A: The eCriteria web database engine is still used to power our web-hosted databases, but now we've added complete applications in addition to do-it-yourself web databases. In recognition of this signficant evolution of our product, we decided to rebrand the service using a name that is more descriptive of what we do: HostedDatabase.com. We're still the quality, and dependable provider of web-hosted software services we've always been, just better.

Q: What is the difference between an application and a database?

A: Simply put, a database in the eCriteria database engine sense is a collection of information such as a product inventory, customer list, employee roster, or on the personal side, a girl's soccer team roster, church members, or class reunion attendee list. The structure of a simple database is a series of rows and columns of data. For example, a row in a customer list database might contain all the information describing a specific customer such as company name, address, phone number, credit limit, etc. Each data element, e.g. company name, represents a column (often called a "field") in the database. You can think of a database as a tabular set of data much like you'd find in an Excel spreadsheet.

An application is quite different from a database. An application is a ready-made piece of software that is based on a database, but includes data entry forms, query displays, and reports. Applications are more complex than databases because they provide more services. In terms of the eCriteria database engine, applications utilize a relational database, whereas databases are simple flat files. The most important difference is that databases are user created (you define all the fields), whereas applications are pre-defined consisting of a set group of data fields.

Q: Where do I start?

A: A good place to start is to click on the "REGISTER" link on our homepage in order to try out our FREE 30-day trial account. The trial account offers full HostedDatabase.com access including applications and databases. If you plan to use applications, just click on the "Create a new application" tool in your Control Panel. In seconds, you'll have an application ready for you to use.

To begin the process of publishing your own web database, you can go through our click-through demo which is available from our How To page. The demo will illustrate the process in a step by step sequence. Then you can go to the Control Panel where you can create a new web database. Once the database is created, you can simply access it through the HostedDatabase.com website, or you can attach the database to your website. You can learn how to link to HostedDatabase.com by reading the "Linking to HostedDatabase.com" How To article.

Q: How many applications can I have?

A: You can create as many application as you wish. There is no limit. For instance, you can create multiple Contact Management applications, one for your small business, and another for your charity food drive. Plus, we'll keep offering new applications for you to use. You're free to use them all, or any one that is useful to you.

Q: Are there any limitations on the use of applications?

A: Application usage is based on the "user seat" fee model. This simply means that the more users that access your applications, the more you pay. In the simplest case, you have one user accessing one or more applications, and you pay $19.00 per month. If you need more users, you can go all the way up to 50 users and beyond. The only other limitation is the total amount of database storage used by your application(s). By default, you can store a total of 20MB of data across all your applications. If you need more data storage, you can purchase additional increments and pay on a monthly basis.

Q: What is a Data Author?

A: A Data Author is an administrative user of HostedDatabase.com web-hosted database services who has created a web database using our web Database Publishing Wizard. As a Data Author, you have three levels of service: Standard, Premium, or Enterprise.

Q: What is a Data User?

A: A Data User is a person who uses any database hosted by HostedDatabase.com. Data Users do not need a HostedDatabase.com account. Typically, a Data User enters the name of the database for which access is desired from the "Use Database" page. A password may be required to access a database, but only if the Data Author requires one.

Q: How big can my database be? Is there a limit, and what if I exceed the limit?

A: A database can vary in size depending on the number of data records stored inside. Standard accounts may have up to 2.5 megabytes of aggregate data storage. You can have multiple databases with your Standard account as long as the total space does not exceed the limit. If your aggregate database size is larger than the limit, then you must upgrade to either a Premium or Enterprise account with which you get more database storage space.

Q: How can I add a Web database to my existing Web site?

A: Easy! Just create your database here on HostedDatabase.com and include an HTML "hyperlink" from your site over to HostedDatabase.com (we have complete instructions in the How To section of our site). When your users click on the link, they'll see the Criteria Page (or data entry page if you created a data entry style database) and may immediately access your database. You don't have to learn Web or database programming to add database content to your site.

Q: How can I securely share databases within my corporate department?

