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Technical
Notes on the visual|catalogues System
visual|catalogues
creator modules
The
three visual|catalogues
creator modules are Windows applications that have been tested and
run on Windows 95,98,NT4,2000,XP. The data entry interface for the
software uses an MS Access mdb file to hold the data you add. MS
Access does not have to be loaded on the computer the software
is installed on. When publishing the software builds a flat file database
for you to distribute with your catalogue. The container mdb file is
not distributed
Note
that the system is structured so that it can be linked to
other SQL databases if required, for example to MS SQL Server* for
very large or existing databases. It also imports CSV files.
The
software allows catalogues to be published to a hard drive for CD
cutting, or will link to your Internet site, using in-built ftp functions.
The system keeps a track of what you have uploaded to your site, and
by default on update only copies over those entries that have been
added or changed.
For
good reason
the system makes use of Internet Explorer dll's for document (HTML)
viewing, and movie and image viewing, and therefore requires a full
installation of Microsoft Internet Explorer ( ie5, ie6 or ie7*) on
the computer(s) being used to create and test your catalogue. This
applies to both the catalogue creation modules, which are Windows
based, and the Windows versions of the catalogue viewing interfaces.
The Java applet viewer allows viewing and use in other operating
environments. The latest Java Runtime executable can always be
obtained from http://www.java.com
Searches
Searches
are generated from user input keywords. Building keyword searches
using the system, generates a flat file database that is used
by both the Windows viewing interface, and the Java applet viewer.
This flat file database is also suitable for storage on any internet
server platform. Over the Internet searches are accessed by our cgi
executable (.exe) file, that needs to be compiled for the server it
is run on. The
search engine limits are 232
cross-linked keyword references in a
single catalogue or group of catalogues.
Java
and Internet Viewing
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Security Issues...
There
is an issue that applies to keyword searchable versions of our
catalogue system only. Many ISP's (Internet Service Providers) do not
allow executable files to be stored and run on the same computer that
holds user's web pages, and instead provide a seperate computer that
holds a "cgi-bin" where cgi files and scripts are held. The
issue is that security setting in the main Internet browsers (such as
IE and Netscape) will not allow a Java applet to access files on a
seperate computer from the one that holds the web page the applet was
called from, without special permissions being set. If our have your
own server this is not a problem. If you dont we may be able to help.
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