migrate to a web service?

[dajohnson1s]

Hello,

I have little experience in this area, so I hope to gain some insights.

My problem is that I have begun developing a mobile site and would like to include a 'search feature'. This in itself is not a problem, the problem is that this 'feature' exists on the current (main) website.

This data is protected by another department, but what I do know is that when a 'name' is searched, a file is opened, parsed, and that line is formatted then returned. Also I know this is coded in asp ( if it matters ).

My mobile site is done in php, so I was thinking, instead of duplicating what is already there in another language...make the asp backend into a web service. Then whatever language is chosen can use this data.

What I am looking for is mainly a confirmation of this would be a 'better' idea than recoding this in php for my application. Also I have only done minor things with asp, and I wanted that 'thumbs up' before I go diving into asp again.

Thanks
Daniel

( If the web service is a good idea, maybe I could get a few pointers?? )

[mlseim]

So, is the existing search can only be used by people that are "logged-in"?

And you have no connections to the search script (ASP), or any of the people
involved with the ASP script?

I'm poking at the idea of an API ...

It doesn't really matter if the search script is ASP or PHP. If you have some way
to POST the script (search), and get back a reply (result), by providing some sort
of key, that would be the best ... but someone who has access to the ASP scripts
would need to write that for you. Basically, you're searching their database without
using their existing search script, but you have a special API key, so they know who
is accessing it.

It's possible that others (in your company or wherever) would like to do the same
thing, so a programmer or I.T. person may want to write something for that.

[dajohnson1s]

mlseim,

Thanks for the reply.

So, is the existing search can only be used by people that are "logged-in"?
No, this is 'outward facing', is the the 'people search' for my University (I am a student employee).

And you have no connections to the search script (ASP), or any of the people involved with the ASP script?

We have connections with the people, but not access to any code, mainly because until recently, we have not needed any connection...my department does the Web Interface/Website Maintenance...and don't have a lot of programming action.

If you would like a link of what I am specifically referring to, I can PM you the link to the Moble site, and the current people search.

I did a little asking around this afternoon, and what I had found out was there is a 'text file?' with all the student/employee data (dept. address, name, phone number, status...), and when a search request is made...it parses this file. The provided me with 20 lines to test with, as they do not wish to have this file floating around. Also, this file is generated by another system everyday.

Because I am really the only 'developer' they have in my department, we get some resistance from IT, so what I figured I could do is make a 'basic' web service that accepts a request, searches my 20 line file, then sends a return back.

But I think the api is what I was thinking of the whole time...something like a Google Service (Spell Checking for an example).

I plan to setup a VM this afternoon to test some asp code. I have been looking at basic web services, and they seem pretty manageable, but I will take an advice I could get.

Daniel

[mlseim]

If whatever script you make (either PHP, ASP, or even Perl) ...
If you have the ability to open that text file with your script, you're set.
That's all you need to be able to do in order to search it and display result(s).

If the I.T. people can even give you "read-only" access, you'd be set.
Ask them if they would be willing to just give you "read-only" access to that file.

Write your script, and have them evaluate it. If they require, you can "mask-out"
any sensitive data that would appear on your mobile search display.

The point is, you can use any scripting language you want if you can read that file.