What is SCRIBE?

Before SCRIBE

The traditional process of designing and programming reports was the exclusive domain of professional programmers. The skills and technical knowledge requirements included:

• at least one programming language
• GUI programming
• SQL, HTML, PDF, etc.

SCRIBE empowers virtually anyone

• Derive data from one or more databases simultaneously.
• Present it as meaningful information in a style of your choosing.

SCRIBE improves on the traditional method

It separates the process of report generation into two distinct parts. Each part is handled by its own set of graphical tools. When the report is run both components are transparent to the user.

Presentation

• Print Templates contain the data receptacles (print fields). One or more of these Print Templates make up a page prototype. Multiple page prototypes can be used within the same report.

Business Logic

• Graphical Procedures, in flowchart format, that define the reporting process logic, without having to code it.

This separation of Presentation and Business Logic:

• facilitates the construction of the report,
• allows reuse of the report components, and
• simplifies maintenance when requirements change.

SCRIBE is Web enabled

It has its own Web module (Java servlet) that allows report publishing over the Web. Reports can be requested from any Web browser and are presented in the HTML or PDF format.

Code-based programming possible

SCRIBE allows traditional, code-based programming, by providing a mechanism for incorporating new, user-defined Java classes into its inventory of Functions. This plug-in mechanism makes it possible to extend the functionality of SCRIBE in ways not provided for, or anticipated by the original design.

Programmers, incorporate SCRIBE into your Applications

SCRIBE provides an API library with RMI-based hooks to the server that can be used by other applications to run reports programmatically.