Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. How to Get Started
3. Using Bluesoft.ca as an Example
4. Summary of Features
5. Extra Components
6. Cost
7. Additional Modules

1. Introduction

In order to quickly build new websites, I have carefully put together a standard "template" website containing all the general features painstakenly developed for http://AdventurePages.com. The first use of this template was the Bluesoft website itself. I've used the template about 20 times, both for internal and external websites. It saves hundreds of hours. Right out of the box, the template contains a fully functioning login system, statistics system, search engine, help system and so on. All I need to do is add the custom data tables that are particular to the application.

It also contains a mechanism whereby the customer can create as many of their own information pages as desired, without programming. I call these pages "Pgx" Pages.

The Bluesoft website was created using this framework. Most of the website, such as the page you are reading right now, are simply Pgx pages. Any time I want to change the content of the page, I just push an Update link, edit the content of the page in a form, and then save it. Any time I want to add a new page, I just type in a link to the page, as if it existed, and the system creates the page automatically. The latest system I've done for a customer is at Bridge-Infotech.com. Created in a few days.

The resulting websites will run on any webserver running Microsoft IIS and could be maintained by any programmer. There is nothing special about the code. It allows you to create a database driven website without programming, and easily manage it. The AutoPage framework can be just a component of your website, or as in the case of the Bluesoft website, almost the entire website.

A typical website has two parts: the information pages and the custom tables. To get a new website going, I make a copy of all the source code in the template, and then I start configuring it for the requirements of the business. To start off the "Pgx" pages, I put links to one or more "root pages" into the default page, and from then on, the end user can add as many sub-menus and pages as they want. Now here's the trick: any place you want a new page, you just type in the standard HTML for a link, and the system automatically creaates a fully functioning page for you to edit. Below is a link:

<a href=PgxPg.asp?PgxCode=MyPage</a>

When a reader clicks the link, the system accesses the page and formats the content, according to parameters in the framework. Because the pages are all in a database, they can be completely managed by the program in a standard way. Every page has statistics. Every page is formatted the same. Every link works. And every page can be searched from a "search engine" box on your front page or where-ever you want.

The idea is that you can quickly create and revise your website any time, without a programmer or "webmaster". The Bluesoft website was entirely created using the standard framework.

Of course the traditional approach is to hire a "webmaster" to create a maze of static files. To do this, most webmasters use something like Microsoft Front Page to create the HTML. But the HTML created by these tools is incredibly complex, so its only practical to maintain it with the original tool. The tools are complex and so is the code they generate. So you can't change it yourself without learning all the ins and outs of the tool he used to create it. This approach is OK for one time "brochure" websites, but it really breaks down for any kind of website that needs to be regularly updated.

Of course, if you created the "autopage" framework, complete with the login system, statistics system, search engine system, and form based update system, it would be a huge amount of work. To save this work, I have painstakenly created a standard "template". I've generated about 15 systems with the template, and every time I've gone back and enhanced the template. So its pretty good.

To set up any new website, I just copy the template, configure it for the particular needs of any given customer, and then turn it over to them. Once I've initialized the template, you can immediately start inserting pages, starting from a "root page".

The autopage framework is not necessarily your whole website. There may be a couple of key data tables that relate to your business requirements. However, they can be fitted into the framework with little trouble - the login system, statistics system and page update system is already there. For example, on the Bluesoft website, I created one other table, the table of "Products", which you see on the front page. I created all the code that goes with it using a standard tool, so its all very efficient, and already debugged.

2. How to Get Started

The basic concept is that each page of your website is stored as a database record, and the program does all the formatting. All you need to get started is a "root" page. Onto that page you type links to whatever sub-pages you want. The first time you click on the link, the page is automatically created, and you just type in the contents.

So you end up with a website like a book. People can find information by navigating your table of contents, or they can use the "Search" function. (which is like the index to the book).

3. Using Bluesoft.ca as an Example

Here's how I created the Bluesoft website: First I set up the front page. That was the end of the programming. Then I logged in, and started typing. Every time I wanted a new "sub page" I typed in a link, and then I clicked on it, and Presto.. I had a new page.

What does a link look like? It is just a standard piece of HTML, the ONLY thing you have to learn. Below is the text you have to type for a link:

  <a href=PgxPg.asp?PgxCode=TestPage>Click Here</a>

  <a href=PgxPg.asp?PgxCode=Hosting>Hosting Charges</a>
  <a href=PgxPg.asp?PgxCode=Help>Help Documents</a>
  <a href=PgxPg.asp?PgxCode=SiteDev>Websitesite Development</a>
  <a href=PgxPg.asp?PgxCode=Contact Us</a>

As you can see, it is just four standard HTML links. Once I had the links, I just displayed the page, and clicked on each link. For example, the first time I clicked on "Help Documents", a blank page came up. So I updated the blank page. In this case, the page I wanted was a sub "table of contents". Just a bunch more links.

Probably at this point, you might find it useful to type out this page, and then follow along by playing with the Bluesoft website.

Each "data page" is automatically formatted. I can also put simple HTML into it if I want. Each page is automatically indexed so you can search for it on my front page, just like looking in the index of a book when you forget the chapter.

Thirdly, notice the statistics displayed at the bottom of each page. They show month by month how many readers there have been of that page.

So there you have it. I have told you how to create your own website. All you need for me to do is put the code and database into your website, and you can go to work. To help you fancy up your pages, here is a lightweight HTML User's Manual I wrote for you. Print it out and start creating your website. Here is a link: Lightweight HTML

4. Summary of Features

1. Add as many pages as you want.
  2. Your content is stored in a simple MS Access Database
  3. Comprehensive Readership Statistics on each Page
  4. Search function
  5. Automatic formatting, or use simple HTML
  6. Login system
  7. Html is generated

5. Extra Components

A full blown website often requires some special "sections" in addition to the "book model" pages I have described. For example, the "Hosting Charges" section of the Bluesoft Website has its own database table, and its own update forms. Initially I used to just type it up with HTML, but that became too hard to maintain. It was quicker to just add a special table called the "Service" table, and to have standard fields for every service I offer. The fields are below:

  Group
  ServiceTitle
  Setup Cost
  Monthly Cost
  Quarterly Cost
  Summary
  Description

When I am logged in, I see little brown "update" links beside each "Service". When I click them, up comes a form and I can change my prices, or revise my descriptions. Obviously these "extra components" require a bit of programming, but I have automated tools to create most of these simple mechanisms.

6. Cost

Now that I've told you how it works, you could just hire a programmer and have him build the whole thing. Its just an access database and a bunch of .ASP code. However, you'd soon find out that all these little mechanisms contain a lot of messy details. So its probably better to use the whole package that I have put together over the past 5 years. Once you have the basic system, there is a LOT more little functions than I have mentioned here, and I will add them onto your site, at whatever it costs me in time to implement them.

If all you wanted was the standard website such as Bluesoft, I could get it all set up in two days, and I'd charge you $1000. Once it was set up, we could add pieces incrementally on a time and materials basis.

However, most of the people I've done a database website for usually have some "core" requirement, such as a catalog or whatever. For these customers, the "InfoPages" I have described above are just one component to their website, and their main concern is usually to publish some sort of catalog. For this, the cost is going to be about $1500 for something with one or two tables.

7. Additional Modules

I have numerous other modules which you may be interested in adding to your website. To see these compoents in operation, see Bivouac.com Below is a list:

  1. Photo Uploading
  2. Blind Email 
  3. Catalog Module

I can add these components to the basic framework for about $500 each.