What sort of technical options does Encanvas offer to extend its capabilities with existing technology tools and data sources? Find out in this technical briefing document.
2. 2 | E N C A N V A S ®
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Contents
Extensibility Briefing ....................................................................................................................................1
Contents.......................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4
Software Applications Design ......................................................................................................................5
Third Party Software Tools And Platforms...................................................................................................7
Scanning and Printing Systems ....................................................................................................................9
Legacy Integration .....................................................................................................................................13
Host Integration.........................................................................................................................................15
Client Integration.......................................................................................................................................16
User Interfacing .........................................................................................................................................17
In Summary................................................................................................................................................18
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Introduction
About the Encanvas DX Software Platform
Encanvas DX is a software platform used to create, publish and operate Live‐Wireframe applications with ‘throw‐
away economics’. It cuts applications time‐to‐market by a factor of ten and produces applications and websites
that can be as much as ten times cheaper to operate. It’s code‐less – that means there’s no programming or
scripting needed (unless you want to programme and script!).
The majority of people and organizations that design and build software applications today have a background
in scripting and coding tools. Whilst we’ve engineered Encanvas to remove scripting and coding overheads,
today professional coders are the prime beneficiaries of the technical advances found in our software.
Organizations adopt Encanvas DX as their platform of choice for many different reasons but the key drivers are
these:
To create rightfirsttime applications faster – Encanvas DX is the fastest route to designing and
deploying right‐first‐time Rich Internet portal and mobile applications that adhere to modern
computing standards and embrace modern enterprise computing architectures.
To create secure online communities – Encanvas DX enables organizations to design and build secure
and live online communities with the added ability to embrace collaborative and social networking
tools. Encanvas enables business processes to work alongside Web 2.0 tools.
To shed costs – Encanvas delivers economies at every stage of the Application Lifecycle – simulation,
prototyping, design, build, deploy, testing, help file creation, community design, site orchestration,
maintenance, fault recovery, version release management, license management, remote support etc.
To port applications to the cloud – There are many flavors of cloud these days but essentially all web
host deployments today demand the use of Rich Internet portal technologies (like AJAX, balanced query
processing etc.) to create the standard of usability experience and accessibility that online users now
demand.
To install inclusive security – Inclusive security is a modern enterprise security concept that adopts the
rational that User Groups within and beyond the enterprise firewall must be able to be incorporated
into a security framework that considers the appropriate security provisioning for every role and
individual. Security is critical to the success of cloud computing deployments and Encanvas DX
represents one of the most secure technology architectures for portal deployments.
What is platform extensibility and why does it matter?
The term ‘platform extensibility’ is used by technologists to describe the ability of a technology platform to adapt
and integrate to its environment. Aspects of ‘environment’ include:
Software Applications Design – Integrating with popular design tools and environments (support
popular behaviours and design methods)
Third party software tools – Integrating with popular software tools
Document integration– Integration with hardware and software that supports ‘document lifecycle’
Legacy integration– Integrating with the various original sources of data
Host integration – Integrating with hosting environments (e.g. Microsoft Azure)
Client integration – Integrating with client environments (e.g. Browser compatibility)
User Interfacing – Providing a coherent user experience by integrating with in‐browser design
components and popular tools or application components; also by providing designers with the
capability to fully manipulate the usability and appearance characteristics of design elements
This document describes the extensibility characteristics of Encanvas DX and, for purposes of clarity, includes
descriptions of future planned developments and specifically what is ‘not possible’ today.
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Software Applications Design
Encanvas DX provides rich extensibility features to adhere to adopted approaches in software applications
design. It embraces popular software tools and exploits the talents of people charged with designing business
applications.
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Create custom code Custom Code Window (for C#)
Create custom script Script Window (for HTML and JavaScript)
Include custom DLLs DLL data connector
Supporting team‐based software development Microsoft Team Foundation Server Integration
Enable asset re‐use User Interface – Design templates
Resources Library
Partner Development Packs provide access to the
Encanvas ‘canvas’ design building blocks
Create custom code
Encanvas offers a Custom Code Windows design element that enables C# software programmers to bring further
enhancement to applications produced using Encanvas by custom coding. The Custom Code Window means
that programmers can write code directly into Encanvas Create Design Studio or simply paste sections of code
from their native development environment (such as Microsoft Visual Studio). The existence of a custom coding
capability enables programmers to leverage existing source code and provides the optimal extensibility for
custom applications developments.
