ITP/SDK MultiPlatform
The ITP/SDK MultiPlatform is Windows software for the development of ITP database descriptions. The definitions in these descriptions link the data fields in your model documents to the actual data retrieval implementations. An implementation can be in the form of:
- Business objects
- Direct database access
- SQL statements
- External programs (locally on the client or remote on a server/host)
All types of databases access can be combined and used from one ITP model; the document developer will still see one coherent database view. All ITP data connections are supported by the ITP/SDK MultiPlatform but for ease of use we recommend using the ITP/SDK AS/400 for developing access to IBM iSeries (AS/400) data.
Data connections
| Connections | Description |
|---|---|
| XML Connection | The XML Connection is used to retrieve data from XML files. The SDK is used to specify the mapping between the XML file and the ITP database definitions. A Wizard is provided to generate a complete Database Interface Definition for an XML file. |
| XML WebServices | Provides access to WebServices that are able to provide XML data over an HTTP connection. This can be used, for example, to access data in a SAP system. The SDK is used to specify the mapping between the XML data and the ITP database definitions. |
| ODBC Connection | ITP database descriptions for the ODBC Connection use ODBC SQL statements for database access. You can link any database accessible by ODBC to ITP. A Wizard is provided to generate database definitions for database tables. |
| Oracle Connection | The Oracle Connection uses Oracle SQL statements for database access. A Wizard is provided to generate database definitions for database tables. |
| Mainframe Connection / AS/400 Connection | The Mainframe Connection and AS/400 Connection are used to call data retrieval programs on their corresponding host platforms. The SDK is used to specify the mapping between the input/output of the data retrieval program and the ITP database definitions. The ITP/SDK AS/400 will be the better choice, when you only plan to develop for AS/400 databases. |
| Local Connection | The Local Connection uses external MS-Windows dynamic link libraries (DLL) to retrieve data. Built-in wizards make the creation of the Database Interface Definitions an easy process. The users of this SDK are responsible for writing their own data retrieval code. These DLL's can be written in any programming language supporting developing DLL's. A wizard is provided to generate skeleton code for programs written in the C programming language. |
Database Interface Definition
The SDK generates a Database Interface Definition (DID) – which describes the database model and the way the data can be retrieved.
This abstraction has several benefits:
- A uniform approach to database access from automated documents
- Abstraction from implementation details (the actual database access)
- Simplicity for the user defining automated documents
- An unlimited number of tables or files can be accessed by a single automated document
- Relations between sets of data can be defined even if they don't exist in the actual database.
- A kind of virtual database model can be defined specific for automated documents without having to change the actual database
- Extensibility