Contact:
Jesse Odell
The Ford Odell Group
Santa Rosa, CA
Santa Rosa, CA, September 10, 1996 HREF Tools Corp., an interactive
web tools provider, today announced the release of WebHub[tm]
Early Experience Package (EEP) 8.9. Based on the object-oriented
technology of Borlandís Delphi 2.0, WebHub EEP 8.9 is a
web application development tool that allows developers to put
database information on the web without traditional cgi programming
for both internal corporate intranets and the public internet.
The new version integrates several highly functional components
which perform various tasks including database field lookup, full
record display, VRML support and e-mail generation. WebHub sites
run on the Windows platform.
"Because of WebHub's solid, extensible architecture, we can
now easily add support for code-free database publishing,î
said HREF Tools Chief Operations Officer and WebHub developer
Michael Ax[1]. Said Ax, ìWith EEP 8.9 weíve added
to an already industrial-strength product to give our customers
advanced business solutions they can use today. Databases are
the fundamental driving force behind any business application.
WebHub EEP 8.9 puts databases on the Web, with a technology that
is flexible and powerful enough for any application.î
WebHub EEP 8.9 New Features:
Enhancing support for reporting and data-entry web applications,
WebHub EEP 8.9 adds a TwhdbForm component which generates HTML
for viewing or editing a database record. The database can be
any one that Delphi connects to, including Access, dBase, Paradox,
Oracle, Sybase, Informix and Interbase. TwhdbForm is one of
many "web action" components in the architecture, all
of which share important functionality. Full source is provided
to this new module, providing developers with full flexibility
as well as a model for their own add-on web action components.
For businesses that want to maintain their page content in a database
rather than in .html files, WebHub EEP 8.9 makes it easy to publish
and maintain that data.
WebHub includes a component for code-free e-mail from web sites.
For example, businesses ask customers specific questions on a
structured HTML page. When the surfer clicks the [submit] button,
that information is automatically e-mailed to the appropriate
address. As of EEP 8.9, configuration data regarding recipient,
sender, subject, etc. is handled automatically through an .ini
file for easy maintenance and remote administration.
WebHub's established technology for tracking the surfer has been
extended to the VRML file format, so that clicks within the world
integrate with the cgi environment.
WebHubís architecture defines a web site as a collection
of individually defined pages. With EEP 8.9, HREF has expanded
this definition so that grids, e-mail, and other ìactionsî
can be executed without a supporting page construct, making even
more generic sites possible.
EEP 8.9 makes it even easier to create sites with sequences of
explanatory pages that a surfer is encouraged to follow. Graphical
links are generated automatically.
The WebHub System
WebHub EEP 8.9 builds on the functionality of previous versions.
It is designed to give web developers a flexible tool for creating
dynamic, interactive web sites. WebHub includes over 30 web-specific
components which can be combined to create an unlimited number
of applications for interactive sites. Its major components handle
the following critical tasks:
Save State
WebHub adds state to the web's HTTP protocol. It automatically recalls and restores surfer input for the entire length of a web session so that information entered by the surfer on one page of the site, is automatically integrated to all subsequent pages visited during the session. In the context of database applications, WebHub supports tables and queries with scrollable result-sets and surfer-specific attributes for field and sort order.
The components encapsulate multi-surfer complexities as part of
the overall save-state mechanism. WebHub's save-state capability
is inherited by any custom "web action" component, enabling
full-featured, multi-surfer web applications. Programming ustomizations
are done using Delphi (Object Pascal).
Track Surfers Individually
WebHub automatically assigns an anonymous ID number to each visiting
surfer. This ID remains as part of each subsequent URL for the
entire web session. Since the underlying architecture tracks
the surfer and his or her data, developers are free to focus on
unique application features. Running shopping cart applications,
monitoring surfer responses to particular pages and/or images
in the site and implementing high level security for sites with
sensitive, corporate database information become routine.
Handle Multiple, Simultaneous Requests for High Traffic Sites
WebHubís architecture includes three programs (a Runner,
an App and a Hub) which monitor surfer requests and efficiently
control the entire interaction between the surfer and the site.
The webmaster can simply run 5, 10, or more ìinstancesî
of the same application and the hub will take care of distributing
surfer requests to the least busy instance. Additional requests
are queued instead of endlessly using up system resources.
Separate HTML from Programming Code
In traditional web development models, application code is embedded
within the HTML document. WebHubís technology allows Delphi
programmers and HTML artists working on an interactive site to
work independently. This allows for true teamwork among various
specialists working on a project, and saves a great deal of time
and expense in maintaining the site.
Pricing and Availability
WebHub EEP 8.9 is shipping this week from HREF Tools Corp. It
is also available for download through the HREF web site: http://www.href.com/.
The price of WebHub EEP 8.9 is $575 for the complete bundle, including
all components and the Hub System. This price is for as many as
5 Web Apps in parallel. Additional licenses can be purchased in
groups of five, up to $1950 for unlimited use on a server.
Product Requirements
WebHub EEP 8.9 requires NT 3.51+, Borland's Delphi 2.0 for custom
development, and a Windows web server supporting ISAPI, cgi-bin
or cgi-win -- such as Microsoft IIS, Netscape, WebSite, and Purveyor.
FOR EDITORS AND REPORTERS:
Additional product and corporate information, demos and free trial-downloads
are available to you on the HREF site, at http://www.href.com/.
To receive an evaluation copy of WebHub EEP 8.9, please contact
HREFís media contact Jesse Odell at 707/576-8149.
WebHub is a trademark of HREF Tools Corp. All other marks are
the property of their respective holders.
Please note, the version shipping now as 8.86 includes all functionality listed here as EEP 8.9 except that the release notes have not been integrated into the User Manual.
[1]
Michael Ax co-founded HREF Tools Corp., wrote WebHub version "EEP" through version 2.005,
from September 1995 to July 2001; ran HREF Tools from January 2000 to July 2001;
and has since moved on to a new phase of his life.
[1]
