (self-)studying before building or at least learn while building something but since there is no time as you said:

>i actually need to do it fast as well..

This maybe a lost cause..?

Thanks Edwin
You are giving great tips.
I have learnt a lot from your responses. and will keep you updated.

I will surely wait for some more suggestions -- may be for other dev platforms --

till then have a good day...

regards

cingo