Create custom script
In a Rich Internet web portal environment, applications designers can customize their applications using the
Custom Script Window of Encanvas. It enables scripter’s to use JavaScript or HTML custom scripting to enhance
the user experience, add ready‐to‐use components and adopt templates available from third party sources.
DLL data connector
Our DLL data connector means that custom DLLs can be embedded into the Encanvas environment. The DLL
connector enables the applications designer to specify parameters for the DLL being connected. This means any
intellectual property associated with a DLL is also protected.
Supporting teambased software development
Software development teams working on different projects or operating in remote geographies can find it
difficult to stay on the same page, manage source code and version control. Often, simple mistakes like using
the wrong version of code can have enormous consequences on software performance and robustness. Our
Remote Spaces platform ensures that development teams are always on the same page and use the latest
version of their canvases.
Encanvas Create Design Studio produces application building blocks called canvases that describe every aspect
of the business application being created. These canvases ‐ binary data structures ‐ area easily managed and
associated with project tasks using Microsoft Team Foundation Server so that all development activities are
coordinated optimized and version control mistakes are prevented.
Enable asset reuse
We’ve designed Encanvas DX to be object‐oriented at multiple levels so that applications designers can use the
same collection of components time and again. It also includes a series of features to encourage the re‐use of
source code and technical components.
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Summary of Extensibility Features
•Encanvas Create Design Studio integrates with Microsoft Foundation Server for
effective maintenance of source code libraries to prevent resources from being
misplaced or misused.
•Encanvas Information Flow Designer provides a useful Resources Library to enable
developers to publish their design components into a common library so that
transforms, logic structures and processes can be re‐used time and again.
•Dynamic linking is a mechanism that links applications to libraries at run time. The
libraries remain in their own files and are not copied into the executable files of the
applications. DLLs link to an application when the application is run, rather than when it
is created. A DLL helps to promote the development of modular programs. We've
cleverly designed the underpinning application fabric of Encanvas in such as way that
specific DLLs associated with a key architectural component ‐ such a design element,
data connector or link connectors are isolated. This means that developers can create
their own design elements (for example) without needing to be exposed to the full
architecture. We provide partners with these tools through Design Element, Data
Connector and Link Connectors.
Source code re‐use Source code re‐use
•Encanvas Create Design Studio employs highly customisable point‐and‐click design
elements that application designers can use repeatedly in applications to deliver
feature and usability capabilities.
Design element re‐useDesign element re‐use
•Designers can re‐use produced canvases in multiple projects; sometimes simply copying
and pasting entire canvases into new applications.
Canvas re‐useCanvas re‐use
•Canvases that perform key roles (such as a map, survey form, Wiki, opinion poll, search
form, crowdsource or forum) can be re‐used time and again.
Canvas templatesCanvas templates
•Most organizations adopt a common look and feel to their portal designs. With
Encanvas it's possible to perfectly re‐create established brand look and feel standards.
Once portal style‐sheets are established, any canvases created will take on the user
interface design styling.
•Encanvas DX is supplied with a series of ready‐to‐use stylesheets that can be instantly
deployed.
Portal style‐sheetsPortal style‐sheets
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Third Party Software Tools and Platforms
Encanvas DX provides rich extensibility features to work in harmony with existing and third party enterprise
software applications and componentry.
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Integration with Microsoft .NET applications Various
Integration with OLAP data structures Various
Integration with third party applications Various
Integration with secure mobile platforms Various
Integration with third party GIS systems and resources Encanvas GIS / Vector Map Format (VMF)
middle‐app™
Integration with Microsoft Windows and Office MS Interop data connector
MS Excel data connector
Integration with Microsoft Visual Studio Various
Integration with Microsoft Team Foundation Services Various
Integration with Microsoft SharePoint Portals and
Databases
SharePoint SQL data connector
Various
Integration with Oracle Portals and Databases Oracle data connector
Various
Integration with SAP Portals and Databases SAP data connector
Various
Integration with IBM WebSphere Portals and Databases IBM DB2 data connector
Various
Integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Various
Integration with SMTP email servers (including MS
Outlook)
MS Interop data connector
Integration with RSS/ATOM news‐feeds RSS/Atom data connector
Integration with Microsoft .NET applications
Encanvas is designed for optimal performance with the Microsoft .NET enterprise stack. It supports the close
integration of .NET software components. In fact, many of the design elements (such as charts) fully embrace
the capabilities of Microsoft technologies. Developers accustomed to working with Microsoft .NET design and
deployment environments with find Encanvas DX a natural extension to the computing environment they’re
familiar with. Given that Encanvas produces ASP.NET portal applications and fully embraces the Microsoft Web
Platform, application designers can employ Web Parts (also called a Web Widgets): an ASP.NET server control in
Encanvas.
