Higher Education Web Professionals of New York State

Starting from the basic question, "What types and brands of database systems are most accepted as website data sources?" and ending with insights around the questions, "How do I organize for working with databases?" the speakers will draw upon a combined twelve years of website development to provide:

• A frame for understanding database-supported websites
• How to deconstruct your website into data zones
• Planning approaches and tips for a database-supported website
• A distributed input strategy - why it's economical and how to make it secure
• Data integration - why it's the quality way to fly and how to overcome fears

Is it possible to ditch tables for pure CSS-driven layout? Do browsers have enough in common to make CSS worthwhile? Will CSS ever be anything other than a way to set fonts and colors? Find out the answers to these and many other questions as Eric A. Meyer, an internationally recognized expert on Web design technologies and a former university Webmaster, takes a fast-paced look at CSS use of the past, present, and future-- including ways to use CSS without upsetting ancient browsers, liquid versus rigid design, danger zones in CSS support, styles for multiple media, and more.

Karen will discuss a project aimed at better organizing the overwhelming number of Internet resources available through Cortland's library web site. Her presentation will outline the planning and development process, the implementation of database-driven pages, the project's impact and future plans. Jeremy will share lessons learned from creating a database driven web site for the Athletics department at Saint Rose. He will also demonstrate its web-based administrative system. Both of these projects relied on ASP for its technical infrastructure.

Dinner, Keynote Address

Taking the Road Not Taken by Eric A. Meyer

SQL is the standard database programming language for many database systems. This session will cover the relational database management system (RDBMS) model, explain some fundamental RDBMS concepts, and illustrate the use of SQL to do common tasks. A functional contact/phone book will be the basis for the examples of adding, selecting, updating and deleting data within a database.

For beginner Flash folk, this presentation will introduce users to the basic interface and jargon of Flash, like the timeline, scenes & symbols, movies, frames and keyframes. Users will learn how to create simple fades, animations, and how to create working buttons with simple actionscripting. The presentation will feature Flash 5, but Elizabeth will also address some of the issues of accessibility Flash has struggled with, and how MX hopes to respond to the problems that have kept Flash out of most college webmasters toolboxes.

After all these years, the "browser wars" seem to be drawing to a close. Yet contrary to what pundits have claimed it isn't because Microsoft won. Instead, it's because new browsers are shipping with support for open standards which allow for interoperable Web development. The next battleground for web standards lies in web development tools, such as Dreamweaver or Photoshop. Eric and Kevin will take a look at where we stand with standards support in browsers, development tools, and the future of the Web. Q&A will be a strong component to this presentation. People are encouraged to arrive with questions ready!

In this presentation geared for non-designers, Elizabeth Bushey will talk about basic principles of design for the web, keeping factors like accessibility and usability in mind. Topics will include easy liquid design, templates for various audiences, and why "branding" is important. Attendees should come with specific design problems for critique and suggestions, and Elizabeth will also bring some "before and after" shots.