* * * Connecting DW to a REMOTE 'Testing server' * * *

[Forzato]

Hello all,

I've now spent 7 full 12 hour days on this, with no success... I am begging
for help. Books, google, macromedia, the forums have all proven fruitless.

Here's the problem: Using updated Dreamweaver MX 04 on XP sp2 machine with
ASP or ASP.NET, I cannot seem to get a simple MS Access 2002 database on my
host server (remote machine) to be recognized by DW... Me thinks the problem
is in pointing and connecting the ODBC on my local design machine, to the
remote host server which I'm trying to set up as the DW 'testing server'. The
Windows ODBC panel doesn't let me actually point to the database on the remote
testing server.

Actual symtom is that when testing a DW database connection ( >DW >Application

>Database >Test) DW replies 'connection made'. BUT, when attempting to make a

dataset to that same connection( >DW >Application >Bindings) DW replies with
'Unable to connect, please test connection' -or- 'No tables found' (these
errors are despite the previously OK'd connection!)

I do not have a server on my local design machine, nor do I (ideally) want to
install a server (running XP Home). I'd like to use local machine for design,
and use my host's remote server as the DW 'testing server' Is this not
possible?

I've tried just about every possible approach I can think of including...
A) Various connection strings, DSN, OLE DB, ADODB (scripts from host or DW
'Template' connection strings) all of which DW claims to have 'Connected' but
can't read the database tables
B) Various site definitions
C) Setting the ODBC System DSN on my local machine in various ways
D) Adding a FTP connection to 'My Network Places' in Windows on my local
machine (Windows Explorer shows the FTP connection in My Network Places and
allows me to manipulate the files on the remote server)
E) Whining to my host about the DSN set up on my remote server... they say
DSN and database fine
F) Placing the database folder and database itself in about every conceivable
place on the hosted server (in and out of www root folder)
G) Placing the _mmServerScripts folder in all folders with the database folder
H) Deleting and re-uploaded to the remote server the _mmServerScripts, the
bin folder and DW dll, the web.config file, the Access mdb database, and even
reinstalled DW MX 04 itself on my local design machine
I) Rebooting frequently throughout the above steps
J) Checked and confirmed spelling, logins, and passwords

ANY thoughts would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance.

[Nancy Gill]

When creating a remote DSN .. you create a DSN on your local machine and
create (or have your host do it) an identical DSN on the remote machine.
Then select the option under Connections/DSN to use DSN on testing machine.

That said .. most of the time, the testing server IS your local machine ..
having a testing server from a remote location is going to slow your pages
down considerably. The usual practice is to test locally and then deploy to
the remote location when the pages are done.


--
Nancy Gill
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Dreamweaver MX/UltraDev
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/go/team/[/url]
Co-Author: Dreamweaver MX: Instant Troubleshooter (August, 2003)
Technical Editor: DMX 2004: The Complete Reference, DMX 2004: A Beginner's
Guide, Mastering Macromedia Contribute
Technical Reviewer: Dynamic Dreamweaver MX/DMX: Advanced PHP Web Development

"Forzato" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:d4p29o$1oa$1@forums.macromedia.com...

>
> Hello all,
>
> I've now spent 7 full 12 hour days on this, with no success... I am

begging

> for help. Books, google, macromedia, the forums have all proven

fruitless.

>
> Here's the problem: Using updated Dreamweaver MX 04 on XP sp2 machine

with

> ASP or ASP.NET, I cannot seem to get a simple MS Access 2002 database on

my

> host server (remote machine) to be recognized by DW... Me thinks the

problem

> is in pointing and connecting the ODBC on my local design machine, to the
> remote host server which I'm trying to set up as the DW 'testing server'.

The

> Windows ODBC panel doesn't let me actually point to the database on the

remote

> testing server.
>
> Actual symtom is that when testing a DW database connection ( >DW
>Application

> >Database >Test) DW replies 'connection made'. BUT, when attempting to

make a

> dataset to that same connection( >DW >Application >Bindings) DW replies

with

> 'Unable to connect, please test connection' -or- 'No tables found'

(these

> errors are despite the previously OK'd connection!)
>
> I do not have a server on my local design machine, nor do I (ideally)

want to

> install a server (running XP Home). I'd like to use local machine for

design,

> and use my host's remote server as the DW 'testing server' Is this not
> possible?
>
> I've tried just about every possible approach I can think of including...
> A) Various connection strings, DSN, OLE DB, ADODB (scripts from host or

