Question:
Can I retrieve data from a text file instead of querying an Access database?

Answer:
Yes, you can access a text file from an ASP page. Use the FileSystemObject COM component that ships with IIS.

First, create a FileSystemObject object.

   Dim fs, f, strOneLine   Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Next, create a TextStream Object out of the FileSysemObject.

   Set f = fs.OpenTextFile("c:	estfile.txt", 1,0)   ' -- in above code,   ' -- 1 = for reading   ' -- 0 = TriStateFalse

Read lines from the TextStream Object. Use the AtEndOfStream property to make sure you are not at end of file.

   Do While f.AtEndOfStream <> True          strOneLine = F.ReadLine          ' -- do something with your line   Loop

Finally, close all your objects.

   F.Close   Set f = Nothing   Set fs = Nothing