Explorer 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Explorer 3 just a historical database?
No. The design of Explorer 3 has always kept in mind the requirements of ongoing projects. Terra Search has used the package for all of it's project management work. The intention is that the historical and current data all sits in the same database to be viewed concurrently or separately.
Will Explorer 3 work on any ODBC Database?
Yes. As opposed to databases that are written using commercial packages such as Access, Explorer 3 is a stand alone front end which can talk to multiple database types. Currently the system can talk to both an Access database and an SQLServer database with no messy transfer of data or rewriting of code. Beware of packages that claim they can use any ODBC database as some will claim they can do this by using the inbuilt ODBC links in Access. These are highly inefficient and can cause major data management issues where the database engines are not compatible. Others will claim that they can transport the code in Access to SQLServer "fairly easily". This is a very optimistic proposition and usually requires an enormous amount of work to complete.
Does Explorer 3 Handle Quality Control Samples?
Yes. As experienced explorationists we are acutely aware of the need to keep an eye on the analytical and collection methods for geochemical sampling. All sampling tables are designed to allow all quality control samples such as duplicates, standards and reassays. These can be stored with the data and then quickly subsetted to give quality control reports or removed from the dataset to allow quick and clean plotting of your data.
Does Explorer 3 Cover Advanced Projects and Mine Data?
Yes. Explorer 3 can handle all aspects of mineral exploration and mining with tables for structure, geotechnical data, water testing, bulk density, as well as the standard geological, geochemical and survey data.
How long does it take to learn Explorer 3?
This varies from person to person. For those who have a fair amount of experience with geological data it takes less than a day to pick up the main functions of Explorer 3. Our experience so far is that most geos can pick up all importing, exporting, reporting and querying functions in 1-2 days. Most find the package easy to understand as it is designed the way that geologists think.
Can we run more than one database?
Yes. The system can handle any size database so you can put all your data in the one place. However, you can also run multiple databases if you need to. There are functions in the system to run replications between databases. This means you can have a main database holding all your data with regional offices or even field camps having copies of their data to add to and update. At appropriate times the two databases can then be synchronised to save on double handling of data and to allow all relevant people in the organisation access to the data.
What Support does Terra Search offer?
As part of the license 2 hours free phone support is provided. This includes E-mail/Fax support also. Terra Search has offices in QLD, NSW and WA to help with any problems encountered. Further training or onsite support can be arranged separately. The Maintenance payment covers all upgrades in a 12 month period plus an extra two hours phone support. For multi licence holders this support can be transferred between users to allow the most efficient use of the time.
Can we try before we buy?
Terra Search will happily supply a copy of the software to any interested parties.