DW

> 'Template' connection strings) all of which DW claims to have 'Connected'

but

> can't read the database tables
> B) Various site definitions
> C) Setting the ODBC System DSN on my local machine in various ways
> D) Adding a FTP connection to 'My Network Places' in Windows on my local
> machine (Windows Explorer shows the FTP connection in My Network Places

and

> allows me to manipulate the files on the remote server)
> E) Whining to my host about the DSN set up on my remote server... they

say

> DSN and database fine
> F) Placing the database folder and database itself in about every

conceivable

> place on the hosted server (in and out of www root folder)
> G) Placing the _mmServerScripts folder in all folders with the database

folder

> H) Deleting and re-uploaded to the remote server the _mmServerScripts,

the

> bin folder and DW dll, the web.config file, the Access mdb database, and

even

> reinstalled DW MX 04 itself on my local design machine
> I) Rebooting frequently throughout the above steps
> J) Checked and confirmed spelling, logins, and passwords
>
> ANY thoughts would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
>

[Forzato]

Thank you very much Nancy!

Thanks to your advice I've got things working locally, and I'm anticipating
the upload to the server to see the results.

Again, much appreciated. I owe you one.

Cheers!

[Nancy Gill]

No problem .. let me know if you need anything further.

Nancy

"Forzato" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:d4phl8$k79$1@forums.macromedia.com...

>
> Thank you very much Nancy!
>
> Thanks to your advice I've got things working locally, and I'm

anticipating

> the upload to the server to see the results.
>
> Again, much appreciated. I owe you one.
>
> Cheers!
>
>
>
>

[Forzato]

Nancy,

Again, I can't thank you enough... works great both during design and in
actual use.

One question... is it possible for DW to connect realtime to the database on
the actual server? Currently I must download the database into a local folder
to get an up to date version for use in DW... it would help if DW just pulled
data from the actual database on the (remote) server via the same DSN.

Thanks again... you are my hero!

[sjb34]

<When creating a remote DSN .. you create a DSN on your local machine and
create (or have your host do it) an identical DSN on the remote machine.
Then select the option under Connections/DSN to use DSN on testing machine.>

Nancy. I have same problem and tried this to solve it. Does not work.

error message pop up - "cannot create a file when it already exists".

Can you explain how to sort this connecting to a SQL db within dw, on IIS
using ASP? or at least point us in the direction of a tutorial or info that has
a good explanation, because I am damned if I can find out anywhere.
Thanks for your time

[Forzato]

Indeed, there seems to be little in the way of tutorials on this topic...

Nancy said... "most of the time, the testing server IS your local machine ..
having a testing server from a remote location is going to slow your pages
down considerably. The usual practice is to test locally and then deploy to
the remote location when the pages are done."

...and this I what I've done to get up and running. DW is pulling data from
the local DSN - not the actual (remote) server's DSN. To do this I am forced
to set the DW DSN to 'local' not 'testing server' as advised by Nancy. This
does work super, but in a perfect World I'd like to pull data directly via a
DSN (or a connection string) on the remote server... not the DSN on the local
design machine. ( BTW, my site definition has the testing server defined as
the actual remote server... so DW's site def is configured with 'remote server'
the same as the 'testing server' )

It seems something locally (WindowsODBC? Windows Network Connections?) must
be configured to allow this true server database connection to DW... but this
is just a guess.

Sjb34: On your design machine, how did you set up your Windows OBDC/Network
Connections on the working Php database you have?

[sjb34]

Sjb34: On your design machine, how did you set up your Windows OBDC/Network
Connections on the working Php database you have?

Hey. Now , I have managed to get connected to the database on my testing
server, remote folder. It matters not one bit I understand if your testing
server is on a computer on your own network. I can't see why that would cause
any problems at all. There are developers that I know who test on a remote
machine, especially if the local machine is not configured with a web server.
So I have got it connected but now no db tables!!!! in DW
I have a SQL db which I am connecting to. This is fairly new to me, so I am
using the installed northwind db which is already on the server. Are you using
SQL server? I think you're using Access, but I'm sure it's a similar process.#
I set up the DSN on the remote server first, using Windows ODBC wizard. Tested
it and then it was ok. then i did find a website page with useful help for
setting DSN in DW. [url]http://www.flawebdeb.com/junedebtip.htm[/url]
Gave me a bit more insight. On the ODBC/network set up I kept everything as
simple as poss, leaving out any passwords etc.
it's there but not quite right, not sure why I can't see tables, when I am
connected to db. As you say it must be something within ODBC. I'll go through
it again shortly and see if I can find any setting there I missed b4.

