Blast from the past! My WebDevShare 2001 presentation on using databases to publish multiple versions of information on the web for a variety of uses, a variety of platforms, and a variety of audiences. Examples included using FileMaker Pro to present info via HTML for web users, AvantGo for handheld users, and more.

1. Multipublishing Web Databases
Mark H. Anbinder
Cornell University
mha1@cornell.edu

2. Why multipublish?
• Same view of data may work for all
users, but may not be efficient. Not all
users need all bits of info.
• Some users “deserve” access to more
details, or need pre-digested info.
• Different platforms, devices, or
browsers have different limitations or
capabilities.

3. When multipublish?
• If there’s just a little data, or it doesn’t
change often, manual publishing is fine.
Code HTML by hand for each need.
• If the data changes often, or lots of
formats are needed, use a database to
do it automatically!

4. What to multipublish?
• Anything people might need in more than one
place or more than one format.
• Static or occasionally changing content such
as campus event calendars, facility
schedules, sports schedules, eatery hours,
newsletters…
• Custom or up-to-the-minute content such as
student class schedules, eatery menus or
specials, daily newspapers…

5. “Manual” Example
• 14850 Magazine is a
web-based monthly,
published in HTML,
with a handheld
version via AvantGo,
and an e-mail
announcement with a
blurb for each article.

6. “Manual” Example
• 14850 is at the line
where it won’t make
sense to create each
version manually
much longer.

7. Database Example…
• The WVBR Concert Log is a radio
station’s on-the-air and online listing of
local and regional music events.
• The need: Keep track of local concerts
in one place, and automagically
generate all of the various formats the
info needs to appear in.

8. The WVBR Concert Log
• The first priority:
Radio DJs must
read concert listings
on the air twice
daily.
• The second priority:
Make the info
available online.
• Bonus: Handheld
and other formats.

9. Different Views for
Different Viewers
• The WVBR DJs need to see extra info such
as pronunciation keys, extra tidbits of
description, and contact info in case they
need clarification.
• The public needs links to performer and
venue web sites, and a user-friendly
description.
• Database design is key — make sure you
have the necessary fields without too much
excess duplication of info.

10. Other Formats
• Once you have the
database, publishing
in other formats is
more or less “free.”
• Get the info
anyplace people
might want to look
for it. Portals,
wireless web cell
phones, posters,
PDAs, etc.

11. Let the database do the work
• The database software
can often do the work of
selecting, sorting, and
formatting the info.
• FileMaker Pro (a cross-
platform relational
database application) is
good for prototyping, or
even for low-traffic web
sites.
<p><b><font size=+1>
[Performer]</font></b><br>
[Venue] [Time]
<p><blockquote>
[DescriptionText]
</blockquote>
<li><b>[Performer]<br>
[Venue]
<p><b>[Performer]<br>
[Venue] [Time]
<p><blockquote>
[DJNoteText]
</blockquote>

12. How to publish for Handhelds…
• You can roll your own if you want to, but
once you can build a web page from
your database, you can use AvantGo.
• AvantGo is a free service (free to
content providers and end users) that
delivers web content to handhelds
when the user syncs, or via wireless
connections.

13. How to publish for Handhelds…
• Keep the text and formatting simple,
and keep graphics small and high-
contrast.
• Test your web content in AvantGo and
then provide a link to their system that
specifies your handheld-content URL.

14. What works well on handhelds?
• Plain text. Bold text. Most font tricks or
spacing gimmicks simply don’t carry
over.
• Line drawings. Monochromatic images.
Simple greyscale/color images.
• AvantGo will scale and posterize
images for you, so play with your
content until it looks good. View on
multiple handhelds.

15. Other ideas for outlets
• Create portal channels. Offer a raw HTML
version that other web sites can “include.”
• Tune a version for wireless web portals on
cell phone services.
• Generate an attractive PDF on the fly that
people can download and print.
• Set up a phone system that can speak the
current info to callers, as airlines now do.

16. Multipublishing Examples
• http://wvbr.com/concert.html
WVBR Concert Log
• http://magazine.14850.com/
14850 Magazine
• http://dining.14850.com/
14850 Dining Guide

17. Multipublishing Web Databases
Mark H. Anbinder
Cornell University
mha1@cornell.edu