|Database reports are an important aspect of information systems and play a big role in e-commerce. For example, a small business might want to post a list of products at its e-commerce site.|5460|2940|1980|2910||0|0|0|0|
|Most database software offers tools for exporting a report to HTML format. The report file is created on a local computer, and then it can be copied to the Web server--a process called "posting".|5460|2940|1980|2910||0|0|0|0|
|The process of generating and posting a report depends on the database management software package. Let's take a look at the process specific to Microsoft Access.|5460|2940|1605|2580||0|0|0|0|
|The first step in the process is to generate a report. Most reports are based on a query--in this case a query to list products and their prices.|855|4285|1545|2325||0|0|3|0|
|The query produces the Gizmo Company Product report. Microsoft Access generated this report "on the fly" based on data in the Products database. The report exists only on the display, but not as a file. The next step in the process is to export the report to a file.|170|3345|2430|2715||0|0|2|0|
|You have the option of using an HTML template to format the report's margins, fonts, and so on. If you do not select a template, Access uses a pre-defined, standard report format.|6370|2400|1815|3015||0|0|1|0|
|The browser displays the report that's stored in a file on your local disk drive. This is how the report will look on the Web. If the report looks good, the final step is to transfer it to the Web site.|5460|6450|1650|3000||0|0|0|0|
|The process that you use to post files on the Web depends on your Web site hosting service. Usually the process can be completed simply by copying the file to a folder located on the Web site and creating a link to the report page.|5460|6450|1950|3000||0|0|0|0|