Data Dictionary

Part of LightBulb is Data Dictionary (DD).  The is a unqiue system that allows an organization to literally map all data that it utilizes.  This data dictionary provides developers with powerful, easy to use capabilities to be used in creating and providing users solutions to access their data.  The EzData Dictionary allows uniquely stores helpful information such as user friendly table and field names that can be assigned to each field.  For example, empnmbr is the actual field name, but to assist developers and staff the system allows for a user field name to be stored such as Employee Number.  Benefits from this aspect alone are very compelling.  Application Builder utilizes this to automatically insert into display and print field names so a developer does not have to.  Developers and users alike benefit greatly as well in Report Builder, Query, and EzForms Builder.  Developers are also able to define fields as System fields only.  This prevents users from accessing any fields they are not to have access to.

Click on the Screen Shot for a Flash Demo!

Also unique to the DD system is its ability to to learn data structures.  DD allows you to utilize any existing data base engine or data structure you may have, easily.  Through this access the DD has the ability to automatically learn another dataases entire structure allowing the developer to chose all, or selected tables they wish to include in their data dictionary.  The data is not copied either.  You can leave your existing data store intact and access through the DD as if you were part of the other db.

In DD is another uniqe feature that is extremely useful within the Query and Report Builder.  This allows you to predefine any logical links between tables you or your users may use.  For example, you have a Vendor Master table and a Vendor Contact table.  All Vendor Contact records have a parent record within the Vendor Master table.  The developer can define how these tables link together through the EzDD Link Manager.  This link is then made available for use within EzReport Builder by he user simply selecting the two tables they wish to extract data from for their report or export file.  There are several dramatic benefits to this;

1. Links may be established that require no programming or system setup.

2. When a user selects tables to extract information from they can not make a wrong choice! 

3.  In EzRB, users can not generate information that is inaccurate, only reports with information they may not want.

4.  Outside db's data can be utilized within the DD so that Application Builder, Query, PB, FB, can all be utilized to create solutions.

Quick Links

Flash Demos