Beyond 20/20 Builder Tools

Beyond 20/20 offers three software tools which enable data publishers to build dynamic tables. Each one allows the publisher to transfer data files into a Beyond 20/20 format. These builders have their own advantages:

. The Beyond 20/20 Builders serve both in-house and commercial data publishers, who need to disseminate data on the Web, CD-ROM, Local Area Networks, or intranet and extranet sites.

. The Beyond 20/20 Toolkit is a standard-based product with Object Library, which is a collection of software tools for application developers to customize the software at the code level.

. With Beyond 20/20's Data Connection Wizard, you can easily access and prepare your data from a variety of formats including relational databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, as well as spreadsheets and text files. Data Connection Wizard produces multidimensional tables that can be viewed on the Web or desktop with Beyond 20/20 products.

For more information about the features and benefits of the Beyond 20/20 builder tools, please select one of the following products:

Builders -  Data Sheet

The Builders serve both in-house and commercial data publishers, who need to disseminate data on the Web, CD-ROM, Local Area Networks, or intranet and extranet sites. With the Builders, you can:

. Create multidimensional Beyond 20/20 Tables and Extracts (Beyond 20/20 microdata files) once for distribution on any and all of the Web, CD-ROM, intranets, extranets, or Local Area Networks. Because you only need to prepare data once for all media, Beyond 20/20 helps you significantly reduce data preparation costs for multimedia distribution requirements.

. Produce "distribution packages" to simplify and streamline data dissemination efforts. A distribution package contains Beyond 20/20 tables and microdata files as well as the Beyond 20/20 Browser needed to view the document files.

. Add specialized calculations for your user group.

. Create metadata, data hierarchies (groups), set missing values and add footnotes.

What's Included

The Beyond 20/20 Builders contain the following applications:

. Visual Builder. Creates Beyond 20/20 tables and microdata files.

. Integrator's Builder. Command line version of the Builder which enables you to create and manipulate Beyond 20/20 tables and files.

. Distributor. Creates distribution packages ready for electronic dissemination.

. Support files and documentation.

Toolkit - Data Sheet

Sometimes your organization needs a customized solution. The Beyond 20/20 Toolkit is a collection of software tools that assist in developing specialized data and analytical applications based on the Beyond 20/20 system architecture. The Beyond 20/20 Toolkit consists of two components:

. Beyond 20/20 Object Library

. Beyond 20/20 Integrator's Builder

The Toolkit is intended for application developers, information providers who use Beyond 20/20 products to disseminate and publish data, and Beyond 20/20 partners who use Beyond 20/20 products in custom applications.

The Beyond 20/20 Object Library is an API that opens access to any and all data and metadata held in Beyond 20/20 IVT files (that is, Beyond 20/20 cubes). The Object Library uses the industry standard Microsoft COM. As a consequence, using development environments such as Microsoft Visual Basic, programmers can access, read, and manipulate any information in one or a series of Beyond 20/20 IVT Tables, and can write applications that create new Beyond 20/20 Tables.

The Beyond 20/20 Integrator's Builder is a command line version of the Beyond 20/20 Visual Builder. It is used primarily to automate data production processes.

The Toolkit enables developers to create a new generation of Beyond 20/20-based applications for workstation and network environments.

The Toolkit enables you to:

. Directly access data in relational databases, spreadsheet files, and sequential files, in order to create and modify Beyond 20/20 tables.

. In some cases, add functionality to Beyond 20/20 Browsers.

. Develop customized applications that access or modify Beyond 20/20 Tables.

. Automate production processes that assist with the management and delivery of Beyond 20/20-based products.

Works within industry-standard development environments

Can be used with any language that supports the Microsoft Component Object Model (COM), including Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual J++, Visual Basic Scripting Edition, Delphi, Perl, and server-side JavaScript.

Can also be used with applications that support Visual Basic for Applications, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Corel WordPerfect.

Customize and extend Beyond 20/20 packaged applications

. Create and modify tables

. Define and retrieve specified table views

. Programmatically manipulate table data – for example, search, sort, and perform group calculations

Incorporate the Beyond 20/20 build process into other applications

. Developers can use Integrator's Builder to incorporate table and extract building into new or existing applications.

. Using a command-line approach, Integrator's Builder includes all the features found in the Visual Builder.

What's Included

The Beyond 20/20 Toolkit includes the following components:

. Beyond 20/20 Object Library - a collection of objects that allows you to manipulate Beyond 20/20 files.

. Beyond 20/20 Integrator's Builder - automates the building of Beyond 20/20 files.

. A collection of sample applications

Beyond 20/20 Data Connection Wizard  - Data Sheet

With Beyond 20/20's Data Connection Wizard, you can easily access and prepare your data from a variety of formats including relational databases, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, as well as from spreadsheets and text files. Data Connection Wizard produces files that can be viewed on the Web or desktop with Beyond 20/20 products.

With Data Connection Wizard, you can be up and running in just minutes - with no product training necessary! 

Cost-effective: The Data Connection Wizard is so intuitive it requires no product training-which represents a substantial saving on its own. But this product also saves money by saving you time because of its efficiency. It takes only minutes to perform sophisticated tasks, allowing you to invest your time wisely learning your data by visualizing, calculating and manipulating your data. All you need to know is your data; the wizard looks after the rest.

Easy to use: Step-by-step, the Data Connection Wizard guides you through your tasks. No need for thick manuals or long discussions with technical support help. Worldwide, Beyond 20/20 products have been setting the standard for simplicity in controlling and refining data. Our intuitive design means your data will be available and running right away.

Flexible: As a stand-alone product that complements Beyond 20/20's Publisher's Edition, the Data Connection Wizard lets you prepare your data for viewing. The Data Connection Wizard compliments your Beyond 20/20 Builder to quickly get information from databases such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, SAS, or any database with an OLE DB or ODBC interface.

Efficient: When working with data, a lot of time can be spent creating new tables. This task is a breeze using the Data Connection Wizard. With a click of the mouse, you can save new tables and restore Wizard settings. The Data Connection Wizard is also very efficient and can help you completely automate your production process.

Understandable: Make your data understandable to your users. Data Connection Wizard allows you to present not only numerical data but also metadata including item summaries, missing values and footnotes.

Dynamic: The Data Connection Wizard includes a built-in assistant, the dimension wizard, that lets you set advanced options for each dimension of the tables you create. As an added feature a dimension wizard can easily step you through more advanced options such as:

. setting your dimension type to either Normal or Time Series;

. setting dimension fields;

. setting dimension and item metadata; and

. setting groups or totals for items within your dimension.