Flow (software)
Encyclopedia
Flow is middleware
software, which allows data integration specialists to connect disparate systems, whether they are on-premise, hosted or in the cloud; transforming and restructuring data as required between environments. Flow functionality can be utilised for data integration
projects, EDI
and data conversion activities. Flow has been created by Flow Software Ltd in NZ and is available through a variety of partner companies or directly from Flow Software in NZ and Australia.
Integration software allows organisations to continue using existing applications, overcoming the need to customize or upgrade as their requirements change. By using integration software, many businesses benefit from reduced dependence on manual keying of data and the avoidance of costs and delays caused by keying errors.
Flow can access and read from, or write to databases using either the SQL89 or SQL92 specification. Informix provides support for extended SQL use.
Flow can access and read from, or write to various file types.
code.
Email notifications of Flow process activity can also be configured.
Actions include:
, PDF
, JPEG
and XLS. Reports can be embedded into email messages if required.
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
software, which allows data integration specialists to connect disparate systems, whether they are on-premise, hosted or in the cloud; transforming and restructuring data as required between environments. Flow functionality can be utilised for data integration
Data integration
Data integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of these data.This process becomes significant in a variety of situations, which include both commercial and scientific domains...
projects, EDI
Electronic Data Interchange
Electronic data interchange is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents or business data from one computer system to another computer system, i.e...
and data conversion activities. Flow has been created by Flow Software Ltd in NZ and is available through a variety of partner companies or directly from Flow Software in NZ and Australia.
Integration software allows organisations to continue using existing applications, overcoming the need to customize or upgrade as their requirements change. By using integration software, many businesses benefit from reduced dependence on manual keying of data and the avoidance of costs and delays caused by keying errors.
Flow Software Features
Flow enables data management:- Transformation of data, within and between sets
- Generation and consumption of data, accessioning from specified sets within structures
- Transportation of data files, using various transport formats, including secure
- Specification of task work-flows
- Notification of transactions and formats via reports
Data Generation
Flow accesses and generates data in structured formats, from files or databases.Flow can access and read from, or write to databases using either the SQL89 or SQL92 specification. Informix provides support for extended SQL use.
- Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
2000 & above - Microsoft Access 97Microsoft AccessMicrosoft Office Access, previously known as Microsoft Access, is a relational database management system from Microsoft that combines the relational Microsoft Jet Database Engine with a graphical user interface and software-development tools. It is a member of the Microsoft Office suite of...
97 above - MySQL 4.xMySQLMySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
- Oracle 8iOracle DatabaseThe Oracle Database is an object-relational database management system produced and marketed by Oracle Corporation....
- InterBase 5.6InterBaseInterBase is a relational database management system currently developed and marketed by Embarcadero Technologies. InterBase is distinguished from other DBMSs by its small footprint, close to zero administration requirements, and multi-generational architecture...
- InformixInformixIBM Informix is a family of relational database management system developed by IBM. It is positioned as IBM's flagship data server for online transaction processing as well as integrated solutions...
- IBM DB2IBM DB2The IBM DB2 Enterprise Server Edition is a relational model database server developed by IBM. It primarily runs on Unix , Linux, IBM i , z/OS and Windows servers. DB2 also powers the different IBM InfoSphere Warehouse editions...
- MYOB
- Any ODBC compliant database as per the Microsoft ODBC specification
- Any ADOADO.NETADO.NET is a set of computer software components that programmers can use to access data and data services. It is a part of the base class library that is included with the Microsoft .NET Framework. It is commonly used by programmers to access and modify data stored in relational database systems,...
compliant data source as per the Microsoft ADO specification
Flow can access and read from, or write to various file types.
- Any ASCIIASCIIThe American Standard Code for Information Interchange is a character-encoding scheme based on the ordering of the English alphabet. ASCII codes represent text in computers, communications equipment, and other devices that use text...
format file - Any EDIElectronic Data InterchangeElectronic data interchange is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents or business data from one computer system to another computer system, i.e...
type file based on either UN/EDIFACT or ANSI X12 standards - Any XMLXMLExtensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
file based on XML standards such as SOAPSOAPSOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...
, XHTMLXHTMLXHTML is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language , the language in which web pages are written....
or ebXMLEbXMLElectronic Business using eXtensible Markup Language, commonly known as e-business XML, or ebXML as it is typically referred to, is a family of XML based standards sponsored by OASIS and UN/CEFACT whose mission is to provide an open, XML-based infrastructure that enables the global use of...
Data Transformation
A visual mapping engine is used to configure data transformation between data sets. Data can be restructured as it is transformed, thus allowing for dissimilar data structures between source and destination. Flow data access operates independently of the mapping layer. The applied mapping logic uses events containing Object PascalObject Pascal
Object Pascal refers to a branch of object-oriented derivatives of Pascal, mostly known as the primary programming language of Embarcadero Delphi.-Early history at Apple:...
code.
Data Transportation
Flow transports generated data and files using the following formats:- Local file access
- LANLänLän and lääni refer to the administrative divisions used in Sweden and previously in Finland. The provinces of Finland were abolished on January 1, 2010....
- FTP
- HTTP/SHypertext Transfer ProtocolThe Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web....
POST - HTTP/SHypertext Transfer ProtocolThe Hypertext Transfer Protocol is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems. HTTP is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web....
GET - SMTP
- POPPost Office ProtocolIn computing, the Post Office Protocol is an application-layer Internet standard protocol used by local e-mail clients to retrieve e-mail from a remote server over a TCP/IP connection. POP and IMAP are the two most prevalent Internet standard protocols for e-mail retrieval. Virtually all modern...
- ebMSEbXML Messaging ServicesebXML Messaging Services is a standard under the E-Business XML umbrella which provides a secure and reliable SOAP / Web Services based transport protocol to the ebXML Architecture....
- SOAPSOAPSOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...
User Interface
The Flow user interface allows users to create and processes, activate processes and view activity logs.Email notifications of Flow process activity can also be configured.
Actions
Flow uses predefined processing of events that can be executed either on schedule, or event driven. Actions and their results are logged and available via the user interface.Actions include:
- Transformation of data or files
- Generation of specific reports
- Windows-based shell commands
- Outward-bound transports of data or files
- Selected SQL statements
- Custom plugin actions
Reports
Flow includes a report writer based on the software Report Builder. The report writer can create custom notification reports providing users with details related to their transactions. Reports can be created in XMLXML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
Portable Document Format
Portable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
, JPEG
JPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
and XLS. Reports can be embedded into email messages if required.
History
Flow was created and developed by company founder Cameron Hart in North Shore City, New Zealand.External links
See also
- Data mappingData mappingData mapping is the process of creating data element mappings between two distinct data models. Data mapping is used as a first step for a wide variety of data integration tasks including:...
- Data integrationData integrationData integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of these data.This process becomes significant in a variety of situations, which include both commercial and scientific domains...
- Knowledge managementKnowledge managementKnowledge management comprises a range of strategies and practices used in an organization to identify, create, represent, distribute, and enable adoption of insights and experiences...