[sjb34]

[url]http://www.macromedia.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_19515#aspnet_db[/url]
OMG, I fixed it!!!! Now it works. I'm not holding my breath though, until I
have hammered it over the weekend to make sure it all works, and keeps working.
This is a fix as there is a bug in DW for not showing tables. Follow the above
link to the letter and it should work!!
Good luck!
Lemme know if you got it and if not, I'll try my best to help.

[Eddy Miller]

Hi sjb34

I'm not sure if your problem is the same as the one I've just fixed after 2
weeks of long hours, as I have been trying to establish a database connection
over a PC/Mac network and was beginning to tear my hair out as to why the
database connection was there but I could not see any tables with the testing
server under IIS on the PC.

As I've just explained in answer to my own post, I found a TechNote about a
bug caused by Windows XP Service Pack 2 that causes this to happen on a Windows
only setup too apparently. You can download an extension and rerun the
mmServerScripts to fix it.

[sjb34]

Eddy

Yeah, seems like it was same problem. The workaround installs an extension for
db connections and when you delete connection and reconnect with the new
extension installed, hey presto, the tables appear.
I find DW great for front end design, HTML coding and site management, but now
I am getting involved in working with web applications I am noticing a few
frailties with DW - a couple server behaviours in PHP don't work properly and a
lot of time has been wasted looking for a fix. I know one program can't do it
all, and it would be nice to be a web programmer as well as designer, but it's
hard when you find yourself taking on about 4 or 5 different roles and people
on your case thinking because you know about computers you can fix anything
etc, etc!! oh well. moan over!!

[Forzato]

Damn it! Why can't it work for me!

I followed the suggested DW tech note to the letter...

I then test the DSN connection in the Database tab and receive 'Unidentified
error'. If I try the Bindings tab test I get 'Unable to connect'. Each test
is run a couple times before trying something else.

I tried restarting DW, rebooting, manually removing the _mmServerScripts from
the server, manually removing the dsn definition file from the server... nada.

I've tried change the DW site definition to point the 'Testing Server' to
different folders...

The structure on the server is like so:
TOP - Entire portion of server hard drive that we can use

> database folder
> _mmServerScripts
> database with DSN configured by host (confirmed)
> www folder
> (all web page files)

BOTTOM

The DW site definition structure is like this:
Local info:
Local root folder=C:\My Documents\My site\
Remote Server:
Ftp host=ftp.visitourcompany.com
Host directory = www/
Testing Server:
Ftp host=ftp.visitourcompany.com
Host directory=database/
URL prefix=http://visitourcompany.com/database/

Is the server structure the cause of the problem? Is the problem my site
definition? Remember I do not have a server on my local design machine. I've
tried just about every possible combination with no luck...

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

[sjb34]

Sorry you not getting it working. Looking at your URLs there it would seem that
maybe the problem lies with your remote host and testing server being on the
same ftp address but having different directories. The way I have it is:

remote folder
\\nameserver\path to folder\folder

testing server
\\nameserver\path to folder\folder

URL prefix:
[url]http://nameserver/[/url]

I'm connecting over a local network, not ftp. But I think the path to file for
both are the same.
in the db connection dialog :
make sure you put in connection name before you tick the use DSN on testing
server radio button
connection name = name of db
DSN = name of data source, ODBC
user name = assigned to your db
password = assigned to your db

Have you set up correctly your data source in the ODBC data source
administrator?
use System DSN to define your DSN,
use your access/sql dB authentication. Tick box for connect to access/sql to
obtain default settings.
leave defaults for rest and on final screen test data source. If that is
successful then there are no problems at db or DSN end.
If your db connection details match up in DW then no problem there. Sounds
like it must be a path to file problem that is not letting you connect.
I know you have probably done all this, like me, but it's amazing what a
backslash or a full stop or something missed can do. It happens o me all the
time. Let us know how you get on.
Good luck

[Forzato]

sjb34;

Really appreciate you staying with me on this one!

You said... "Have you set up correctly your data source in the ODBC data
source administrator?"
...I'm not sure, since in my design machine's ODBC I'm unable to specifically
point to the remote/testing server's DSN (nor am I able to point to it using
the ODBC 'Network' button)


You said... "use your access/sql dB authentication. Tick box for connect to
access/sql to obtain default settings."
...please elaborate - me no understand (I'm using MS Access)

You said... "leave defaults for rest and on final screen test data source. If
that is successful then there are no problems at db or DSN end."
...DW gives errors when attempting to use 'Live Data view' if I understand you
correctly

Thanks again for the advice.

[Forzato]

Anyone care to demonstrate thier Dreamweaver prowess any take a shot at this one?

