Web-based database service

A MAJOR force behind the Net's phenomenal success and its fast penetration among the public is the multiple Net services that facilitate communication and collaborative work such as e-mail, mailing lists and instant messenger. The on-line database management service of `Quickbase', that helps you create/edit/publish/ share a database on the Net is an innovative product with many features that make it yet another good collaboration tool.

Database management system

It is common knowledge that the availability of right information at the right time (to the right person of course!) is a major requirement for any endeavour to succeed in this world of information-based systems. We convert raw data into useful information products using an `information processing system' - this can be manual or computerised. A database can be regarded as a computerised information processing system that helps you store/edit/organise data and provides you the necessary tools to retrieve different kinds of information from it.

If you want to have a better idea of the database concept check out the link at bizcenter.net/ dpec/ courses/ dbc/ contents.htm.

Creating a database and developing the necessary tools to navigate it generally call for the services of a skilled person, which is a costly proposition for small businesses/professionals. Herein lies the importance of the web-based database service, `Quickbase' that provides necessary facilities to create/manage/host a database on-line. The service presents the user with the necessary tools to build customised navigation tools to retrieve information from the database. Through these highly user friendly tools, database creation and management becomes a simple task even for an ordinary user. Besides creating a database system this way, the service allows you to share the same with your colleagues/friends/clients and further enhance your interaction with them.

Database creation through Quickbase

Access the service at quickbase.com and sign-up with it. Once the sign-up process is over, you will get an e-mail message with a link that can take you to the `My QuickBase' page - your personal page - in the Quickbase service. To create a database, click at the `Create a New DataBase' button; now you can either create the database from scratch or start building it using the templates already defined by the `Quickbase' for some standard applications.

If you want to share this database with others, use the `Share' button and make the necessary adjustments in the sharing parameters. You can either make the new database sharable with the whole world or with a select group of persons. The service also provides the facility to help you set-up the database in such a way that full or part of it can be edited by other users specified by you. Another notable feature is the availability of the option for automatic e-mail notification when records are modified or added. The author has created a small demo database that can be accessed at quickbase.com/db/7adxprig

Perhaps you may be wondering about the cost factor to create/publish a database this way. You can create and publish up to three databases free of cost. If you want to host more than that you will have to part with some money - for details look at the Quickbase site.

Some possible uses

The most important aspect of this service is that it helps even an ordinary person without programming/database skills to create/publish/share his/her database on the fly. The whole process is so effortless that even a completely 'raw' hand will not take much time to accomplish the task. Some of the possible fields in which this technology can be deployed are:

Suppose you have a personal library, which has got interesting collections that may be useful for your colleagues who collaborate with you in a project. To keep them informed of the details of the materials available in your library, you can create a database of the books/periodicals and send the link to them so that they can access your library collection details through the web.

In this way a doctor can publish the details of his/her patients' case history so that other doctors who have treated similar patients can share their experience with him/her.

In fact, we can find a number of places where this technology can be intelligently used so that we can exploit the richness of the collaborative component of the service.

Limitations

The Quickbase is not a full-fledged database management system and you cannot use it to develop huge database applications. Another possible area of concern is the security of your data - in the present scenario where the Net companies go bankrupt overnight; this aspect becomes quite important

SirCam Virus

In the last few weeks, I have been receiving strange e-mails that contained strange sentences. Initially, I was rather taken aback by the sudden inflow of letters of this kind; but after a quick analysis, I realised that it was the handiwork of the new virus SirCam, which is playing havoc with the poor netizens' life. What makes it different from other similar e-mail worms is that apart from sending copies of itself to all addresses available in the infected machine's address book, it collects a file from the infected machine's hard disk randomly and sends this file as attachment - now you know how some people's personal materials/letters reached my mailbox.

If you want to know more details on this virus please check out the links: norman.com/ virus-info/w32-sircam.shtml; and fireantivirus.com/virusinfo/library/sircam.htm (brought to my attention by an ISP's customer care). Please note that the author has not tested the solutions suggested in the above web pages.

Update: CBT module creator

A few weeks ago, this column featured some utilities that let you create animated training/demonstration modules - refer The Hindu of June 14. HyperCam is another program that falls in this category of computer based training (CBT) module creators. This program captures the screen shots from your monitor and it allows you to save these frames as a standard AVI (Audio-Video Interleaved) format movie file.

A file created in this format can be played through a popular audio-video player (like Windows Media Player). This means you do not need to have any proprietary viewer to watch the show. The program can be used to develop high quality presentation modules and software tutorials. A trial version of the software can be downloaded from the site: hyperionics.com.

J. MURALI

(The author can be contacted at: murali27@satyam.net.in)

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