Integration with OLAP data structures
For organizations seeking to exploit the benefits of Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) data warehouses we
recommend the use of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services. Encanvas offers a purpose‐built data
connector for Microsoft SQL Server.
If your organization currently operates on Oracle for its OLAP solutions we recommend Microsoft SQL Server
Migration Assistant (SSMA) for Oracle: a free tool for migrating Oracle databases to Microsoft SQL Server. SSMA
for Oracle converts Oracle database objects (including stored procedures) to SQL Server database objects, loads
those objects into SQL Server, migrates data from Oracle to SQL Server, and then validates the migration of code
and data.
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Integration with third party applications
If your organization has invested in third party business software to run its business processes or perform key
tasks such as geo‐spatial intelligence, reporting and dashboarding, there’s no need to start again. With Encanvas
DX it’s possible to get the best of cloud computing without needing to replace legacy systems and useful tools.
There are a number of ways to integrate Encanvas with third party applications. These are summarized below.
Integration with secure mobile platforms
While the mobile platform architecture of Encanvas DX is extremely secure, there are a small number of
applications that demand more stringent measures are in place should a handheld device be stolen – such as
providing a facility to instantly delete any data or data trail should a device be lost, simply by sending a message
to the handset. This is an example of the capabilities of products like Sybase iAnywhere. For these use cases,
Encanvas has produced a data connector for Sybase iAnywhere. Other custom connectors can be produced by
partners using the Encanvas Data Connector Developer Support Pack.
Integration with third party GIS systems and resources
Traditional methods of capturing and presenting geo‐spatial information have been very complex and
demanded specialist expertise. It’s not uncommon for organizations to employ dedicated experts on GIS. With
its powerful data aggregation, filtering and discovery features Encanvas DX takes geo‐spatial intelligence a step
further.
Integration with Microsoft Windows and Office
Within its .NET environment, Microsoft has established formal programmatic mechanisms to integrate between
its components that can be summarized as ‘Microsoft Interop’. Encanvas employs a data connector for
Microsoft Interop components to enable close integration with Microsoft .NET components. Microsoft employs
interop standards to integrate with its core Microsoft Office features and systems. Use of the Encanvas data
connector for Microsoft Interop enables developers to build close integrations between Encanvas and MS
Outlook email, Microsoft Project and other Microsoft Office components.
•Developers can deploy Encanvas as a third party application in the form of a Web‐Part.
Encanvas operates within this 'window' as a stand‐alone referenced application.
•Developers can deploy SharePoint resources into Encanvas in the form of a Web‐Part. The
third party application operates within this 'window' as a stand‐alone referenced
application.
Using ASP.NET Web‐PartsUsing ASP.NET Web‐Parts
•Application designers can include their own Javascript or HTML into the custom script
window design element of Encanvas Create Design Studio to reference or include third party
applications.
Using the custom script window design elementUsing the custom script window design element
•Our DLL data connector provides that maximum flexibility for developers seeking to expand
the funtionality of their Encanvas platform, mashup applications, embed 'IP‐protected' apps
and more...
DLL data connectorDLL data connector
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Integration with Microsoft Visual Studio
Encanvas DX does not currently integrate with Microsoft Visual Studio directly but it provides the ability for
software programmers to ‘plug‐in’ their Visual Studio projects into Encanvas using the Custom Coding Window
design element that supports the inclusion of C++ and C# formatted code.
Integration with Microsoft Team Foundation Services
Encanvas DX does not currently integrate with Microsoft Team Foundation Services but it does provide a facility
to publish canvases to Team Foundation Services so that they can be managed and version controlled as part of
a collaborative development.
Integration with Microsoft SharePoint Portals and Databases
There are various types of interaction possible between Microsoft SharePoint and Encanvas DX:
It's a very easy and natural task to bring the data from a Microsoft SharePoint repository into a
canvas. In this scenario, the data from an existing (or new) Microsoft SharePoint application can be
used within Encanvas DX alongside any other data being mashed up by Encanvas, making use of all the
functionality available through the canvas.
