Request input to help decide on technologies

[ironyx]

I am currently using Dreamweaver Ultradev for web development for visually programming as far as web design goes, I am capable of the usual minimal programming languages (HTML, DHTML, Javascript, VB, C++, ETC). My department is about to embark on a project of a data driven site (I currently only maintain two static information heavy sites). There is also, in the next year or two, a requirement to move to XML and possibly XSL as the government is insisting we take the leap away from HTML. I have average knowledge of web technologies, little of databases and extremely little on XML. I was wondering what people might suggest for the best database technology and languages to approach. I have bits and pieces of information but am missing the scheme of what might be required for the entire project to be cohesive. I would even take links or sources of information to do research. I thought that people who work with technologies real world would be the best beginning resource. I have read a little but a lot of information is so biased one way or the other, that I thought I would start with Dreamweaver biased forst, as that is the only definite so far =)
A little bit of specs.
People accessing-up to 500 within the next few years
Server technology for database/server possibly SQL server for ease of use and lack of professional developers.
Dell server
Only IE environment (gov't standards are good for something)

Thanks bunches!!!

 

[schase]

Hey Ironyx,

I'm sure some of the folks who have been developing for awhile would provide some more defined pro's/con's. But from what I have learned.

UD4 makes it fantastically easy to put asp to work with an Access Database.
UD4 has tremendously inefficient code.
Access does very well for a hundred or so users - items in table - not sure.
SQL is the step beyond Access - handling very high numbers of users as well as records. - but much more expensive.

As was recommended to me, I would recommend a couple of books.
Active Server Pages 3
Mastering ASP
Javascript Bible

There were also a couple other books, one on VB, the other escapes me for the moment. I also have an Access Bible.

My plan is to make what I need to happen - happen with UD4, then slowly write new or revised pages using the books as guides - with much more efficient code. (for example, with UD4, you create a recordset - it is open throughout the page. With more efficient code - a recordset opens, does the specific task, closes. Saving server resources.

You may want to start off with Access - then as needed, switch to SQL. From what I understand the code is very similiar.

Hope it helps.
Stuart