ProductsDatabaseSpyGlobal Resources

Global Resources are a powerful productivity enhancer for developers, especially those who use the Altova® MissionKit® 2009. You can define global resources for access directly within XMLSpy, MapForce, StyleVision, or DatabaseSpy for seamless workflow integration.

DatabaseSpy® 2009 supports databases as Global Resources. This feature improves productivity and ease of use by simplifying common tasks in DatabaseSpy and creating tighter integration between applications for Altova MissionKit users.

When you define a database as a Global Resource, all the connection settings including user name and password are saved in the Global Resources file, easing connection to the database when you move between applications.

For instance, as you discover XML content in an unfamiliar database while browsing in DatabaseSpy® 2009, you can launch XMLSpy® 2009 and connect in a single step, selecting Global Resources in the Quick Connect Wizard for immediate access to the database as you utilize the XQuery editor and other advanced tools available in XMLSpy, the leading IDE for all XML technologies.

Similarly, you might want to explore an unfamiliar database by taking advantage of the database browser and design view features of DatabaseSpy before constructing a MapForce® 2009 mapping that will use the database as a source. Defining the database as a Global Resource in DatabaseSpy® 2009 lets you connect to it in MapForce with a single click.

When you use DatabaseSpy® 2009 to connect to any database through a Global Resource, the Project and Online Browser helper windows both use a special icon to differentiate the Global Resource from a direct database connection. In the screen shot below, Oracle 10g is connected as a Global Resource, but the database named sakila is a connected directly.

Global Resources are essentially an enhanced system of aliases. You can connect to a testing database through a Global Resource and use the DatabaseSpy® 2009 graphical Design Editor to develop and test modifications to database tables and relationships. When you are satisfied that all your modifications achieve the desired results, you can switch the Global Resources configuration to execute your change script on the live database.

When you switch to a new configuration, DatabaseSpy® 2009 automatically connects to the new database using the settings stored in the Global Resource and reminds you to update the online browser tree display.

Members of development teams who use different Altova tools to work on separate aspects of large projects can also employ centrally-managed Global Resources to efficiently share access to project components.

Find out for yourself how Global Resources can accelerate your XML, data management, and database projects. Download a free trial of the Altova® MissionKit® 2009, including DatabaseSpy® 2009, today!