• the program requires a password that changes periodically; you can apply for one by contacting us
• if you are displaying a Java console while loading the applet, you can ignore the warnings;
• your browser must be Java2 enabled; if you get a blank page when attempting to run the applet, please download Java2 version 1.4x from here (the JRE is the minimum you need), or notify us.
• Macintosh users should be running OS X and do not require the Java 2 download. OS 9 does not support Java 2 and cannot be used. Please use the Safari browser because Explorer has issues that cause the applet to malfunction.

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• if there is a database EOF fault during normal operation, please dismiss it and try again - most likely due to resource-saving features in the database;
• bear in mind you are using a session-enabled applet (there is a server in the background listening to it), so if you drop out for more than 30 minutes between mouse-clicks, the server assumes you're gone and will no longer respond;
• be sure to keep an eye on the browser status line (at bottom) - it shows the reason for any delays;
• the sample database (FAA public data) is not complete - we will augment it as more server power becomes available;
• query output is limited to 500 lines to speed up the demo on dialup phone lines; this includes display of data fields in a dropdown list;
• this demonstration version does not allow you to save queries and views, or to materially alter the saved access control data;
• the first load of the applet will be slow if you are using a dialup line (~1 minute); subsequently it's faster;
• your best bet if you are a newcomer is to use Query|Listing... as your starting point;
• avoid running the applet in multiple copies of the same browser on the same workstation - use different browsers if you need to run multiple co-located sessions; the applet has been tested on IE5, NS7, Firefox and Opera;
• be nice to the server - click Query|Exit when you're done

Features of the DBsurfer/WEBserver applet

(It's not just for end-users - it's also a RAD tool for complex queries by analysts that aren't programmers.)

• relies on a self-contained application servlet server - we only use an HTML page server (to start the demo applet);
• simple drag and drop database querying (for basic users);
• automatic joins (no setup required);
• simple and advanced filtering of data with just a few mouseclicks;
• database image retrieval and display (.gif and .jpeg only);
• expression designer keypad for calculated values within, or across database entities;
• relationship filtering (cross-reference analysis for advanced users and query wizards);
• virtual entities (encapsulate simple/complex queries as single entities);
• virtual links ('to go where no ad-hoc query tool has gone before');
• reports in HTML, incorporating on-the-fly sorts, repeated value suppression, totals, subtotals, subcounts and subaverages;
• formal end-user report designer and page previewer with print feature (incomplete, test version);
• export to Excel spreadhseets (for analysis, charting);
• federated queries (to combine information across databases and across the Web);
• currently supports Oracle, Sybase, SQLserver, Postgres, mySQL, DB2 UDB;
• charting designer that allows placing charts in reports;
• crosstab analysis with output to either HTML or Excel;
• more support, features are on the drawing board...
• For developers - implement your own interface to this functionality with Java, Delphi, C++, or any .NET compatible IDE. The application server is written in Java, has a small footprint, is fast, and responds to optimized SOAP/XML messages.

Let us know if there is something you'd like to see on this list (sometimes we have 24-hr turnaround time.)