Running
the demonstration applet
- 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.
- 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.)