eCriteria Keeps Data on Hand

Amulet developments eCriteria is a simple hosted database application that can help keep data accessible from anywhere. It also provides a simple way for companies to manage data behind a Web site.

eCriteria, which was updated in December, starts at $4.95 per author per month for the basic offering. The Premium and Enterprise editions, priced at $19.95 and $39.95 per month, respectively, deliver better value for the money because these versions include better search and data-export capabilities.

Amulet charges by database author, rather than per user, for access, which makes the service inexpensive for a company of any size, especially when compared with other services that charge per user.

eCriteria has other important differences from its hosted database rivals. For example, although it doesnt come with the predefined templates that a service such as Intuits QuickBase includes, eCriteria does provide detailed levels of control over how users can search, view and edit their data.

As with other hosted database applications, the easiest way to build a database is to import data in CSV format. Although Id like more control over the layout of the database forms and determining record types, the overall simplicity and speed of database creation make eCriteria and other hosted databases more appealing than Microsofts Access.

The eCriteria Premium edition offers more storage than does the basic version, but not as many data management features as eCriteria Enterprise, the version I tested. Multiple users can create and modify their own records, and the database author closely manages database and user access privileges.

More information is available at www.ecriteria.net.