Products - IN.spec

IN.spec

A Data Migration Framework

IN.spec – Bytes Software Design's data integration and conversion framework - is an assembly of components, meta data and user interfaces that facilitates fast, reliable and repeatable migration of large volumes of data between disparate systems. IN.spec is designed so as to separate the task of integrating data – the original form of the source data and its extraction, and the final form of the target data and its loading – from its inherent meaning, thereby allowing an analyst to concentrate on the quality of the source data and the steps required to convert it for the target system.

Functionality

Integrates and maps source and target data definitions quickly.
Manages the source data once extracted.
Views standard reports on data groupings, counts and uniqueness.
Models and tests intelligent business rules and custom measures of data quality.
Generates the code interface that performs the conversion.

Architecture & Technical Information

The IN.spec framework and application interfaces require the Microsoft.NET™ Framework, with SQL Server™ 2000 as its native data store. IN.spec makes extensive use of XML to facilitate component communication, and to persist and render its objects.

<top>

Data Integration and Mapping

Adapter components provide a clean separation between the form of the source or target data and its schematic representation within IN.spec.

Heterogeneous data environments are addressed by different adapters.
Field, record and logical information are modeled and preserved.
Multiple sources of data may be integrated, and later output to multiple target systems.
Powerful grouping mechanisms allow the analyst to work on subsets of the data.

Managing Source Data

Using the intuitive search and view mechanisms of IN.spec, the analyst queries the extracted data without the use of a query language. Additional data may be added – coded values used by the target system, or elements missing from the source data – but IN.spec maintains the integrity of the extracted data, thus ensuring that migrations are repeatable.

Modeling Business Rules and Data Conversion

Using the rich object hierarchy of IN.spec, the analyst builds more complex measures of data quality and conformance. The use of wizards in the user interface of IN.spec - built on top of the IN.spec framework – ensures the intuitive and faultless definition of even the most complex merge, mathematical or Boolean operations. If needed, custom Java or VB script functions may also be called.
Data Conversion - Configurable source-target mapping tools accelerate the task of the analyst; in addition, custom operations may be created to further ensure that the output data conforms to the business rules of the target system. Usage reports alert the analyst to unused and unmatched fields. When a set of conversion operations is complete – saturating the target data definition – IN.spec generates code that enacts the instructions of the analyst.

Reports

IN.spec provides standard reports with which the analyst rapidly gains an understanding of the quality of the extracted data. Such reports show data counts, nulls, uniqueness, distinct groupings and keyed relationships.

<top>