Forms that work on both the Web and the desktop; Keeping the ‘Net connection on dial-up

* Dr. Internet columnist Steve Blass suggests Formatta for depoloying identical forms to the Web and desktop * Help Desk columnist Ron Nutter offers advice on how to keep a ‘Net connection on dial-up

* Forms that work on both the Web and the desktop

By Steve Blass

Q: Are tools available that can deploy the same data-collection forms to the Web and desktop? Both sets should be generated from a single source model, and the desktop version should be able to post data to the same back end used by the Web version.

A: Check out Formatta, which has the most robust commercial offering for deploying identical forms to the Web and desktop. The client application is free. The server-side application

To read Steve’s response in its entirety, please click here.

* Keeping the ‘Net connection on dial-up

By Ron Nutter

Q: Is there a way you can have dial access to the ‘Net yet not block your incoming phone calls? Also, without knocking yourself off the connection to the net when the phone call is over? I guess I am asking, is there a way to be on the net but not miss phone calls and not mess up the ‘Net session when you go onto the phone? If so, how do you do it? Is there some hardware or software that will accomplish this?

A: The first question to ask your Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) if they offer something called Call Waiting Caller ID. It may be offered under a slightly different name but should be fairly close what I have used for the name of the service. Just because you have Caller ID doesn’t mean that the other service is available or is turned on for your particular phone line.

To read Ron’s response in its entirety, please click here.