Once the SwERVE software has been installed it determines the structure of the proprietary GIS database therefore establishing a base from which queries can be made in order to extract the required information. SwERVE extracts data in the following ways:

• Spatial Extracts - enable the user to extract data from the proprietary GIS based on a geographical area selected within the desktop GIS
• Integrated Cache Subsystem - to improve the performance of Spatial Extracts
• Bulk Extracts - fast extraction of large, one-off groups of data from the proprietary GIS e.g. for reporting purposes
• Differential Extracts - ability to extract only data which has changed since a previous extract
• Optional independent extraction of Geographic and Non-Geographic data
• Automatic 'best fit' selection of object attributes and geometries
• an XML Import Facility - enables the user to load data from other sources into the proprietary GIS.