ReadMe

1) Check that you have a working Java 1.3 or 1.4 compatible JVM installed 
If you already know that you have a JVM which is Java 1.3 or 1.4 compliant, go on to step 2. Otherwise, please download and install an appropriate JVM for your platform from http://java.sun.com. 


2) Download SkyServerQA

Running the SDSS client
--------------------------
1. Download the application.

2
 a) For Windows users :
	Unzip it to the directory of your choice. For this you should have Winzip.exe installed.

 b) For Linux/solaris Users
	Untar the tar file by using command
		tar -xvf QA.tar .

3. Step 2 will create a directory name QA in your home directory.  

  a) For Windows users :
	Open a command window from Start->Programs->Run. Type in cmd and a
MS-DOS Command Window pops up. Change directory  to QA, type 
	"cscript sdssQA.vbs". This shows the usage for the command

  b) For linux/solaris users:
	While in the QA directory, on the command prompt type ./sdss.sh. This will show the usage for the sdssQA. Users can also type man sdssQA(linux) to get
more help about launching the application..


Components of zip/tar file

----------------------
Readme.txt 
SDSS.bat ----- Executable (for windows)
sdss.sh  ----- shell script (lor linux/solaris users)
SDSS.jar ----- SDSS Query Tool
xalan.jar ------ XML Parser includes
crimson.jar ------ XML Parser includes
jaxp.jar ------ XML Parser includes


Description about SDSS Query Analyzer
----------------------------

SDSS client is a query tool to the skyserver database which can be accessed over the internet. 
The SDSS client helps you write SQL queries on its text window and returns resultsets in 
CSV,XML and Grid formats. These formats can be chosen by choosing the result type in the Query Menu option. 
The query can be also be canceled by a user which will help the user run another query. 
The resultset obtained from half way cancelled query is rejected.
Resultsets obtained in CSV and XML can be saved to .csv and .xml files, respectively.
Similarly the sqlscript can be saved to .sql files.

The SDSS client also shows the full database view of the Skyserver database, through its object Browser.
The object Browser shows the various tables, views, stored procedures, functions that are inbuilt into the 
database and to which the public user has access to. The user can write efficient queries using these objects.
The query tool as of now only permits single query execution but will be extended for multiple query executions.
A one line description of each object is provided when a user clicks on it on the browser.
Apart from the the object browser includes the values of all database constants and their values under the constants node.

SDSS client can simulataneously talk to multiple web sites hosting the database. This can be done throught the changedatabase option in the Tools menu. Clicking on any particular entry, fires the database request string and shows all databases at that website. A database of choice can be chosen. This becomes the default URL and the default database.

Drag and Drop features are present in the Query tool. a user can drag any object from the Object Browser and drop it on the 
Query Tool's text window and also drag any windows file from the source to the text window. The text window opens that file.



 




