When Objective Software Inc launched its new version of business analysis tool, SpreadBase, for client-server computing on Monday, it also provided details of its joint technology agreement with Brio Technology Inc. SpreadBase is described as the first category-based modelling tool. It enables users to create and maintain dynamic data models that are defined and manipulated at the highest level, by category. These categories control the behaviour of individual data elements. As a result, users are free to focus on high-level analysis, and don’t need to waste time on details, such as row or column management, usually necessary when manipulating a spreadsheet. SpreadBase provides users with a means of analysing structured data – as client-server environments have become more widespread, users have begun accessing corporate data on relational database servers, using them as decision support tools. Such information is organised in records as structured data. SpreadBase enables users to work with the records in a more flexible way than with traditional or multi-dimensional spreadsheets. The new version has seen capacity more than triple, from 4,000 record range to 12,000 plus. And it now also supports Apple Computer Inc’s Data Access Manager as well as providing future compatibility and support for AppleScript. By working together, Ojective Software and Brio intend to develop complementary data access and data analysis technologies, so that users can undertake business modelling in a client-server environment. To date, they have integrated SpreadBase with Brio’s DataPrism – a graphical ad hoc data access query tool for the Macintosh, which enables non-technical users to access corporate databases without needing programming skills. Users with no knowledge of SQL can extract information from local and remote relational databases via a point-and-click interface. DataPrism is able to understand the relationships between tables, which means that it is easy to build queries. By bundling the two products together, the two companies have provided SpreadBase 1.1 with direct access to relational databases via DataPrism.
Access to server data managers
Furthermore, DataPrism provides SpreadBase with full access to server data managers via all the major application programming interfaces. Data comes directly into SpreadBase via DataPrism no translation is necessary and there is no loss of metadata information on import. Because SpreadBase can access DataPrism queries and documents and vice versa directly, it is possible to transfer data from server database management systems as Structured Data Objects. These objects don’t just pass data values, but field names and types as well. If the structure of the data is maintained, it can easily be merged with existing models. But if data is imported to a spreadsheet, the imported data’s structure must be stripped away, and this severs the intelligent data connection between server and client. Both Objective Software and Brio will market and sell SpreadBase 1.1 and DataPrism 2.1 bundled together. The product will be available as of May 1993 at an introductory price of $700. They will also provide training and consulting services via their support and application engineering staff. While DataPrism is currently available on both the Macintosh and Windows, a SpreadBase version for Windows is currently being developed and will ship in late 1993. Redwood City, California-based Objective Software was founded in 1988 by Richard Melmon, Stanley Roach, Michael Korns, and Kyle Mashima with the aim of providing advanced business data analysis tools for client-server computing. Mountain View, California-based Brio Technology Inc was set up in 1984, and develops cross-system software for desktop data access in a client-server environment. Brio’s integrated family of products are designed to enable non-technical end-users to query, analyse and update corporate databases from Macintosh and Windows computers.
