OpenInsight - Revelation's MultiValue application development toolkit. 

OpenInsight is a repository-based MultiValue application development environment that enables development teams to work collaboratively to design, develop, deploy and scale high-performance MultiValue based business solutions.

OpenInsight's complete tool set (including a MultiValue Database Designer, Form Designer, Editor/Debugger, UI Workspace, XML Workspace, Reporting tools and more), advanced BASIC+ scripting language and powerful client/server development combine to deliver a complete environment for deploying and evolving network applications.

OpenInsight is delivered with a flexible MultiValued, variable length filing system.  It also has the ability to use SQL Server, Oracle, Lotus Notes, Universe/UniData, D3, mvBase, OpenQM or any ODBC compliant data back-end. Delivered with both XML and Web-enabled tools, OpenInsight is a tremendously powerful development tool for Windows based desktop and web based applications.

About OpenInsight

Table of contents

Repository Based Environment

The OpenInsight repository provides a common area in which development teams can store and reuse application components, such as bitmaps, icons, menus, source code modules and the like. In addition, it protects the integrity and eases the maintenance of the application by providing version control, automatic documentation of components, impact/net change analysis and other management capabilities. In addition to providing these tight security features, the OpenInsight repository gives development team's freedom and flexibility. Some examples include:

• Check-in/check-out - enables developers to work on a project at remote locations and with no risk to overall application integrity. Long-term check-out lets users temporarily move components to other drives, devices or workstations. Short-term check-out automatically locks an entity while it is being viewed or modified.
• Extensible architecture - enables project managers to combine third-party development tools and libraries.
• Intuitive design - permits non-developers, such as icon designers and documentation writers, to use the repository.
• Automatic documentation - if a member leaves the project, the rest of the team will know the status of his, or her work.

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OpenInsight Native Tables

OpenInsight is delivered with the option of using its own native table format. OpenInsight's unique table format is fully compatible with Advanced Revelation and many variable length multi-value data management products. The OpenInsight native table environment is a dictionary-driven text-oriented database that delivers the ultimate in flexibility for prototyping, designing and even deploying applications. For the developer, it provides dynamic schema evolution and rapid database modelling with recompilation, as well as unparalleled flexibility in maintaining deployed applications. For the application user, it is ideal for text-intensive applications and integration of text and structured information.

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Client/Server Workspace

OpenInsight's DataSet Object is the key to unlocking client/server connectivity. The DataSet Object is implemented within the product's new visual Client/Server Workspace - an environment in which developers create and manage database components using a collection of visual tools. These tools include a query window, a SQL script building assistant, database connection builder and a DataSet Object definition tool. The database access and manipulation components are separated from other application components, thus they are reusable across multiple applications. The components built with these tools can be integrated with the core set of OpenInsight development tools, yielding a single application development environment for combining high performance access to relational, Notes and OpenInsight's native tables.

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HTML Publishing

OpenInsight enables developers to publish data in native tables to HTML. The tools enable both static and dynamic HTML publishing capabilities. Static publishing means that data is simply published in HTML to the web, any updates require the user to make changes and then republish that data. Dynamic publishing means that OpenInsight creates HTML "on the fly" in response to a CGI request.  In other words, the end-user provides the final content in static publishing; in dynamic publishing, on the other hand, the user simply provides parameters, and the application server, working with the web server, builds and provides the final content.

The O4W development toolkit makes it possible for developers, with limited or no HTML/XML/JavaScript experience to develop modern feature rich web applications.  It also enables OpenInsight developers to extend their existing Revelation based applications to the web easier than before. O4W is designed to work the way OpenInsight developers think, taking advantage of the skills and knowledge they already have. While users with more web development experience can use O4W's advanced features, any software developer can create modern web applications (using JavaScript, XHTML, and AJAX) through O4W's APIs.

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Data Warehousing

OpenInsight enables developers to warehouse native tables data in an ODBC, SQL Server, or Oracle database. This offers developers complete flexibility in managing native tables data, including running a favourite reporting tool or writing VB, amongst others. Initial warehousing is performed in a two-step process. In the first step, the developer uses the OpenInsight SQL Warehouse Wizard to build the table definitions and the warehousing procedures. In the second step, the OpenInsight SQL Warehouse Manager is used to schedule the warehousing process. The warehousing procedures are registered to the Warehousing Manager when they are created. Subsequent warehousing can be performed on an updates-only basis.

