Step 3: Encode file In "RealEncoder" screen, click "Start" button in lower left corner of RealEncoder window. It may take a few minutes to encode file, depending on length of original file. The blue bar in lower right corner of RealEncoder shows your progress. When encoding is finished, a "Recording Complete" box will pop up. Here you are given choice to upload destination of your file to Real Server Janus where, if you're lucky, someone may stumble across your musical offering via their web site. You simply connect to internet and fill out form at Janus to inform them where they might find your music. Then you should close RealProducer .

Step 4: Upload file To upload file to your Web site, you will need to use an FTP program or Site Manager. You can upload to any directory, just be sure you remember address of file. If your program asks, this file should be uploaded in "Binary" mode.

Step 5: Make a text file linking to Real (*.rm) file Click your Start Menu and go to "Run." Type "Notepad" and click "OK". In Notepad, type only this line of text: http://www.server#/username/directory/file.rm. # is server that you are on, username is your domain username, directory is where you've uploaded rm file to and file.rm is actual file that you uploaded. For instance file wakefreezone is at: 'http://www.eidosnet.co.uk/donkit racks/wakefreezone.rm'

Here's rub. There should only be one line of text in Notepad window. When you are finished, click "File" and go to "Save As." In "Save as Type" selector, select "All Files (*.*)". Select a directory you can remember, and in "File name:" box type a name with an ending of .ram. (For example, sound.ram.) Click "Save." This is extremely important. What you've done here is to create a kind of sign post to .rm file which then, when your visitor clicks on to link, points their copy of RealPlayer to .rm file which application will then play.

Step 6: Upload text file Use an FTP program or Site Manager to upload text file to your web site. You can upload to any directory, just be sure you remember address of file. If your program asks, this file should be uploaded in "Text" or "ASCII" mode, however most FTP programmes worth their salt will know what type of file you're uploading and change mode automatically.

Step 7: Link to text file on your web site You will need to edit one of your HTML files on your Web site and place a link to *.ram file. This link should be to your web site, not to file on your hard drive. Then you will need to re-upload HTML file.

Step 8: Test your RealAudio file Go to your web site and click on link to RealFile (the *.ram file). Your browser should quickly download a file, and RealPlayer should open and play RealAudio file. If anything does not work correctly check addresses you used and make sure they are accurate. If your file refuses to play but no other error messages pop up, you should check that you uploaded files with proper file type.

RealVideo To make RealVideo, use same method but be prepared to wait while file encodes as video is far more memory hungry than audio.

Have fun!

The content management system also would allow you to add, edit or remove content from your site without editing many webpages. You'd simply have separate pages setup which allow you to edit information stored in database.

Why Do I Want To Do This? -------------------------

There are many reasons to use a database-driven content management system as opposed to many static webpages. Several are:

1. Easier To Change Site Design

With a database-driven site, there is really only one webpage. The content of site is inserted into this page dynamically when it is requested based on information passed to page (such as article number).

This means changing look of entire site can be as easy as changing HTML in that one page. The page would contain both HTML and programming code for whatever language you chose.

2. Easier To Update Your Site

Using a database-driven content system, you no longer have to create a separate webpage for each piece of content you want on your site. By setting up a form which submits information to add to your database, you can update site just by copying and pasting a piece of content into form, and adding it to database. If you write site to take articles based on date, for example, new content could appear immediately on your site.

How Do I Create a Content Management System? --------------------------------------------

Here are several places you can learn about building a database- driven website, specifically with PHP and mySQL:

1. http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/programming/php/

WebMonkey's PHP Programming section has many well-written articles and tutorials dealing with both PHP programming and interacting with mySQL. They even have a "PHP/mySQL Tutorial."

2. http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/backend/databases/

WebMonkey's Backend Databases section includes information about choosing a database system, an introduction to databases, several tutorials and more.

3. http://wdvl.com/Authoring/Languages/PHP/

The Web Developer's Virtual Library has several good tutorials and information about PHP language and how to use it in conjunction with mySQL databases.

There are many uses of databases in websites, and a content management system is just one of them. Hopefully this article has informed you on exactly what a database is and has provided you with several links to good starting points for those who are interested in using a database in their site.