Missouri State University

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Office of Web and New Media 

Minutes September 28, 2006

Database Services

Presentation by Chad Killingsworth

Database Services allows you to still have a database to use with your web site, created either inside or outside of Web Press, after FrontPage Server Extensions are being phased out.

Request Database Services

  • Submit the form before building a database in Web Press
  • https://apps.missouristate.edu/web/database/requestdatabase.aspx
  • Request Database Services form tips
    • The list external databases area on the form is primarily for advanced users who want to tweak their databases manually.
    • Set table name: Use alpha, numeric, and underscore characters only. Any other characters or spaces will appear as underscores.
    • Email address to notify: Necessary for checking results and receiving error messages.

About Database Services

  • Table Structure
  • Database form pages must be published and validated before table structure is visible
  • Create table takes you to the Database Services Management System link
  • Export records yields an Excel file
  • Clear all records only after successfully downloading records - this step is permanent.
  • Workaround for privately testing your database:
    • Create an independent link set
    • Appears in Web Press for publishing and validation, but is invisible to the public
  • Editing database form fields
    • Use Edit Form Field to edit the database labels and field character length
    • Renaming/updating fields increases the size of your table structure
    • Form fields not in the database–Web Services documentation available

New University Search

New Search Design And Functionality

  • Benefits
    • Google mini
    • Better results
    • Pages automatically indexed
    • Suggests correct spelling
  • Web Services is preparing to move People Search in the same system
  • Site Index now filters long lists: departments; majors and minors; student organizations

How To Make Your Page Rank Higher

  • Site index matches result from keywords
  • Make keywords very specific (Student-No. Student retention-Yes)
  • Content is ranked higher than homepage with links
  • To customize your page description: go to Meta Description on your foundation page

Keywords And How They Show In Search Results

  • Entire page is searched
  • Advanced Search
    • More search terms decreases the likelihood of matches
    • Terms to tailor your search
    • With at least one of the words
    • Without the words
  • Specific keywords will return specific site
  • The goal is for users to find what they are looking for, not hit your site every time

 

  Questions/Answers From Session

  • How do I rearrange the order of my form fields?Open your database form page and go into Edit Form Field Pages. Use the Edit Page Order link.
  • Does the page title make a big difference?Yes. The heading should be a unique description of what’s on your page. It can affect your page rank. The heading should be appropriate to specific content that users will search for.
  • What’s the best way to include a printable form on my database?
    Link to a PDF of the form that has been uploaded to your personal assets folder.