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Frequently Asked Questions

Integer is a scalable, high performance spreadsheet server. The engine may reside on a server or on the client. When the engine resides on the server, users can effectively access Integer from diverse clients, whether thick or thin. Since Integer is a spreadsheet server, not a spreadsheet, developers can use Integer to build applications that enable users to collaborate on the same spreadsheet simultaneously in real-time, no matter how far apart the users are geographically. Users can also receive real-time data feeds from multiple sources directly into their spreadsheets, perform complex calculations and access huge spreadsheets in record time. All of this is done through the Internet or a company's Extranet or Intranet. The ability to receive up to date information and collaborate with colleagues gives workers the tools they need for optimal decision making.

Server-based applications are easier to maintain, more robust, and more scalable than client-based applications. Additionally, they have a lower cost of ownership and allow centralized administration and support.

Integer may be deployed from a client, but Integer's advantages are best realized when it is deployed from a server. When Integer is deployed from a server, users can collaborate with each other in real-time. Also, spreadsheet applications benefit from the server's robustness. Integer calculates with the power of multiple CPUs. This means, for example, you can perform over 150,000 Black-Scholes calculations in under a second on a Sun Enterprise 10000.

One major financial institution recently deployed Integer as a mission-critical trading floor application to give all of its traders the ability to receive real-time data feeds of securities prices and other information.

Another major financial institution has built and Integer-based application to distribute huge spreadsheets to analysts who are using an array of clients and don't have time to wait for time-consuming downloads every time they sit down to work. In that company, over 200 users can access the same Integer spreadsheet server to see a 45MB Excel spreadsheet that is updated three times a day. Because the users only have to download the part of the sheet that they are viewing (about 20 to 30K), there's a real reduction in network bandwidth versus sending the 45MB spreadsheet files to the branch offices three times a day.

A third company is building a currency trading application that will allow all the currency traders to view the firm-wide position in real-time, update their own section of the work-sheet and all the traders see the updates in real-time.

There are other applications for a real-time collaborative spreadsheet including customer service applications and trader workstation applications, which enable the traders to collaborate on trades with other traders on deals. People in a number of industries are using Integer to make the best possible decisions, because they can collaborate in real-time with knowledgeable associates, and they can download all information in real-time, so their knowledge base is constantly updated.

Integer is complementary to Lotus Notes and to email. Both Notes and email are wonderful collaboration tools. However, they do not offer real-time collaboration. For those times when using Notes or email are desirable, you can incorporate an Integer spreadsheet within them.

Integer is a developer tool rather than an end user application like Excel. Integer is not intended to be a replacement for Excel. Integer inter-operates with Excel by loading and saving Excel files. You can even access an Integer collaborative spreadsheet server from Excel.

Integer provides application developers with a powerful way to embed the most advanced spreadsheet functionality into an application, including real time data feeds and collaborative spreadsheet capabilities. Unlike Excel or 1-2-3, Integer has the ability to run on both servers and clients.

Integer Enterprise Server and Integer Enterprise enable developers to add custom formula functions. Other versions of Integer do not have this feature. Integer Enterprise and Integer Enterprise Server also have security controls that enables corporations to secure their confidential formulas from prying eyes and protect their spreadsheets against corruption. Access to specific spreadsheet sections and functions may be limited according to the level of authorization of the individual user.

Integer is based on open standards and will work with your legacy systems. You can access your JDBC databases and import and export from Excel and Lotus 1-2-3 with the click of a button.

Integer Enterprise Server has a security controls feature that enables corporations to secure their confidential formulas from prying eyes and protect their spreadsheets against corruption. Access to specific spreadsheet sections and functions may be limited according to the level of authorization of the individual user. So some users will have the authority to change figures, and some people will be given read-only viewing privileges.

Hardware: Any platform that runs Java 1.1 or higher

Software: Any platform that runs JDK 1.1 or higher , including Windows 95, Windows NT, Solaris, Linux and OS/2.

Databases: Any database that supports JDBC access including Oracle, DB/2, Sybase, and others.

In addition to a spreadsheet interface, Integer ships with charting APIs. Developers may also completely customize the interface.

Cells are locked such that when one person is editing a cell, another person cannot change the contents of the cell.

Integer inter-operates with the spreadsheet tools most people are already familiar with. Excel and Lotus 1-2-3 files can be imported and exported to an Integer spreadsheet with the press of a button. So everyone can have a static copy on the work on his or her desktop.

Integer supports over 350 formula functions and imports substantially all of Excel's formulas and cell and worksheet formatting. Integer does not currently import Excel charts, graphic images, or Macros.

Not at this time.

Any real-time data feeds you like may be incorporated in Integer, even your customized company information. You may purchase a Reuters's Triarch interface when you purchase Integer.

Since Integer is server-based, whether users have thin or thick clients, download time is cut to a fraction, because users are only downloading what they need to see that instant.

