TeamSoftware Solutions
Software to secure your public access computers
Public Web Browser (PWB) is very similar to Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome, as it is a full web browser. But unlike Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome, which are infinitely customizable (bookmarks, buttons, toolbars, home pages, etc.) by the patron, PWB is only customizable by the administrator. This makes PWB invaluable where a consistent web browser experience for patrons is needed.
Imagine each patron using the browser and changing the home page, adding in their own favorites and toolbars. This quickly becomes a mess in public areas. PWB was developed in a Library where we needed a consistent experience for each patron. Where only we had control of what could be changed, or in some cases where the patron could browse. In our cases instead of upset patrons and support headaches, PWB cleans up between patrons and prevents the patrons from changing the browser giving each new patron the same experience.
With PWB all the buttons, menus, windows, and toolbars, can be renamed or removed. PWB also has an inactivity and activity timer, can clear the cache when it closes, can restart itself, has a built in URL and IP filter, can completely secure the computer only allowing PWB to be used, and much more. PWB can be used in nearly infinite ways where a consistent web browser is needed.
PWB has over 300 settings that can only be changed by the administrator which can morph PWB into any type of web browser where a consistent public experience is needed.
Download the current version of PWB
PWB v3 CEFPWB v3 has been tested and works on Windows 11.
How is PWB possible?
Public Web Browser v3 Edge/CEF
Microsoft Edge/CEF both use the same base HTML Renderer. With PWB Edge, PWB uses the Evergreen Model utilizing the Microsoft Edge WebView2 HTML Rendering Engine. With PWB CEF, PWB uses the Chrome HTML Rendering Engine via the Chromium Embedded Framework. Both Rendering Engines use the same backend as both Edge and Chrome but is controlled via the frontend PWB application.
Public Web Browser v2/v3 "IE"
The WebBrowser Control is a HTML Rendering Engine used by Internet Explorer. PWB "IE" is built using the same technique as Internet Explorer, by employing the Microsoft WebBrowser control.
Microsoft Article detailing this technology
"In the furor over Netscape's release of the Navigator source code, Microsoft's customization options for Internet Explorer often get short shrift.
This article discusses how you can reuse Internet Explorer's WebBrowser control in your own applications, both as a platform for building your own browser implementation or,
as we feel will become increasingly popular, the user interface for a "traditional" application."
Windows 10 and Internet Explorer
PWB was developed using the Microsoft standards for hosting the IE Web Browser control. We have thoroughly tested PWB "IE" on Windows 10. PWB will continue to function in Windows 10 as the Internet Explorer WebBrowser Control is still in use by Windows 10 and the thousands of applciations that use the WebBrowser Control.
Celsus Electronic Document Delivery
Celsus was designed to be simple in order to avoid unnecessary file corruption and user file problems. Simply put, Celsus takes a PDF document and copies it to a web or FTP server, and then sends an email with a link to retrieve the document. Celsus is driven by a MySQL database with an interactive request and delivery web site and Windows based staff application. Developed with the input of the University of Minnesota Libraries for use in their InfoNOW service, Celsus provides a robust yet intuitive Electronic Document Delivery system.
Download and Get Involved
Celsus Open Source Document Delivery