Michael Vilain <vi****@NOspamcop.netwrites:
In article <df******************************@comcast.com>,
Scott Bryce <sb****@scottbryce.comwrote:
>rp***@tjpdc.org wrote:
Yes, I am closer to an HTML slinger than a programmer. I need to make
this happen so I am trying to get some direction. I have seen
examples of how it has been done with .asp and php. Was just curious
how others were approaching the problem.
I'm a Perl guy, so I would look for a Perl solution. Perl has modules
available that can be used to convert raw data into Excel files.
And you'd need perl modules to mail attachements. If the form this guy
envisions were on my To Do list, I'd have the perl CGI script take the
data from the form, convert it to an excel file, email that file as an
attachment, then delete the file (lots of programmers for get this step
and they don't clean their rooms or desks either).
I've done this for a couple of sites and my preferred method if for
the script on the page (I've used Perl and PHP or different occasions)
to write a CSV line to a plain text file.
I then provide a simple admin page that includes a button or link that
sends the file as type text/csv (IIRC) so that the non-technical user
is prompted to open it with Excel. The down side is you import the
whole thing every time. The upside is all the data is always
available on the server.
As you say, not for a non-programmer but it is a matter of an hour or
so's work (less if you have done it before) so it would not be costly.
--
Ben.