Freedombase Features

The primary features of Freedombase can be listed under three approximate headings; Development Features; Finished System Features; and Administration Features. Some features apply under more than one area; however, rather than create duplication, each feature has been listed only once.

Development Features

Freedombase Designer	A Web based developer interface. All development and maintenance of Web systems can be performed over the Internet, using a standard Web browser based interface called the Freedombase Designer. Equivalent command line commands are also provided, and can be used instead if preferred.
Web enablement of existing applications	Freedombase will derive the structure of existing classes/tables; allow the designer/developer to check and modify the derived structure if necessary; and then create all necessary back end processes, and Web pages, in order to Web enable existing data structures. Code can also be added to tie in existing subroutines and functions, incorporating existing business logic, and creating Web based versions of existing applications.
Development of new systems	New systems can be developed, and business logic added, using the same toolset as for Web enabling existing systems, allowing reusability and maximising transference of skill sets.
Equates	Equate include files are created and maintained automatically, making integration with custom code easier.
Business logic	Both derivation and validation business rules can be applied in a simple BASIC like language; code can also be written to apply complex logic, or to tie in with existing functions or subroutines. A cascade function provides automatic 'related' updates to any number of levels.
HTML web templates	Freedombase creates and uses default Web pages that provide view, search, drill, update, and delete access to data. The Web pages are HTML pages with Freedombase tags, that can be edited in any stylesheet compatible HTML editor. Freedombase compiles those templates into code, interpreting the tags as appropriate. New pages can be created, and existing pages modified, through an HTML editor and then integrated/compiled into code that perform the appropriate functions. This makes it easy to integrate pages created by professional Web developers, and to integrate with existing Web pages and styles.
Web template flexibility	To provide further flexibility and differently controlled integration with Web templates, simple BASIC like expressions can be integrated into Web templates. For more complex requirements, separate code can also be created and integrated, providing total flexibility, and code-driven control over templates when necessary. For ease of development and consistency, includes can be used to share common HTML between pages, and the includes can be recursive.
Default Web styles	Different default styles can be created by developers, so that the default Web pages created by Freedombase can conform to different styles as required. Once created, developers can also modify the Web pages as desired to further customise the Web interface.
On line help	On line help pages, accessible through the Freedombase Designer, define all commands, pages and options, and include examples.
Training	The on line help pages include a self training section, where developers new to Freedombase can work their way through creating their first system. By the end of the self training, developers will be able to create systems through Freedombase, and will be able to Web enable existing systems using Freedombase.

Finished System Features

Security	Integrated security can be quickly and easily applied, controlling who can see what, and where they can see it.
Audit trail	An automatic update and delete audit trail is always maintained, and a view audit trail can also be optionally maintained.
User/Session control	User login and password authentication, optionally limited by IP address; definable anonymous access with appropriate access limits; definable timeout; definable login attempts with incorrect password before the user id is locked out; definable automatic resetting of user id after a lockout; and manual resetting of user id after a lockout, are all standard features.
Data integrity	Transparent and automatic optimistic locking to prevent accidental data loss; relational integrity; business logic applied to all updates and deletes; and cascade function to apply multiple level updates, without requiring custom code.
Drill, Search, Select and Sort	Drill, Search, Select, and Sort are provided automatically without requiring coding. The capacity to drill up or down to related data. Searching on any field or fields, including a new search, expand/or search, shrink/and search, and invert/not search. The capacity to select from a pop-up list/page for related fields, and the capacity to sort tables by any field or fields. All or any of these can be removed from pages if deemed necessary.
Save and Delete	Save and delete functionality are provided automatically without requiring coding. All validation and derivation business logic defined will be applied, and the save or delete will only proceed if business logic validation is passed, and relational integrity will be maintained. Either of both the save and the delete functionality can be removed from the page if deemed necessary.
Choice of interface modes	To provide maximum functionality with minimal overhead, each Web page created through Freedombase can be run in one of three modes; Lite, Online, and GUI. The Web pages are the same; the pages sense what mode they are running in, and operate accordingly.
Lite mode	Lite mode operates in normal Internet fashion; interaction with the server only occurs when the user specifically requests it. Lite mode is intended for users with a slow Internet connection.
Online mode	Online mode provides automatic lookup and retrieval of records or data once the key has been fully entered, and is a partial implementation of GUI features, using a standard Web browser and HTTP.
GUI mode	GUI mode provides both automatic lookup and retrieval of records or data once the key has been fully entered, and integrated server based derivation and validation of specific fields or data. GUI mode is an implementation of the most important GUI features, using a standard Web browser and HTTP.
Browser Compatibility	All functions on Freedombase Web pages are compatible with all major browsers. All pages operate the same on all major browsers regardless of what browser the page is being run on. Freedombase Web pages require a JavaScript compatible browser to operate. In addition, GUI mode requires a Frames compatible browser to operate.
Full Screen or Handheld	All Web pages by default will run in either full screen or small screen/handheld mode, depending on an option chosen when logging in, allowing applications created through Freedombase to operate on virtually any device that supports a fully featured Web browser.

Administration Features

Audit trail search and display	Both the update/delete and the view audit trails can be searched and the data displayed through the Freedombase Designer.
Flexible roll forward and roll back	Any update or delete recorded in the Audit Trail can be rolled forward or back, in any order, as long as doing so would not result in business logic validation errors or relational integrity errors. Derivation business logic and cascade processing is applied to all rolled forward or rolled back data. Each separate update or delete that has been recorded in the audit trail is it's own transaction that can be individually rolled, allowing great flexibility in rolling forward and rolling back.
XML support	Freedombase can both import and export data in XML or CSV format, including tools specifically designed to allow for complete backup and restore of data.
Migration support	Freedombase includes tools to export and import Data Definitions, a means of easily migrating meta data/systems developed through Freedombase, as well as data.