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OpenInsight 's Scripting Language

OpenInsight 's scripting language, BASIC+, is an event-driven language which is compatible with BASIC dialects. It is explicitly designed for database management and application definition. It provides statements for assignment, flow of control, branching, looping and case selection. A powerful system editor and debugger are included to edit and test BASIC+ programs. Additionally, BASIC+ delivers:

• Runtime manipulation of user interface components.
• Powerful string handling.
• Dynamic and multi-dimensional array handling.
• Database and OS file I/O.
• DDE conversation management.
• DLL calling capabilities.

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For Advanced Revelation Developers

If you are an Advanced Revelation developer, OpenInsight enables you to:

• Build applications using Advanced Revelation dictionaries, indexes and data files.
• Create applications using the familiar Basic+ (R/Basic) programming language.
• Enable team development of applications using OpenInsight's repository, including features such as check-in/check-out, version control, impact analysis, object browsing and more.
• Reuse familiar concepts such as multi-value and variable-length fields.
• Add SQL Server, ODBC and Notes data to your application.
• Deploy royalty-free single user runtimes!

Furthermore OpenInsight includes ARev32, a technology designed to quickly bring your legacy ARev application into the OpenInsight environment and thereby future proof it. ARev32 applications do not suffer from many of the issues associated with running an old DOS application on modern operating systems. The file size limitations are addressed and you can make better use of your Windows hardware and other third party software products. Whilst the interface looks the same, your whole world opens up through ARev32.

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For Lotus Notes Users

OpenInsight specifically addresses development issues in messaging environments. In addition to native Notes data access, OpenInsight allows developers to build Notes databases and supports key Notes R4 features, such as folders and scripts, as well as other key messaging features.

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OpenInsight Tool Set

OpenInsight provides a powerful, easy-to-use set of tools to instantly build forms, reports, menus and database:

• Dedicated Data Connectors - OpenInsight includes data connection technology that supports Rocket Software's U2 (Universe and Unidata), Tigerlogic's D3 and mvBase, Ladybridge's OpenQM and various SQL databases.
• Revelation Reporter - The first tool that lets users generate reports populated by native data from a variety of sources. It is a fast and easy tool for creating presentation-quality reports.
• Form Designer - A point-and-click WYSIWYG screen painter provides rapid development of windows, forms, and menus that require no programming to access data, regardless of data location.
• Create Wizard - A wizard that lets developers design other wizards. It creates a multi-part OpenInsight form which, when executed, can prompt the user for input in order to perform a task or operation. The new wizard can then be modified in the Form Designer.
• BASIC+ Programming Language - This high-level 4GL is compatible with most BASIC dialects and was created solely for database management and application definition. It was made for the event-driven architecture of OpenInsight.
• System Editor and Debugger - Using a powerful MDI programmer's editor, developers can create, modify, compile, and test BASIC+ programs. The online context-sensitive help facility enables developers to copy and paste syntax examples directly into your program. The Debugger uses separate MDI windows for source, local and global variables and the call stack. It also supports single-stepping, trace-around, and unconditional breakpoints that can be triggered by pass counts and modification of variables.
• Popup Designer - Developers can use this feature to create Pick lists for easy data selection by end users.
• Message Builder - With this feature, developers can visually create and design informational and error messages. Custom message styling, data validation and full text formatting are included.
• QuickHelp Builder - Use these tools to visually create context-sensitive help for application users. It includes customizable location and size of help box, full font, colour and justification selections and a scrolling text option.
• Notes R4 Capabilities - Support for Notes R4 folders, agents, MAPI and native API functions.
• Notes Registration Facility - This graphical tool enables users to register a complete Notes database, including all views and forms, in one easy step. Forms, fields, and views are registered in the OpenInsight repository in a hierarchical outline organized by data source and location.

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OpenInsight WORKS

OpenInsight is available through an annual subscription service that gives developers an unprecedented combination of development tools, upgrades, sample applications, tools, utilities, knowledge bases and much more through the "For WORKS Subscribers" web site.

What You Get with OI WORKS

OpenInsight WORKS delivers the following software, support, services and resources on an ongoing basis throughout the term of your annual contract:

• OpenInsight application development environment.
• OpenInsight maintenance and upgrades.
• OpenInsight technical support - telephone and web-based.
• OpenInsight technical content and resources (white papers, samples, and other resources).

All of the above is delivered through the OpenInsight WORKS web site, a private area of Revelation Software's web site dedicated to providing support and service to the OpenInsight WORKS subscribers.

Please contact sales@revsoft.co.uk for more details about the benefits of OI WORKS and discover how the environment will enhance your business.

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Development Product Minimum Requirements

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