[sjb34]

Hey.
Ok, I presume you have ODBC Data Source Administator on your PC. You find it
in admin tools, data services, in control panel.
Open it up and click the System DSN tab. Click Add if you want to add a DSN
and follow the wizard to create a DSN, or if you want to configure the settings
already on the DSN just click configure.Just make sure all your files names and
names of connections and databases are correct. Once that is set up just click
ok.
There is a screen in the wizard that will let you specify how you want to
authenticate your connection. Just make sure the NT network authentication box
is not checked. Check the "SQL authentication to obtain further details",
making sure it is checked, and then enter your user name and password for the
DSN connection to your db. Basically should be the user name and password you
have set for the db. When that is done , just click ok on the next 2 or 3
screens and finally it will come to a "test connection", and all being well
should be fine. If it is ok, then you know DSN set up correctly and there is no
problem at that end.
After that go into dw and follow the steps needed to put in the new extension.
If already done then no problem, set up your db connection making sure all the
names correspond to your db, and DSN.
That all done, you should be up and running. If not, then I am not sure what
else to try. If you on msn messenger I would be happy to walk through it on
Tuesday night. I'm pretty sure it's your paths to file somewhere that are not
right, so maybe go over those again, working through it logically making sure
pointing exactly where they should be.
You will sort it, have faith!!!

[itisgregory]

Nancy,

Can you please help me?

I am using OS X and Dreamweaver MX. I am trying to make a connection to the
MySQL Sever from within Dreamweaver using the Applications panel and clikcing
on the "+". A window opens asking for:
Connection Name: Apress
MySQL Server: localhost
User Name: apress
Password: xxxxxx
Database (Select):

When I click select so the Dreamweaver can browse to the databases in MySQL
the connection is not being made because I "think" Dreamweaver cannot find the
MySQL Server. Ther error is "An unidentified error occurred" . I think that
MySQL may not be configured correctly - but phpMyAdmin works well. MySQL and
PHP are on my local machine. I am NOT using a remote machine. I used phpMyAdmin
to create the databases. Any suggestions?

Gregory

[David Powers]

itisgregory wrote:

> When I click select so the Dreamweaver can browse to the databases in MySQL
> the connection is not being made because I "think" Dreamweaver cannot find the
> MySQL Server. Ther error is "An unidentified error occurred" . I think that
> MySQL may not be configured correctly - but phpMyAdmin works well.

Gregory, I'm sorry you're still having problems. I tried to sort this
out for you in the Apress forum a few days ago. You say that phpMyAdmin
is working correctly, so that means that MySQL is also working correctly.

Go back to pages 42-46, and create a new user account. Then try using
that user account to access MySQL in Terminal. Let's say you call the
new account "gregory", open Terminal and type:

mysql -u gregory -p

Type in the password you created for "gregory". If you can get in to
MySQL monitor, everything is correctly configured.

Then try making a database connection using the gregory account. If you
still get the "unidentified error", See the explanation on page 492
about where to locate your sites on Mac OS X. Make sure your site is
located in your Sites folder. Then open Site Definition, click the
Advanced tab, and select Testing Server from the list on the left. Make
sure that you have the following settings:

Server model: PHP MySQL
Access: Local/Network
Testing server folder: (use the folder icon to navigate to the right
location inside your Sites folder)
URL prefix: [url]http://localhost/~username/sitename/[/url]

Obviously, use your own username and the name of the site instead of
"username" and "sitename". Don't leave out the tilde (~) in front of
your username. There *must* be a trailing slash at the end of the URL
prefix.

If that still fails, change the URL prefix to:

URL prefix: [url]http://127.0.0.1/~username/sitename/[/url]

Also use 127.0.0.1 instead of "localhost" in the MySQL Server field of
the Connection dialog box.

The book you are using was written for MX 2004, but the same
instructions should apply equally to MX.

--
David Powers
Author, "Foundation PHP 5 for Flash" (friends of ED)
Co-author "PHP Web Development with DW MX 2004" (Apress)
[url]http://computerbookshelf.com[/url]

[Clukey]

Gregory, I had the same error, and the reason was because I had not set up my testing server. Make sure that your testing server is properly set up - Steven

[Forzato]

I am UNABLE to point to a network connection thru Windows ODBC System... I can
point to a local database OK... works great with DW - except the database is
not on the remote testing server!

Windows OBDC subdues the OK button when I navigate to 'Network connections' in
ODBC... it tells me I 'can't insert folder here'

I AM able to create an FTP connection viewed in Windows Explorer to the remote
testing server though... it works fine to transfer files to and from the remote
testing server.

Any ideas why I can't get ODBC to recognize the remote connection? I'm sure
this is why DW won't connect to the remote database ('no tables found')