Multi-Value Databases and mvDesigner

1. Multi-Value DatabasesandmvDesigner Pierre Trinephi Product Manager pierre.trinephi@rainingdata.com Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

2. Agenda • Introduction to multi-value databases • From Green Screen to GUI • mvDesigner Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

3. Multi-Value Databases • History • Data model • Development environment Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

4. Multi-Value History • 1966 – Dick Pick and Don Nelson were tasked to create a system to track and inventory Cheyenne helicopter parts for the U.S. Army • Key requirements: • Hardware independence • Business-Oriented data model • Efficient use of system resources • Targeted for non-technical personnel Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

5. Multi-Value History • Hardware independence • Creation of a “hypothetical” machine • Business-Oriented data model • “real-world” data model • Efficient use of system resources • Very small footprint • Targeted for non-technical personnel • English Query language Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

6. Multi-Value History • 1971 – Dick Pick acquired the rights to his system from the U.S. Army • 1972 – Creation of Pick & Associates • 1973 – First Pick port to Microdata 800 platform • 1974 – First commercial shipment of Pick • By 1982, Pick DB/OS was ported to Honeywell Computer Systems, DEC, Tandem,IBM Series 1 and 43xx, Fujitsu, Altos, HP, Motorola, ATT/NCR… • Over 30 hardware platforms supported Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

7. Multi-Value History • Mid 80’s, VAR magazine quoted: “…more dealers are developing applications in Pick environments than in UNIX.” • 1984 – Released R83 on IBM PC XT • 1988 – Released Advanced Pick (AP). The first Pick environment without its O/S Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

8. Multi-Value Today • D3 • mvBase • mvEnterprise • UniVerse • UniData • jBase • Others Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

9. Multi-Value Today • Over • 4 thousand business applications • 200,000 sites • 3 million users • $120 million market value • 78% IBM (UniVerse, UniData) • 19% RD (D3, mvBase, mvEnterprise) • 3% other Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

10. Multi-Value Database • Multi-Dimensional data model • Data dictionary • Correlatives Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

11. Multi-Dimensional Data Model • Rows • Columns • Columns within columns • Columns within sub-columns • Items • Attributes • Values • Subvalues Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

12. Multi-Dimensional Data Model Purchase Order Example • Order Record • Order Number • Order Date • Line Items • Product ID • Quantity ordered • Price • Delivery • Dates • Quantity delivered Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

13. Multi-Dimensional Data Model • Multi-Value data representation Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

14. Multi-Dimensional Data Model • Multi-Value data storage Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

15. Data Dictionary • Similar to SQL column definition • Defines the meaning of attributes • In addition, the data dictionary can also be used to define: • Data relationship • Attribute type (Value, Subvalues) • Data extraction, calculation or conversion • Input and Output format and mask • Virtual columns Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

16. Data Dictionary • Used in queries • Used in programs • Optional Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

17. Correlatives • Defined in the data dictionary • Data processing codes (Input and Output) • Conversion • Translation • Stored procedures that can be applied to any data item Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

18. mv Development Environment • BASIC programming language • Compiled into pseudo code • Pseudo code is interpreted at run time • Portability • Line and full screen text editor • Produce text mode applications Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

19. A Typical BASIC program Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

20. A Typical Text Mode Application Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

21. Another Text Application Screen provided by SMA Software Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

22. Demonstration Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

23. The Need for GUI • Why? What for? • GUI options Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

24. Why GUI and What for? • A trend • Business requirement • More appealing • 21st century • Survival Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

25. GUI Options • Screen wrappers • GUI terminal emulators • Screen scrapers • Green Screen extraction tools • True GUI tools • Omnis Studio • Visual Basic • Delphi • Etc… Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

26. mvDesigner • What is mvDesigner? • Architecture • MV integration • Issues Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

27. What is mvDesigner? • Based on Omnis Studio • Share the same core • Aligned with latest Omnis Studio releases • Omnis Studio for MV developers • New Omnis tools to facilitate application development using a combination of Omnis Studio and multi-value data and BASIC programs Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

28. What is mvDesigner?Changes in Omnis Studio • Enterprise browser • Tree view of multi-value database servers showing BASIC programs and Datanames • Drag/Drop assignment of BASIC programs and Datanames • Data/Event window • BASIC editor • Built-in Socket Connector allowing the connection between Studio and the mvDB Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

29. What is mvDesigner?Changes in MV BASIC • Different programming model • Event-Driven (creation of a BASIC event loop) • New set of BASIC API • 13 API calls • Send data, get data, change properties, run methods or notation, open/close windows/forms, etc Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

30. mvDesigner Issues an MV Perspective • Two major mind shifts • From procedural to event-driven • From text mode to GUI mode • A new environment • A new programming language Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

31. mvDesignerArchitecture • Messaging system • FlashCONNECT pipe • Multi-Value database server listener processes Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

32. MV Integration with Studio Demonstration Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002

33. Thank you Raining Data Corporation – AmerOmnis 2002