Features of the system

No code

Enter the names for the types of data you want to store information about and then what fields describe each type. Fields can be unique, optional etc etc. The screens build themselves and searches are automatic. Feeds are easy to set up and then just happen in the background.

Screens

Screens are available automatically on all data so all data is viewable by the user. Users can see how data items interlink and follow these links by just clicking the links.

The screens show a bread crumb trail to letting you get back to the home page listing the total number of all types or see all items of the current items type. Reports that are relevant to the current type are listed at the bottom of the page. A search facility is avalaible on each page.

The general format for each screen is the same but this provides consistency to the user and no work at all for developers. Everything is web based so there's nothing to install for people to use the data and the output is PDA friendly.

Access anywhere

This database is accessed solely through the internet and the screen format can quickly be changed to suit PC's, PDA's or even mobile phones. Most database systems only allow you to access data through either a dedicated application on your work PC or through complex SQL. This system allows you simple access from home, on the train or just about anywhere else you need to access it - after all it's your data.

Searching

Users can search for any item in the database using any unique identifier or name. Entering 'm rob' might find Mike Robinson. If there are many matches then the number of matches per type will be shown i.e. 58 users and 90 book titles, the user could then drill down into whichever type they are interested in.

Reporting

Reports can be defined and linked to any data type. The reports allow the user to input controling data via a form and these forms are built automatically. Output is in the same format as any screen within the system. Reports can also be arranged into hierarchies for ease of use. Reports will normally go to the screen but can be output as email or files.

Example reports.

• get users under fred
• get users under pick user
• get users under pick user and location = pick location

Feeds

Data can be fed into the system from any web page, file, excel spreadsheet or database. Scheduling is provided with automatic retries if there are problems. Bad data can be trapped and warnings emailed to a contact person.

In this way the system could provide a simple window accross all the data in a heterogenous environment.

Integrity

Simple integrity rules can be applied to a field, it must be unique, it can only take certain values, it is mandatory or references another item. These rules are then applied whenever data enters the system whether from a feed or a screen.

Historic data

Every time a data item changes it's value the old value is stored. This allows us to see how values have changed over time, who or what changed them and when. We can also run historic reports or screens using data that would of been current at that time.

We can also rollback the database to any point, say last Tuesday at 2pm. We can also rollback any changes made by one user or feed.