|
|
 |
 |
|
When publishers generate CD-ROM products using the Pathways CD-ROM Publisher, they place their data
files on a CD-ROM along with software developed by Pathways. The software provides buyers a user interface
that will allow them to easily access and use the publisher's data. The software provided, allows buyers
to perform various functions including the following:
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Viewing summary information for those companies
included on the CD-ROM. Typically, publishers
provide a facility that allows buyers to quickly review
name, address, and phone information
for those
companies included in the CD-ROM directory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Viewing expanded data listings for companies
included on the CD-ROM. When creating the
CD-ROM product, publishers define which data
elements are to be shown in the expanded view,
as well as the order and format to be used for
data presentation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sending Email to an address associated with
a company listed in the directory. If an email
address is available for a company, buyers
may access their default email software by
clicking on an icon within the Pathways software.
When this is done, the buyer's email software
will be loaded, and a new email message will
be addressed to the email address for the
company currently being viewed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accessing a company's web site. If a web
address is available for a company listed in
the directory, buyers may access their default
web browser software by clicking on an icon
within the Pathways software. When this is
done, the buyer's browser software will be
loaded,
and the URL address for the company
currently being viewed will be accessed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Marking" companies that are important to the
buyer. Buyers can place a "mark" in the database
record for any number of companies. When installing
a new release of the CD-ROM product, buyer
will be given the option of retaining or clearing
any previous marks placed in the database.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Applying notes to company records. Buyers
can place notes in the database record for
any company. When installing a new release
of the CD-ROM product, buyer will be given
the
option of retaining or clearing any previous
notes placed in the database.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Defining selection criteria and running queries
to produce subsets of the database. Once
a subset
has been selected, the buyer will be provided with
a count of the number of records
meeting the
selection criteria. The user may then view the
summary or expanded data for those
companies
that have been selected. Buyer may also be
allowed to generate mailing labels or
produce
electronic files containing information about
the selected companies. Selection criteria
that have been defined may be saved
for future use. When a buyer is ready to run
the
same type of selection in the future, they
may use the load function to retrieve the previously
saved selection criteria. When installing a new
release of the CD-ROM product, buyer will
be
given the option of retaining or clearing any
previously saved selection criteria.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Producing mailing labels for all, or selected
subsets of, companies found in the CD-ROM
directory database. There are some 10-20
formats available for mailing label generation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Producing electronic exportation files for all,
or selected subsets of, companies found
in
the CD-ROM directory database. Buyers
may define custom output layouts for files
that are to be generated, and may select
from a number of common output formats,
including
but not limited to, DBF, Excel
Spreadsheet, comma delimited, tab delimited,
and fixed format.
The software also provides
a facility that allows buyers to generate printed
file documentation
for any electronic files they create.
|
|
|
|
|