Encanvas publishes applications as an HTML page without requiring plug‐ins or downloads. SharePoint
Portal Services Page Viewer Web Part is used to present Encanvas Web‐based applications within the
SharePoint interface. Encanvas applications are isolated from other content in SharePoint through the
use of the HTML IFRAME that ensures there are no conflicts with other HTML elements on the Web
Part Page. Use the Page Viewer Web Part only in a browser that supports the HTML IFRAME element.
Displaying a file or folder requires Microsoft Internet Explorer. Using the integration Web‐part built
into Microsoft SharePoint it's easy to expose an Encanvas application through an existing (or new)
Microsoft SharePoint portal. We're busy developing a new custom Web‐part that will allow for even
closer integration between an Encanvas instance and a hosting SharePoint portal, allowing for the direct
passage of data between the two.
A Microsoft SharePoint portal page can be very easily and simply exposed as a part of an Encanvas
application ‐ either on its own beneath a site menu tab (on an equivalent footing with any canvases in
the site) or within a frame on a canvas.
Integration with Oracle Fusion Portals and Databases
Encanvas publishes its applications as HTML pages without requiring plug‐ins or downloads. These pages are
deployed in an Oracle Portlet. The surrounding HTML page is specified in Oracle Application Server Portal so
that the surrounding page can already be presented in the browser while the Encanvas application is being
loaded. Oracle Application Server Portal (10.1.4 or higher) enables authors to publish Oracle Portlets into an
Oracle Portal page that knows nothing about the Encanvas applications apart from a URL calling the application
on a certain Oracle Portal installation. This loose coupling creates no dependencies between an Encanvas
application and Oracle Portal. Note that only Internet Explorer is supported by Oracle.
Integration with SAP NetWeaver Portals and Databases
With Encanvas you can quickly develop dynamic, Web‐based applications that run in a Web browser. SAP
NetWeaver Portal unifies data and applications, presenting a single view of diverse information in a flexible,
secure environment. Clearly, the two technologies work well together. With the SAP NetWeaver ’04 release,
SAP introduced support for IFrames configured by the Enterprise Portal Client‐Side Framework (EPCS). SAP
NetWeaver Portal knows nothing about the Encanvas applications apart from a URL calling the application on a
certain SAP NetWeaver installation. This loose coupling creates no dependencies between an Encanvas
application and SAP NetWeaver Portal. Note that only Internet Explorer is supported by SAP NetWeaver.
Integration with IBM WebSphere Portals and Databases
Encanvas allows you to quickly develop Web‐based applications that run in a Web browser. IBM WebSphere
Portal Server unifies data and applications, presenting a single view of diverse information in a flexible, secure
environment for IBM computing platforms. IBM WebSphere Portal Server provides a Web Page Portlet which
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enables the integration of Encanvas via an iFrame URL resource. IBM WebSphere Portal Server knows nothing
about the Encanvas applications apart from a URL calling the application on a certain IBM WebSphere
installation. This loose coupling creates no dependencies between an Encanvas application and IBM WebSphere
Portal Server. Note that only Internet Explorer is supported by IBM WebSphere.
Integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Encanvas publishes applications as an HTML page without requiring plug‐ins or downloads. Applications can be
embedded within a Microsoft Dynamics CRM form using the form editor in the client as an IFRAME. Designers
can configure an IFRAME to restrict cross‐frame scripting for security purposes and set options such as
formatting and scrolling. This feature is only available for use with a browser that supports the HTML IFRAME
element. Displaying a file or folder requires Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Integration with SMTP email servers (including MS Outlook)
Encanvas DX connects to SMTP email servers using the Microsoft Interop data connector. This enables data
from email to be integrated into applications. It also means that email notification processes and workflows are
easily implemented.
Integration with RSS/ATOM newsfeeds
Encanvas DX has a data connector for RSS and ATOM feeds which means it can important RSS/ ATOM feeds and
also publish them. We expect to develop design elements in the coming year to support simplified publishing of
RSS/ATOM feeds from workspaces. Once received, data can be analyzed, presented and shared.
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Scanning and Printing (Document Lifecycle) Systems
Encanvas DX supports close integration with document life‐cycle components such as scanning and printing
systems, document formatting and output distribution, digital content management and archival systems. In
this section we describe these capabilities.
