DynamicDatabaseAccess

A large amount of important corporate data nowadays is located in relational databases. Cost-effectively integrating this wealth of information in a CMS is often a major challenge. The range of integration diversity extends from display of the data on the internet to the production of high-quality print catalogues through to personalised applications based on database content.

With DynamicDatabaseAccess, technology is to hand which enables SQL data sources to be made available to FirstSpirit™. Not only can external databases be linked, but also internal FirstSpirit™ content can be generated.

The data schemata modelling conveniently takes place in a graphic editor: It is easy to create individual tables, add standardized columns and define foreign key relations without knowledge of the respective database.

With the help of DynamicDatabaseAccess, this graphic modelling is automatically reproduced in the required database via a database layer. The module supports seven different database management systems. In this way, different database technologies can be merged via the FirstSpirit™ integration platform: The data is available for diverse applications and publications.

In addition, the modelled schema is used to automatically generate the graphic user interface for editors and authors. In this way, the input and maintenance of database content can be handled in precisely the same way as maintenance of other information in FirstSpirit™: Authors do not need any additional knowledge for the visualisation and maintenance of database information!

Data queries can also be graphically modelled. The results of the queries are displayed directly in FirstSpirit™ and can, e.g. be used in templates.

The tag library

DynamicDatabaseAccess ships with a JSP tag library for developers of web applications. This extensive library enables direct access to all data sources (content) accessible from FirstSpirit™. At the same time, among other things, the relations between the individual tables defined in the model can be evaluated.

On the basis of the tag library, for example, web applications can be quickly and therefore cost-effectively created – the applications are based on the modelled data schemata. Apart from reading out complex data structures, it is also possible to write data in the respective database. In this way, e.g. user input from the web front end can flow directly into the database. This information can in turn be used as the basis for further application logic.

Furthermore, in combination with the module DynamicPersonalization, personalized applications can also be created.