## Web product features

### Efficient delivery of report pages

To efficiently deliver reports, the Web Component Server uses the Page On Demand feature. This feature enables report pages to be delivered when requested. Sometimes a user may only need one or two pages of information out of a 100 page report. Rather than tie up your network by frequently transferring massive amounts of data, the Web Component Server delivers reports a page at a time as requested by the client.

When a report page is requested the first time the report is generated, the requested page is delivered to the client and stored in a cache. The next time the client requests the same page it is retrieved from the cache rather than being generated again.

By handling requests on a per page basis, the Web Component Server can quickly handle large numbers of requests, limiting the delay in delivery for any one single request. Caching report pages also allows report information to be shared among clients more efficiently as multiple requests for the same report do not require the report to be generated multiple times.

### Ability to drill down for more information

To easily find information, you can let users access the navigation tree. The navigation tree, which is similar to the Windows Explorer, appears within your web browser along with the appropriate Report Viewer. This enables users to expand groups and view the records associated with each of the groups. This quickly directs the user to the information they are interested in, instead of flipping through each page of the report.

### Works with your database security

Seagate Crystal Reports continues to support the security procedures you have already established over the web through the use of the Web Component Server. The Web Component Server automatically recognizes the security you have established and prompts users for IDs and passwords for reports that use ODBC and SQL data sources.

Or as an alternative, you can use the Web Component Server commands to automatically handle security through hyperlinks or other web links to reports.

### Supports stored procedures and parameter fields

Stored procedures often improve performance and data selection in large SQL databases. Additionally, Seagate Crystal Reports parameter fields can provide on-the-fly data selection inside your reports. Both of these powerful features are supported by the Web Component Server.

If your reports are based on stored procedures, or if they include Seagate Crystal Reports parameter fields, the Web Component Server automatically prompts users for parameter values when the report is generated. URL parameters in hyperlinks or HTML forms can also specify values for parameter fields or stored procedures.

### Exploits Microsoft and Netscape web server extensions

If you are using a Microsoft or Netscape web server to distribute reports, the Web Component Server can directly exploit the power of your web server through the ISAPI or NSAPI programming interfaces. The Web Component Server supports both APIs in a single file: wcsinsapi.dll. The APIs improve web application performance through direct extensions to the web server itself.

For more information on ISAPI, refer to Microsoft documentation. For more information on NSAPI, refer to Netscape documentation.

Seagate Software, Inc. http://www.seagatesoftware.com Please send comments to: techpubs@seagatesoftware.com