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Scanning Various
Uploading documents and content Upload data connector
Downloading documents and content Download data connector
Digital media capture and presentation Various
Formatted content output PDF data connector
XML data connector
RTF template design element
Excel data connector
Print distribution of documents and contents PDF data connector
PDF template design element
Electronic distribution of documents and content Action Button command (Email)
XML data connector
PDF data connector
Content management Various
Document archival Directory data connector enables a third party
directory to be referenced. Once referenced, authors
can specify (through data connector options) which
files or file types should be returned.
Uploading documents and content
Encanvas DX provides a file upload design element to enable uploading of files to document mixed media digital
stores created on a Web Server or Cloud. Application designers can configure canvases to enable publishers to
capture meta‐data such as the title of the document, description of content, date created, creator, topic, focus
areas etc. by providing custom data entry fields (drop‐down, radio button, freeform data entry).
Downloading documents and content
Encanvas DX includes a file download design element to enable downloading of files to rich media digital stores
created on a Web Server or Cloud. Application designers can configure canvases to enable publishers to search
across meta‐data to find relevant content such as the title of the document, description of content, date created,
creator, topic, focus areas etc. by providing custom data entry fields (drop‐down, radio button, freeform data
entry).
Digital media capture and presentation
Encanvas DX includes support for rich media content such as video and images. All major types of image format
used on the web are supported (included avatars, GIF, JPEG, PNG etc.).
Formatted content output
Provision is made for the templated formatting of content. Design elements are provided to support the online
presentment of formatted data using HTML (Custom Script Window) and Rich‐Text Format (RTF) or Portable
Data Format (PDF) output. The design of templates is accomplished by using MS Wordpad as a design tool to
create formatting and placement of fields (square brackets surround field names to determine placement of
12. 12 | E N C A N V A S ®
fields). Completed articles can be saved as HTML or RTF and deployed by Encanvas Create. Another option is to
export data by RTF, CSV or XLS formats and employ MS Excel or MS Word to apply custom formatting.
Print distribution of documents and content
Provision is made for formatted print output. A series of features are made available to applications designers
for this purpose. These include the ability to print directly from web pages, print and distribution of formatted
electronic documents using the Portable Data Format (PDF) data connector.
We are currently developing an output template designer to improve print functionality. In addition, we plan in
the very near future to create data connectors for the more common printer languages including Postscript and
PCL.
Electronic distribution of document and content
The most common data type for electronic document distribution is Portable Data Format (PDF). Encanvas
includes a PDF data connector for publishing to PDF. Once in PDF format, content can be distributed by email,
file transfer or via secure web‐chat (Squork).
Content management
Encanvas integrates with various content management solutions that adhere to Microsoft interoperability
standards; the most notable being Microsoft SharePoint although there are a wide range of third‐party
Enterprise Content Management solutions available that provide robust management of documents and rich
media content. For purposes of web content assets, Encanvas DX itself fulfils the content governance role.
Document archival
Encanvas’ file transfer system provides support for long‐term storage of documents and enables applications
designers to create archival and governance regimes over storage and retention parameters of document stores.
It enables full traceability of user behaviors surrounding document use including provision to integrate with
Microsoft Outlook email via Microsoft Interop data connector to formalize long‐term storage management for
email.
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Legacy Integration
Encanvas DX provides powerful data connection features to support legacy systems platforms and silo‐based
business applications.
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Integration with business software applications ODBC data connector
REST data connector
XML/WSDL data connector
Integration with CORBA compliant databases Various
Mainframe environments Various
Legacy GIS and CAD systems environments Encanvas GIS / Vector Map Format middle‐app™
Integration with business software applications
Organizations want to integrate with business software applications in a number of ways:
Interim data marts: There are times when it’s not clear what data exists, where it is or how valuable it might be
when aggregated. Encanvas DX includes a wide range of data connectors and data mashup tools to enable
organizations to rapidly harvest their data and build new data structures that may be used to respond to a given
situation – with the robustness and scalability to sustain as core business systems.
Single purpose data marts: In some instances, organizations require a new data management structure for an
application. In this case, Encanvas provides the tools needed to acquire data, create and maintain new database
structures.
Services Oriented Architecture (SOA): For organizations seeking to implement a services oriented architecture,
Encanvas provides the tools needed to design web services libraries that enable the re‐use of web services for
multiple use cases. This approach means that core back‐office systems are not constantly being barraged by
requests from a myriad of third party systems (with an inevitable impact on systems performance).
