| |
Static Pages |
Server Generated Pages |
Java Grids |
Browsinform |
| Technology Used to View
the Information |
Standard browser; can use LAN, WAN, Intranet or Internet |
Standard browser; requires Internet or Intranet access and a Web
Server |
Standard browser; can use LAN, WAN, Intranet or Internet |
Standard browser; can use LAN, WAN, Intranet or
Internet |
| Tools to generate the
pages |
Database built-in utilities, third-party utilities, or
manually |
Specialized CGI, JSP, ASP, ColdFusion or similar technology |
Either using Java APIs or applet parameters |
Automatic based on parameter declarations |
| Generation tools usable
by Non-programmers |
Yes |
No |
Usually No, but depends on the program |
Yes |
| Flexibility for the
user / features |
Very little: lists cannot be sorted nor searches refined |
As much as provided by the back-end server programs; usually very
flexible for the user |
Comparable to the Server-based solution for searches in the most
advanced packages, but may be limited in lower-end packages (e.g., ability to
search on keywords only, no listbox or checkbox capabilities).
|
Comparable to the Server-based solution, i.e. maximum flexibility
allows for easy searches and sorts on any column. |
| Ability to update Look
and Feel |
Limited with utilities, practically none with manual
generation |
Excellent, but requires costly programming |
Very limited, although some programs allow you to specify simple
things like colors and cell widths |
Very good: simply adjust the preferences using the
parameters |
| Access to rapidly
changing data |
None |
Excellent since it connects directly to the database |
Delayed because an intermediary file needs to be generated |
Flexible: can either connect to the database, or use an
intermediary file "batch" generated from the database |
| Require users' browser
configuration |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Access
speed |
Excellent, although since large lists cannot be filtered, the
display time can become significant for large amounts of data |
Good to Very Good, depending on the connection speed; faster than
static pages when only a subset of the master list is displayed.
Each new query and sort requires regeneration of the list from the server,
i.e. each sorting is as slow or fast as the first access.
|
Good to Very Good, depending on the connection speed.
The initial access depends on the connection speed since the entire data is
read into the browser; further searches and sorts are executed within the
browser, without reconnection to the server, hence are very fast.
|
Good to Very Good, depending on the connection speed.
The initial access depends on the connection speed since the entire data is
read into the browser; further searches and sorts are executed within the
browser, without reconnection to the server, hence are very fast.
|
| Can be used on a CD-ROM
or by PCs not connected to the network (e.g. field laptops) |
Yes |
No (web server on PC or modem to the server would be needed) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Cost to
develop |
Low |
High to very high |
Low, depending on the complexity of the interface |
Very low |
| Implementation
Methods |
Generate the HTML pages from the database. Requires minimal
knowledge of the tool. This generates a set of files that can then be
incorporated in the site.
The page generation can also be done with custom designed programs to tailor
the display to exact specifications
|
The program that connects to the database and generates the page
(CGI, ASP, etc.), needs to be written by a programmer. Once the program is
written, no action needed, as each page is generated as it is requested by the
users |
Uses Java to display the pages. Some products allow you to
specify query forms within or outside of the displayed table. |
Both the query form and the result pages are generated
automatically by Browsinform. |
| Results presentation |
Leverages the browser's capabilities, e.g., printing, hyperlinks,
graphics/image display
|
Leverages the browser's capabilities, e.g., printing, hyperlinks,
graphics/image display
|
May be limited to the display capabilities of the program (usually not as
rich as the browser's)
|
Leverages the browser's capabilities, e.g., printing, hyperlinks,
graphics/image display |
| Custom queries and processing |
not available
|
Requires new programming of the back-end
|
no
|
You can add Java classes or JavaScript functions to customize the
behavior |