method comprises the steps of periodically reading a storage location within the database detecting a data structure stored in the storage location and reading the data structure the method further includes the steps of converting the data structure from the first data format to a second data format and providing the indication to at least one user the indication including at least a portion of the data structure application_number US 30577394 A description fig1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a network 10 of processing systems 12 14 16 18 in which the present invention may be used the network 10 may also include other processing systems and other processing equipment such as printers or modems not shown in fig1 each of the processing systems 12 14 16 18 is coupled with a connecting network 20 and is configured for communicating over the connecting network 20 with other components of the network 10 such as other processing systems as well as printers or modems as indicated in fig1 each of the processing systems 12 14 16 18 is preferably a macintosh personal computer available from apple computer inc each of the processing systems 12 14 16 18 is preferably running the 4th dimension database system available from acius inc however one or more of the processing systems 12 14 16 18 could be other than a macintosh or could include application programs other than the 4th dimension database system the macintosh personal computers which form the processing systems 12 14 16 18 each include a processor 12a 14a 16a 18a and a memory 12b 14b 16b 18b the processor 12a 14a 16a 18a operates according to programs of instruction stored in the memory 12b 14b 16b 18b the structure and operation of the processing systems 12 14 16 18.