Web Databases Offer Advantages...

• Clients may already have data in “handy” formats

• Conversion to the web is a quick project

• Lookup databases are simple, cross-platform, and fast

• “Notecard” style records fit nicely in a browser window

Notes:

• * Most organizations in a company have any number of PC spreadsheets and databases that one person maintains and prints out for the others. Some of these databases are ancient, having been passed from down from Lotus 1-2-3 v1A files on original 5 1/4” disks, patched and updated by secretaries or summer interns over many generations.
  

• * Sometimes these represent the greater part of the institutional memory of the organization. They can be more valuable than any other policies, procedures, or other documents the group wants to publish on the web!

• * Although you can publish long tabular lists on the web using table formatting, they can be awkward to read or print.

• * Web databases have great sex appeal as elements of well-rounded web sites, and they can add interactive functionality that attracts readers.