Integer supports secure, verified client / server communications channels via CORBA or WebLobic's Tengah RMI. Encryption and verified connections enable building secure, distributed Integer applications over the Internet.

Developers can build custom programs that retrieve and present data from any source that supports JDBC. For example, users can easily retrieve data from a local SQL database or the corporate data warehouse for use in their real-time collaborative spreadsheets.

How fast is Integer? I've heard that Java applications are slow.

Integer's recalculation performance is similar to Excel's running under JDK 1.1.6 on a single CPU computer. Integer's recalculation performance scales linearly with the number of CPU's in the computer and is significantly faster than Excel on multi-CPU machines. Integer can perform over 150,000 Black-Scholes calculations in under a second on a Sun Enterprise 10000, making it much faster than Excel. Integer is significantly faster and more powerful than any other Java spreadsheet.

Integer accepts real-time data feeds from virtually any source including financial markets, medical instruments, and telephone switches. Athena Design has real-time data feed interfaces to Reuters Triarch and WebLogic's Tengah events.

Integer has an open API to charting packages. Integer ships with an evaluation version of the DataVista charting package from Visualize Technology and EspressChart from Quadbase.

Integer imports and exports Excel and 1-2-3 file. Integer accepts real-time data feeds from Reuters Triarch and WebLogic's Tengah. Integer accesses JDBC databases.

Integer spreadsheets can be up to 3,000 columns, 500 rows, and 10,000,000 rows, depending on the hardware capabilities of the host machine.

Integer's user limit is based on the hardware running the server and the network bandwidth. Typical Intel/Windows NT servers can support 50+ simultaneous users.

Integer has over 350 formula functions and supports formula-function AddIn capabilities. Integer spreadsheets can be very large. Integer supports objects in cells, including currency objects. Integer's functionality has been developed and refined over the last seven years.

Athena Design is not in the business of consulting, but we do provide senior level engineer support for Enterprise Server sales, and customer support for our Integer Server and Integer Enterprise sales. We can also refer you to one of our handpicked system integrators.

You may download a lite version of Integer Enterprise Server from our web site at URL. This version may be used for evaluation purposes only. You may also apply to join our Partner Program at URL in order to evaluate a full-featured copy of Integer.

Integer will significantly shorten your time to market. Although most companies will want to customize, Integer can actually be deployed without writing a single line of code. Application server developers currently have to write each line of code that runs their application server resident programs. Integer enables application server developers to leverage reusable software to deliver robust applications in a shorter amount of time than ever before possible.

Athena Design has optimized Integer to minimize the bandwidth used to communicate between the client and the server. Integer can be used over 28.8 lines and generally does not consume significant network bandwidth.

850K

Integer will optionally use the Swing User Interface components, including Swing scroll-bars and the Swing text entry field. When using Swing components, Integer is a lightweight component.

Integer runs in Internet Explorer 4.01, Netscape 3.x+ with the Java PlugIn. Integer also runs in any browser that supports the Java PlugIn from Sun Microsystems.

Maintenance and support are available for Integer Server, Integer Enterprise and Integer Enterprise Server. Maintenance is 25% of the standard purchase price. Support is $75 per email incident and $125 per telephone incident.

Integer can be used with Java Bean development tools including SuperCede, Visual Café, and JBuilder.

Integer runs on Lotus Domino, Netscape Enterprise Server, Novell NetWare 5.0 and other systems.

Sorry... you can't buy Integer anymore. Try MesaOnline. Integer Server and Integer Enterprise Server may be purchased directly from Athena Design and from VARs and system integrators. To purchase directly from Athena, please call 1.617.782.3550 or send email to sales@athena.com. You may also contact us for information about VARs and system integrators in your area.

Integer's real time collaborative functionality provides the infrastructure to demonstrate the value of application servers and distributed systems. It shows off the value of centrally controlled applications, server speed and scalability and capability of disseminating a lot of information quickly.

Depending on programmer choice, Integer can run on the client, the server, or distributed among multiple clients and servers.

In the financial service market, Integer provides developers with the power to embed real-time spreadsheet capabilities into trading floor applications. Integer is also being used by companies building distributed decision-making applications and companies who must manage complex logistics among several parties.

Integer is an off-the-shelf package that provides functionality to developers very much like other middleware tools and GUI components.

Athena Design shipped the first spreadsheet components on NextStep in 1992. From 1992 through 1995, Athena Design shipped the Mesa spreadsheet application and spreadsheet objects to customers including Chrysler Financial, Swiss Bank, the Phibro division of Salomon Brothers, and Sabre Decision Technologies. Mesa was available on NextStep and OS/2. In March, 1998 Athena Design shipped Integer 1.0, the third generation spreadsheet based on Java and having real time, distributed, collaborative functionality. In October 1998, Athena Design shipped Integer 2.0.