dealing with word documents over web

[mariebmk]

I'm working on a site where users are required to enter a chunk of data. Our problem is allowing them to format it. The users don't want to have to enter text in HTML or convert a Word Document to HTML and cut and paste the resulting code into the text area we provide.

We're thinking along the lines of letting users upload word documents just to bypass this entire issue, but are worried about 1, security (scanning the documents) and 2, how to store them. I've read about storing documents as images, but dont' want the database to grow that much. We've also thought about having a seperate database to store the files, so it doesn't slow down the rest of the access to the main database. I've also read the possibility of storing just a path to where the file is stored on the server.

Can someone help me by giving me feedback with pros/cons with these ideas? Also, even if we're going about this the right way. I'm fairly new to SQL Server, so am not sure how to go about this.

Thank you for your time!

Beth

 

[rac2]

The option to upload the Word doc, store it in a folder, and record the filename in a database is simple and efficient. To retrieve the document, display a link to the path on a web page. Depending on how you organize the files you can store the path or construct it when you build the web page.

I think you will need a third party component to upload and save the document but that is not expensive. See Persits ASPUpload for example.

I think scanning is a lot more work and produces the largest possible filesize, then what about multiple pages and indexing the images. Oh, my head hurts just thinking about it.

You could store the documents as binary objects in the database file structure, but that will use more space. I dont think the access would be much different than simply loading Word to view the document.

What is the security issue?

 

[tgreer]

I suppose I shouldn't ask WHY the users need to "format" documents? Are you in the business of just storing documents, or do you need to process the data to do... some business activity or other?



Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[mariebmk]

I honestly have no clue why they need to format the documents, but I think they want them to look the way they want them to look, not just store the text. As far as I know the data is just stored, and they can retrieve it for future use, never having to search it or whatnot, just save and retrieve. I'll find out more details tomorrow though.

The security my boss mentioned was trying to make sure we run a virus scan on these files before they can hurt our server.

I'll find out more details tomorrow after I bring up all I've found. Thank you guys for all your input, it helps me greatly

 

[bartsimpson]

I have used a database that stored Word documents on a disk, only storing a link to them in the database. It wasn't that successful, as we had problems with documents going missing ( don't know how ). It was much more successful when the Word documents were stored as binary objects, though the database size did increase. It was worth it.

 

[mariebmk]

Thank everyone for the help!

I've gotten further requirements that the users just want to be able to cut and paste their word document into the browser and have it retain its formating (the step of viewing as HTML and copying/pasting that source is too much) Is there any cheap/easy way to do that? We're thinking of just sending them a small word macro that does it for them. The problem that was given to me with uploading the file is that they'll want to go back in and edit these things.

Any ideas are appreciated, thanks!

Beth