Key New Features

The following are the key new features of Pro Web V4.5:

• Minimum Data Entry
• Hierarchical Picklists
• XML/SOAP interface
• J2EE & .Net component
• Counter technology
• GBR Names Data (Intranet's only)
• Address Verification on the Web
• Improved Sample Code
• High Availability
• Dynamic Data Updates
• Administrator Notification
• Remote Support
• Scalable solution

Minimum Data Entry

Using QAS’ in depth knowledge of address formats and data in each of the countries supported, QAS Pro Web prompts users for the optimal amount of information in order to return a complete address. In the UK this is a house number and postcode whilst in the USA a user must enter the house number, street name and Zip Code.

QAS Pro Web 4.5 has three distinct methods of optimally capturing an address depending on the environment:

• Address Capture on the Web - Typical use: Creating a customer's address on a web site using optimal entry of information.
• Address Verification on the Web - Typical use: Verifying a customer's address as entered in full on an existing web site form.
• Address Capture on the Intranet - Typical use: Rapid entry of a customer's address either over the phone or from a coupon.

Hierarchical Picklists

Pro Web 4.5 returns results from searches with picklists that can be stepped into or refined after performing a search, thereby reducing the size of picklists that are returned. This makes selecting an address far easier and quicker for users.

XML/SOAP interface

Pro Web V4.5 provides an XML/SOAP interface that communicates with the product making it even simpler for developers to integrate.

J2EE and .NET Components

Pro Web V4.5 provides a fully compliant J2EE and signed .NET component. Associated sample code is also provided making integration a lot simpler with these technologies.

Counter Technology

Pro Web V4.5 incorporates counter technology, thereby allowing product purchase on a ‘per click’ basis.

GBR Names Data

Pro Web 4.5 for the first time provides support for GBR Names data. Thus allowing name capture from minimum address data entered within their browser based applications. Functionality is the same as standard functionality available within QAS Plug 'n'Go and API solutions.

Please note: GBR Names information cannot be returned on an Internet page due to licensing issues. Names information can only be returned within internal systems such as an Intranet.

Address Verification on the Web

Pro Web V4.5 can be integrated so that so that it can be used to verify a full address entered into existing address forms, rather than using minimum address information entered into prompt sets. In addition, integrators can choose to switch off picklists and automatically select the highest confidence match so that there will be no interaction between the end user and the product.

This solution is most useful for countries that are not familiar with the concepts of address capture.

Please note: This functionality is not available for USA data on UNIX or for USA data implemented outside of the USA. This is due to the use of the CASS engine and restrictions imposed by the USPS.

Improved Integration Code

Pro Web V4.5 is supplied with integration code to simplify the task of the developer by providing a template for the integrator to work to. The sample code illustrates what QAS deem to be “Best Practice” in terms of both integration and functionality. Web V4.5 is supplied with several different versions of sample code to cover the range of possible integrations.

High Availability

QAS Pro Web is naturally a robust solution, however if data updates are not performed regularly, data will time out and cause Pro to fail for that country data set. In such cases Pro guarantees minimal disruption to the host application or process. The supplied sample code demonstrates exactly what to do in the event of such an occurrence.

Dynamic Data Updates

In order to ensure maximum availability Pro Web can switch from an old to a new data file for a given country without any break in service. Data updates do require direct access to the host machine, whilst files could feasibly be FTPed to the web server this is not recommended due to data size and the inability to simply activate the update process.

Administrator Notification

Administrator notification is a feature that is unique to QAS software. It is a mechanism that allows for the Pro Server to send out emails to one or more recipients in order to report issues relating to data, licence or meter expiry. A warning threshold can be defined at which point a warning email is triggered. A further email is sent when the expiry actually occurs.

The scenarios that would trigger an email are:

• Dataset has expired
• Licence has expired
• Evaluation has expired
• Meter out of clicks
• Dataset about to expire
• Licence about to expire
• Meter about to run out of clicks

Remote Support

QAS Pro Web utilises Remote Support to allow administrators to access important configuration information, such as which data files are installed and expiry dates for the data, which will be held on the remote server. To make remote support of the product a simpler task, QAS Pro Web will respond to special “system-prefix” searches. These allow requests to be made for information other than for a search on address details. The results from the request are displayed using the standard address pick-list format.

Scalable Solution

The QAS Pro Web product provides scalability through its stateless operation and due to this architecture can handle the large number users which may potentially access a web site.