Kingston, Ontario-based decision support house Andyne Computing Ltd is hoping to cash in on the rush to data warehousing with GQL Graphical Query Language, an ad-hoc query tool for accessing transaction-level data on relational SQL databases. It comes with a Managed Query Environment which the company claims synchronises information systems expertise and end-user requirements to deliver analysis and reporting capabilities. Its latest release of Graphical Query Language, version 3.3.2, includes automatic resolution of interdependent calculations within reports, a timer facility to prevent overlong queries and modules for Charting and Cross Tab reporting. Andyne divides GQL into four offerings; GQL/Design, GQL/Admin, GQL/User and GQL/Update, pitching the first two modules as data creation models for manipulation in the latter two offerings. Update is a superset of User providing insert, update and delete facilities. At the core of GQL’s graphical user interface is a data model that has icons for what it calls data objects, actually tables with columns, and relationships.
Data model understands
GQL/Design and GQL/Admin create data objects, their columns and relationships. GQL/Design creates tables on the database server, while Admin imports table definitions from the database catalogue. And because the data model understands about the relationships between tables, joins do not need to be specified unless a column name in a query appears in two related tables. Data models can link queries, and link them to command buttons to enable frequently asked questions more easily. GQL/Design enables the administrator to build Executive Information System interfaces with graphic objects such as maps, picture buttons and drill-down queries. Named prompts can appear in queries in place of hard-coded values, display drill-down pick lists and pick lists can obtain items by running another query. It is also possible to copy data models across systems and use them without modification, the firm claims. GQL can access Sybase, Microsoft Corp SQL Server, Oracle, CA-Ingres, Teradata and can use Open Data Base Connectivity, TechGnosis BV’s Sequelink middleware and Information Builders Inc EDA/SQL to access additional data sources. GQL 3.3.2 is up on Motif Unix systems including Solaris, HP-UX, Irix and AIX/6000 as well as Windows and Mac OS. Prices start at $500. Pablo is Andyne’s on-line analytical processing desktop data access and reporting tool for multidimensional data and comes with a document-based interface for integrating text, graphics, tables and charts. Pablo’s analytical processing hypercube technique draws data into dimensions or categories, which bypasses data access languages such as SQL. Each hypercube dimension contains a set of members that define the data for it, or they can be organised in hierarchies for drill-down access. Pablo goes from $700. The company will also ship an SGML Standardised Generalised Mark-up Language-based Rosetta document exchange, manipulation and search engine in February. It picked up the product as part of a $2.25m acquisition of Canadian ActiveSystems Inc.
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