Operation Manual

Adding Dynamic Web Objects 157
As well as text, it is even possible to merge picture data (for example, a digital
photo library) into single fields or even auto-create a grid layout of pictures and
text suitable for catalogs or photo albums. WebPlus can even create a photo
database automatically—a simple database using the .SDB (Serif Database)
format—for a set of images in a folder. You can merge images into single fields
or even auto-generate a repeating layout with a grid arrangement suitable for
catalogs or photo albums.
Overview
For your basic database merge needs, WebPlus provides its own Serif Database
file format. "SDB files" as they're called (since they use the *.SDB extension)
are ideal for storing unformatted, plain text data typically used for product lists,
but are suitable for other tasks as well. You can build a list by creating a new
SDB file and then "fill in the blanks." One advantage of using the Serif Database
format is that you can edit your data (even add new fields and information)
directly within WebPlus. Of course, more complex data sources have their own
advantages, and WebPlus can also merge external data from a variety of other
formats. You can import plain text files (for example, as exported from a email
program), tables from HTML web pages, database files from programs such as
Access, Outlook, Excel... even live ODBC servers!