A: Our Enterprise capabilities are for you! With HostedDatabase.com Enterprise, you have a complete and secure data collaboration facility where you can set-up and maintain groups of users who you can require to "login" to your database to add, or modify their data records. For example, you easily could build a HostedDatabase.com database for keeping record travel schedules.

Q: How much web page customization does HostedDatabase.com allow?

A: HostedDatabase.com provides different levels of customization depending on the type of account. Standard accounts can create web databases with the same functionality as Premium accounts, but are limited in customizing the look-and-feel of the database. Databases created by HostedDatabase.com Standard accounts will show HostedDatabase.com's large logo, small logo, and outside banner advertisements. All Premium and Enterprise accounts have two options for customization: (1) They can link to their HostedDatabase.com database by pasting a link on their website. The Web form, search criteria page, and/or search results page will show a graphic (such as a logo) that the Data Author uploaded to HostedDatabase.com, and a small graphic that says "Database Powered By HostedDatabase.com." (2) Premium and Enterprise accounts can opt for an even more seamless integration with their website by using the HTML code that HostedDatabase.com generates for web input forms and search criteria forms as a starting point. By using a favorite HTML editor to modify and customize the HTML, Premium and Enterprise accounts can smoothly integrate the Web database into a new or existing page on their website. By modifying the HostedDatabase.com-generated HTML form code, Premium and Enterprise accounts can add pull down lists, radio buttons, checkboxes, and more to their web forms..

Q: What kind of information can I publish in my web database?

A: HostedDatabase.com works with plain-text files and XML, so you can use the export feature of any of your favorite Windows, Mac, or Unix applications to generate data for HostedDatabase.com. Our Data Authors publish data from Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, Outlook, and many more. Some Data Authors even publish data from their wireless devices on the web.

Q: Once I publish my database, how can I maintain it?

A: Every Data Author has her own Control Panel containing data maintenance tools. From here, you can create a new database, add/edit/delete records in an existing database, delete a database, or download data. Once published, you have complete and secure control over your database.

Q: How are database search results displayed?

A: Search results can be displayed in one of three ways: (1) Table view, (2) Form view, (3) Summary View. Table view shows multiple records on a page, and stretches across horizontally on the page. This is great for members who want to allow people to view the search results in a tabular, spreadsheet-like format. Form view shows one record on a page at a time, and is useful for Web databases with many fields. All the content in scrollable text boxes will be printable and viewable through Form view. Summary View shows multiple records at a time, with only the fields selected by the HostedDatabase.com member to show as a "summary." The database user can then click on "View records," which links to a view of the complete record, in form view.

Q: What if I want my databases to be private?

A: During the HostedDatabase.com authoring process, you can assign a password to your database so that only you and your users can see it. You also have the opportunity to mark your database as private or public. A public database is one that anyone can search. Enterprise accounts have additional security capabilities.

Q: What is XML?

A: Otherwise known as the Extensible Markup Language, XML is a coding system that allows any type of information to be delivered across the World Wide Web. XML offers the prospect of allowing a wide range of applications to be distributed through the Web, and thus will increasingly become a powerful utility for data communications. More and more software applications are able to import and export XML. With a Premium or Enterprise account you can upload XML to HostedDatabase.com, or download your database from HostedDatabase.com in XML format to your desktop PC.

Q: Do I need to turn on my cookies?

A: Yes, HostedDatabase.com requires users to turn on cookies in their Web browser software.

Q: Why should I use HostedDatabase.com?

A: By using HostedDatabase.com you can "virtualize" your business or personal data and publish it as part of your website. You can also share your data with others. By using HostedDatabase.com, you'll save the time and expense of hiring a programmer or web consultant, all without needing to know about databases or programming.

Q: How can I ever thank you for this super service!?

A: Just tell your friends and associates about us and have them publish their data too. We're hoping our customers will publish all sorts of interesting and useful databases. If you believe you have an interesting database, please let us know about it: support@eCriteria.net.