The most common forms of data integration are:
XML and web services (Web Services Description Language is based on XML): To support XML and WSDL data
structures, Encanvas DX provides a tailorable data connector (note the tailorability of the connector is important
because standards for WSDL are not sufficiently robust to ensure right‐first‐time integration).
REST: A data connector is provided to integrate with REST whereby data structures are saved to a URL for
recovery. This approach is becoming more favored by technology architects because it offers simpler integration
and re‐use compared to WSDL.
ODBC: Open Database Compliant (ODBC) interfaces are the most common form of database interoperability
used by database vendors to provide interoperability. Encanvas DX offers an ODBC data connector for simple
2‐way integration with database systems including Oracle, IBM DB2/DB400, Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase.
Integration with CORBA compliant databases
CORBA is a legacy database structural design method favored by the transport industry in Europe. It demands
that data is retained in industry‐designated structures. Encanvas DX has a track record of integration projects
honoring the CORBA standard. What makes this possible is the rich data mashup and data structure design
features built into Encanvas Create Design Studio.
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Mainframe environments
Currently the only mainframe database structure supported by Encanvas DX is IBM DB2. However, we’ve
designed the application fabric of Encanvas DX so that partners can develop their own data connectors to closely
integrate mainframe environments with Encanvas. It normally takes less than 6‐weeks to develop a new
database connector.
Legacy GIS and CAD systems environments
Encanvas DX includes spatial and rich media integration features to harvest existing spatial and technical
drawing assets. Assets that can be consumed by Encanvas include ESRI Shapefiles, Pitney Bowes MapInfo TAB
and .MIF files and CAD drawing formats such as DWG.
Shapefiles are a popular geospatial vector data format for geographic information systems developed
by ESRI. Shapefiles spatially describe geometries: points, lines and polygons. These, for example, could
represent water wells, rivers, and lakes, respectively. Each item may also have attributes that describe
the items, such as the name or temperature.
MapInfo is a provider of GIS software. MapInfo data is in two files — the graphics reside in a .MIF
(MapInfo Data Interchange Format) file and textual data is contained in a .MID file. The textual data is
delimited data, with one row per record and either Carriage Return, Carriage Return plus Line Feed, or
Line Feed between lines. The MIF file has two areas — the file header area and the data section.
Information on how to create MapInfo tables is in the header; the graphical object while definitions are
in the data section. The MapInfo TAB format is another popular geospatial vector data format for
geographic information systems software. It is developed and regulated by MapInfo as a proprietary
format. MapInfo TAB provides a table structure in ASCII format.
DWG ("drawing") is a format used for storing two and three dimensional design data and metadata. It
is the native format for several CAD packages including AutoCAD, Intellicad and Caddie. DWG is
supported non‐natively by many other CAD applications.
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Host Integration
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Deployment onASP.NET webserver platform Various
Deployment on LAMP web server platform Various
Deployment on Microsoft Azure cloud platform Various
Deployment on Google cloud platform Various
Deployment on Oracle cloud platform Various
Deployment on AWS (Amazon) cloud platform Various
Deployment on ASP.NET web server platform
Encanvas DX produces ASP.NET Rich Internet applications. Where ASP.NET applications already exist it’s easy
to integrate using Web‐parts.
Deployment on LAMP web server platform
Encanvas DX today doesn’t run natively on LAMP architecture although it’s possible to blend both LAMP and
ASP.NET environments using the native extensibility features of the Microsoft Web Platform.
Further information on integration with cloud platforms will follow.
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Browser/Client Integration
Encanvas DX is designed to work on popular web browser without compromising user interface creativity or
query performance. It employs AJAX controls and in‐memory processing in the client environment to deliver
accessible, responsive easy to navigate user pages: an altogether friendly user experience.
Sometimes richer performance can be achieved by integrating more closely with client environments. For
example, sometimes it’s not possible to obtain online access to web servers and so localized communications
become necessary. On other occasions, hardware vendors create user communities that come to expect their
applications to look and work in a particular way (such as the Apple iPhone) and so it becomes helpful to adhere
to these usability standards to remove any friction created by asking users to change the way they work.
Encanvas DX works in a smart way to maximize usability and accessibility whilst minimizing client processing
overheads and the need for users to learn new things.
