Objects

Everything that Xephr® references or generates is referred to as an object.  Xephr Objects include:

Blocks:

Blocks are subsidiary objects to entities, and may or may not reference a database table or view.  Types of blocks available depends on the entity to which the block is being added and include parameter forms, standard blocks, bread crumb blocks, chart blocks, executable blocks, tab blocks, iFrame blocks, and drag/drop blocks..  

Converters:

Converters are used to convert data from one database table to another and can be used to convert data across datasources.

Data Exchange:

Data exchange objects are used to retrieve data from the database and store it in a delimited file.

Database Logins:

Assigned to users and roles, database log-ins to determine which database-specific user is logging into the datasource.

Datasources:

Datasources are databases from which the information for the entities are obtained.  Multiple datasources can be defined.

Entity:

An entity is defined in the Xephr studio in a group and generated during Xephr Runtime.  There are six kinds of entities that can be generated, and the data displayed in during Runtime may or may not come from a database, depending on the entity's definition.  The six types are Converters, Data Exchanges, Reports, Screens, Spreadsheets, and XML Documents.

Fields:

Fields are subsidiary objects to blocks, and may or may not reference a database column.  A variety of field types exist.

Format Masks:

Format masks are assigned to fields to determine the format in which the information in that field is displayed.  Format mask objects define what the format masks can be.

Global Variables:

Global variables are assigned to users and roles to determine default values and restrictions in the entities to which the user has access.

Groups:

Groups are used to categorize entities.  Sub-groups can be created within other groups, down to as many levels as desired.

Joins

Joins are used to restrict the data displayed on the child block according to a comparison between a column on the child block and a column on the parent block.

Link Styles:

Link Styles allow users to define the design of hyperlinks in screens and reports, including, but not limited to, colors, background images, and fonts.  

Lists of Values:

Lists of values are assign to fields and are used to retrieve values that already exist in the database for the purpose of changing the values in a new or existing database record.

Menus:

Menu objects are used to define the menu structure of the Xephr entities.  Menu definitions are used during runtime to allow access to the entities that have been created.

Paper Sizes:

Paper Sizes are used to define the size of the paper on which reports will be printed.  

Parameter Forms:

Parameter forms are html screens that allow the user to set parameters to restrict the output of entity that is being run and are used in conjunction will all entities except screens and converters.

Published Entities:

Published entities are XML Documents that have been published to allow access to limited data from the database.  

Reports:

Reports are static forms generated from a database query, provided in html or pdf format at the user's preference.

Repository

The Xephr repository contains the metadata that defines all of the objects that have been created.  

Roles:

Roles are used to define the policies, database log ins, and global variables that are assigned by default to a user, enabling the creation of a standard set of defaults for different types of users.  Role information includes global variables and database logins assigned to the role.

Role Global: the global variables assigned to the role.

Role Database Login: the global database log-ins assigned to the role.

Schedule:

Schedules are used to schedule jobs to run on at a certain time.

Screens:

Screens are dynamic html forms that allow database queries, inserts, updates, and deletes.  Screens also provide multiple ways of viewing the data returned by the database.  

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet objects are used to retrieve data from the database and store it in a spreadsheet file.

Styles:

Styles allow users to define the design of an entity, including, but not limited to, colors, background images, and fonts.  Xephr styles cascade, inheriting settings from other styles.

Templates:

Templates are used as a base model from which to create entities.  Headers, menus, and other basic blocks can be defined on a template and carried to entities created from the template.  Template information can be defined as modifiable at the child level, or non-modifiable.  

Uploaded Files:

Uploaded file objects are used to define the images and files that have been uploaded to be used within entities during Xephr development and runtime.  You cannot modify existing uploaded images.

Users:

User objects are used to define the users who can log into Xephr Studio and Runtime.  User information includes the user object, global variable objects, and database login objects.

User Object: the actual user record defining Xephr log in information, default datasource, etc..

User Global: the global variables assigned to the user.

User Database Login: the global database log-ins assigned to the user.

XML Documents

XML Documents are used to retrieve data from the database and store it in an XML document.

Xephr is a registered trademark of NDS Systems, LC.