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Build an advanced results page

If the search page submits more than one search parameter to the server, you must write a SQL query for the results page and use the search parameters in SQL variables.

Note: If you have only one search condition, you can use the simple Recordset dialog box to define your recordset (see Build a basic results page).
  1. Open the results page in Dreamweaver, and then create a recordset by opening the Bindings panel (Window > Bindings), clicking the Plus (+) button, and selecting Recordset from the pop‑up menu.
  2. Make sure the advanced Recordset dialog box appears.

    The advanced dialog box has a text area to enter SQL statements. If the simple dialog box appears instead, switch to the advanced dialog box by clicking the Advanced button.

  3. Enter a name for the recordset, and select a connection.

    The connection should be to a database containing data you want the user to search.

  4. Enter a Select statement in the SQL text area.

    Make sure the statement includes a WHERE clause with variables to hold the search parameters. In the following example, the variables are called varLastName and varDept:

    SELECT EMPLOYEEID, FIRSTNAME, LASTNAME, DEPARTMENT, EXTENSION FROM EMPLOYEE ¬ 
WHERE LASTNAME LIKE 'varLastName' ¬ 
AND DEPARTMENT LIKE 'varDept'

    To reduce the amount of typing, you can use the tree of database items at the bottom of the advanced Recordset dialog box. For instructions, see Define an advanced recordset by writing SQL.

    For help on SQL syntax, see the SQL primer at www.adobe.com/go/learn_dw_sqlprimer.

  5. Give the SQL variables the values of the search parameters by clicking the Plus (+) button in the Variables area and entering the variable’s name, default value (the value the variable should take if no run-time value is returned), and run-time value (usually a server object holding a value sent by a browser, such as a request variable).

    In the following ASP example, the HTML form on the search page uses the GET method and contains one text field called LastName and another called Department:

    View full size graphic

    In ColdFusion, the run-time values would be #LastName# and #Department#. In PHP, the run-time values would be $_REQUEST["LastName"] and $_REQUEST["Department"].

  6. (Optional) Click Test to create an instance of the recordset using the default variable values.

    The default values simulate the values that would otherwise have been returned from the search page. Click OK to close the test recordset.

  7. If you’re satisfied with the recordset, click OK.

    The SQL query is inserted in your page.

    The next step is to display the recordset on the results page.