I have a large dictionary-like database, (16,000 entries in abc order) that I'd like to have be searchable online. It's in Excel format.

I'm able to paste one type of search facility online - which looks for web pages within a specified domain, but it pulls up a list of web pages - which is not what I'm aiming for.

Instead, I'd like to designate a column of the Excel file as searchable (let's say column A) and have the software bring up all corresponding matches and their definitions - within the dictionary format.

Software recommendations are appreciated, particularly if they're freeware.

I'm also open to hiring someone to do the service, but am low income, so could only compensate by trade - magazines, books, whatever - or services that I offer like editing, publishing, etc.

By far the easiest way would be to export your data into a mySql database using CSV or XML and then using PHP to access the database. Mysql is supported by many hosting companies and is often included as standard. To do the import to a mysql database you can use phpmyamin which is a free script. This sounds pretty complicated but in fact programs like Dreamweaver will generate all the necessary code.

Other options would be something like Spry XML datasets from Adobe which again would generate all the code provided the source file was in XML format.

There are also many other ways this could be done using various server side scripts or even javascript.

Hope this helps

SQLite is another option

http://th2.php.net/sqlite

Thanks to Phuket Mike. I transferred what you wrote to a file - for reference.

I must admit it looks daunting to a digitally challenged person like me. I can understand analog things like manual can openers and nail clippers.

If Mike or someone similarly adept could assist in the process (of rendering my database searchable online) then I'd be glad to trade something for the favor. Ordinarily, I'd also be glad to pay, though I'm not ordinary and money's tight for me at this time. I got mags I could trade: Discover, Nat'l Geographic, and others.

The easiest way to do this is to use the excel odbc connector supplied with excel. Drop it on your wesite and you can connect to excel flat database.