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Microsoft Internet Explorer Encanvas Web Server
Google Chrome Encanvas Web Server
Mozilla Firefox Encanvas Web Server
Apple Safari Encanvas Web Server
PCs running Microsoft XP, Vista and Windows
7,8,9,10
Encanvas PC Client
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Full implementation of browser support for Microsoft Internet Explorer version 8 onwards requiring no
downloads or installs unless applications are created that consume third party components requiring plug‐ins
such as Microsoft Silverlight or Adobe Flash.
Google Chrome
Full implementation of browser support for all versions of Google Chrome requiring no downloads or installs
unless applications are created that consume third party components requiring plug‐ins such as Microsoft
Silverlight or Adobe Flash. For non‐Microsoft users we recommend Google Chrome for its performance and rich
look‐and‐feel qualities.
Mozilla Firefox
Full implementation of browser support for Mozilla Firefox requiring no downloads or installs unless applications
are created that consume third party components requiring plug‐ins such as Microsoft Silverlight or Adobe Flash.
Apple Safari
Full implementation of browser support for Apple Safari requiring no downloads or installs unless applications
are created that consume third party components requiring plug‐ins such as Microsoft Silverlight or Adobe Flash.
To‐date Apple Safari does not support multiple tabs. This makes it more difficult for users to navigate multiple
web sessions at the same time.
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User Interfacing
Encanvas DX fully leverages the advantages of Rich Internet technology to provide highly responsive, friendly
and accessible applications.
The extensibility capabilities described in this section are:
Capability Feature
Creating Rich Internet experiences Web Server Manager
Editing CSS style‐sheets CSS Style‐sheet editor
Enriching sites with Rich Media Embedding streaming video, Microsoft Silverlight and
Adobe Flash
Adding social networking and Web 2.0 features Squork
RSS/ATOM data connectors
Honoring accessibility standards WCAG 2.0 (WAI)
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
Creating Rich Internet experiences
Encanvas DX Web Server Manager provides user interface designers with the tools to take full control of every
pixel area of the user interface without requiring them to know how to script or code.
Editing CSS stylesheets
CSS style‐sheets are the way the majority of scripter’s today create websites. In fact, Encanvas DX produces
Cascading Style‐sheet scripts but it does it efficiently and without the need to know how to script. For seasoned
CSS practitioners Encanvas provides a style‐sheet viewing and editing environment.
Enriching sites with Rich Media
‘Rich Internet’ a term used to describe a new generation of software that’s built on modern Web Architectures
and produces rich media, fluid screens and intuitive interfaces that don’t require site visitors to read a User
Manual to embrace them! Rich Internet sites dramatically reduce the amount of ‘screen clutter’ (because you
only need to present to site visitors what they’re interested in rather than having to present everything they
might need on ‘static screens’), and you can significantly reduce the number of fields that visitors are required
to manually complete because conditional panels and fields appear based on previous responses. This makes
the user experience responsive and therefore more enjoyable.
Honoring accessibility standards
Encanvas DX complies with DDA compliance standards within the application of its design elements. However,
for applications that employ third party components or custom code or script elements, it becomes the
responsibility of the design authority to specify solutions that adhere to the latest standards of compliance.
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In Summary
Encanvas DX is the third generation of secure, community‐based portal technology created by Encanvas.
Having been designed by a team with the large enterprise computing experiences gained from deploying the
first generation of technology, the foundation of core code is extremely compact and involves the tight coupling
of integrated building blocks. We believe that it is today the most extensible Rich Internet Portal architecture
because it has been thoughtfully designed to harvest existing investments in skills, talents, tools and methods
at every stage of the applications lifecycle – adding instant value without demanding a fundamental change in
behaviours.
What stands out between Encanvas DX and traditional Enterprise Content Management and Portal platforms is
its Live‐Wireframing objectivity and its ability to extend networks and processes beyond the boundaries of an
enterprise in a manner that is both secure (thanks to its security model) and more engaging (thanks to its social
relationship management and collaboration tools).
From an operational perspective, its role is almost transparent: it takes care of portal design, accessibility,
deployment, administration and scalability, version governance, security governance, community governance
and data governance issues without imposing limitations or restrictions on how applications are designed and
used.
Simply put, Encanvas DX installs a step‐change in the operational effectiveness of IT and achieves business
results faster and more completely than other portal platforms without introducing compromises.
For more information about Encanvas DX visit www.encanvas.com.