Dynamically updating page?

Audie

OK.. I'm new and I don't know how to do what I want to do, or know if it is even possible with my resources.

I want to create a page, with certain options/selections available to the viewer, and then after they are done they have the option to save the settings.

I would like this 'saved' setting to be added to a the website, so that the next time it is refreshed/opened, it will be available to view.

Is it possible to save information in this matter; to add it to the text and update it?

Please help as soon as humanly possible, someone!

jeffwhite

If the users use the same PC when they return to your site the easiest way is probably to use cookies. Due to the broad nature of you question the best I can do is direct you to a place to learn all about cookies
http://www.netscape.com/newsref/std/cookie_spec.html.

That's how sites like MSNBC can show you your local news and weather after asking for your zip code once. Sounds like a variation of what you want to do. Most sites don't even let you know the data is being saved. You can configure your browser to prompt you before accepting cookies. This will give you an idea how many sites are storing data about you on your PC.

Anyone else care to expand.

jeff

Audie

But it will not work if it is on another computer?

Ideally this would be able to be used on any computer, but maybe then I would need to use a database? I am so confused...

It is really more of an interactive art project, so no private information will be entered or stored.

Thanks so much for your help!

greg252

cookies won't require a login.
If you go with a BD, you can have the client login, use the login to retrieve the pref from db, and display vars as needed.

For smaller site, you can also do it with flat files.

jeffwhite

If the user uses one PC when he 'sets' his preferences the preferences are strored on that PC.
If he visits your site using a different PC he'd have to 'set' the prefrences again.
The preferences would be set once for each PC he uses to access your site.

A database solution only requires the preferences be set once but you have to store the prefernces on the server and the user would have to login in order to retreive them.

I think logins are a pain for the most part.

jeff