Technical Details

At present, the databases are maintained offline using Microsoft Access. When an update is required, the results of a special "query" are exported to a data file which is then transferred to the database data area at Abbot's Place. A switch to online databases that users can update is under consideration.

The current version of the databases requires a Java-enabled browser capable of executing version 1.0.2 of the Java API. Any version of Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer from 3.0 up should be able to use these databases.

The database "engine" will automatically load when the page containing it is requested by your browser. As with any Java applet, gray rectangles will be displayed until all the Java components are ready. Once the database engine is ready, the Load the Database buttons will appear.

Immediately after the engine loads, it will begin pre-loading the databases themselves. In many cases, the databases will be loaded and ready by the time you click a Load the Database button. If the selected database isn't ready, a small window will continually display the progress as the records are loaded.

The Abbot's Place Database engine is built around Catalog View 1.0 from AST A/S of Aarhus, Denmark. AST recently announced Catalog View Pro and at the same time re-released Catalog View 1.0 as "freeware." Catalog View Pro wasn't chosen for this project because it actually offers less searching flexibility, requires newer browsers, and causes Internet Explorer to pop up a certificate verification each time the database is loaded.

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