At 05:31 PM 11/22/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Could someone who has used this website tell me
>how to make it perform a search?
>
>http://www.ris.idbsu.edu
>
>When I 'click' on the box for Enter Criteria or
>Begin Search, nothing happens. When I click on
>a keyword from the list on the right, I get a message
>saying the program does not support java
>something-or-other?
>
>Is Compuserve shortchanging me (again)?

(for the bottom line on this, go to the bottom line! :)

I posted this (rather than e-mailing privately) in case others
are interested...if not, hit delete NOW!

I just took a look, and it's using JavaScript, a programming
language embedded into .html files that run on your computer.
This means your browser needs to understand JavaScript for
it to work.

Is Compuserve shortchanging you? Well, yes and no. For the
kind of searching and the user interface this page provides,
there are programming languages one can embed into .html
files that run on *their* computer, rather than *your*
computer. That's how the "photo of the day" feature of
my web page works, a program is run when you download my
home page on my computer (well, actually, MIT's :) which
then feeds your browser a photograph which is selected by
date. By running it on *my* computer, rather than *your*
computer, I ensure that your browser doesn't need to have
any fancy pants support for programming languages.

So, yes - Compuserve is shortchanging you. Don't feel bad,
though, Java has had known security holes in the past and if
your browser is running on *your* computer, those security
holes allowed malicious web page designers to screw *your*
computer. Naughty, naughty. They think they have the holes
plugged now, but ... why use it if it can be done just as well
(in this example) by running a program on *their* computer.

So ... Computserve is also protecting you, because by not
supporting JavaScript they don't have to worry about a security
bug in their browser opening a hole that a malicious programmer
could use to do naughty things with your computer.

Many companies that run their networks behind a firewall (a special
computer that provides a security level to make the company's
computer harder to hack) don't allow Java to go through the firewall,
because in their case a security leak could compromise the network.
Oops, that would be a REALLY naughty thing to do.

So, it's a pity the raptor information center chose this route.

There are times when it is justified, i.e. painting animations
and the like where waiting for a modem makes it difficult to
do with a program on the other end of the phone line. But for
the search interface they've got, it really isn't.

Bottom line:

1) Go look at the options menu (or whatever along those
lines CompuServe's browser provide) and see if there's a submenu
or tab that lets you enable Java. Netscape, for instance, let's
you turn it on or off, so you can run Java from sites you trust,
and disable Java from strangers. In today's world, we not only
have safe sex, but safe surfing to worry about.

2) If they really, really don't support JavaScript, you could change
ISPs and download a better browser, like Netscape or even Internet
Explorer. For some reason the big network companies like Compuserve
lag in browser technology. Since even Nome, Alaska has an ISP, I
imagine Anchorage does, too? (I think that's where you live)



- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, and other goodies at
http://donb.photo.net