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Database

InFoCAD houses a completely internal and fully featured Graphical-Relational Database Management System (G-RDBMS)

InFoCAD provides complete database security through its users profiles, database view masking, data encryption, and data dictionary. InFoCAD’s common data dictionary serves as a repository for all database standard definition files (SDFs) and may be used to encrypt flat data files. Because of its internal database, InFoCAD does not require patches or simplistic interfaces to an external DBMS, although the flexibility inherent to InFoCAD enables it to accommodate hooks to a remote database. The main advantage to having an internal DBMS is that it results in lower implementation costs, lower training and maintenance fees, and increased performance due to easy accessibility of the data.

InFoCAD’s database manager works with an index structure and uses the concept of record collections. A record collection is nothing more than a group of records from a database. It is easily created and saved to a file for reporting, display, or analysis. InFoCAD’s database manager provides for graphical and non-graphical databases. The G-RDBMS accommodates user-defined data storage fields, table fields which cross-reference other databases, and equation fields for calculations.

InFoCAD also provides users with nine graphic database models: The Simple Point, COGO, Segment Topology, Segment Network, Figure, Address, Block, and Image Schematic models. Each model has special graphical fields designed for use with a particular type of graphic entity, such as segment, figure, or COGO point.

InFoCAD’s database commands are accessed through the DB Module, which contains all the database management commands, including the data dictionary manager, the database build utility, the tag manager, the custom database view manager, the database spreadsheet, the restructure utility, and the SQL spreadsheet, the restructure utility, and the SQL command, among others.

Structured Query Language

InFoCAD’s database management system contains a powerful Structured Query Language (SQL) utility that provides for graphical extensions and accommodates an image retrieval system.

InFoCAD offers an Adhoc SQL panel that enables users to easily generate sophisticated queries with graphic, image, video, and formatted reporting using a simple push-button interface. The Adhoc SQL panel provides users with complete over record tag., image, and video display as well as screen, file, and form reports.

InFoCAD automatically generates the query language based on the selected options and places it in an editor. This enables users to bypass learning complicated syntax, yet perform complex queries. InFoCAD’s SQL can work with the entire database, the current collection, or a saved collection of records. It will also automatically save the resulting record collection for use in further analysis or thematic mapping. InFoCAD also provides a "scratchpad" for users who prefer to write their own queries, and a "find" command with graphical extensions to perform quick queries.

Standard Data Format

InFoCAD databases are made up of two files, the SDF and the SAM files. The SDF file contains the structure of the database such as the field definitions, and the SAM file is a large file that contains the actual data.

Users can easily and quickly build the two files using the DB BUILD and DB ADD commands. The user merely answers a series of prompts and the files are appropriately built, The SDF is automatically stored in the data dictionary, and can be encrypted for additional security.

An InFoCAD database can have a maximum record size of 4,000 bytes and can contain up to 500 fields.

Storage fields include Character, Numeric, (integer and real), Date Picture fields. Document fields allow ASCII files of any size to be associated to a record, and Picture fields allow users to define images or video files to be associated with a record. Equation fields hold user-defined equations, which users specify using standard mathematical symbols. The value in an equation field is the result of the contained equation.

The relational nature of the database management system can be visualized through the use of Table fields. Table fields use a special feature called Table Key Lookups which create links between databases and are used to reference these databases in order to return field values.

With the table Key Lookup feature, users can define as many as ten reference tables (links) within one database. In other words, from any one database, a user can store or retrieve data from up to ten additional databases. This eliminates redundant data and means that not all data must be stored in a single database. This greatly increases InFoCAD’s data storage and retrieval performance.

InFoCAD’s database manager supports the following four key types: key duplicate, key non-duplicate, multiple field key duplicate, and multiple field key non-duplicate. A multiple filed key is used to assign a key value to a range of fields, as opposed to a single field. Users may also assign special attributes to fields, as is discussed In the section entitled Custom Views.

Data Dictionary

The data dictionary is an internal file system that stores and maintains databases within InFoCAD and is managed by a utility in the database module.

All databases must be imported into data dictionary before they can be accessed from inside InFoCAD. At the time of creation, databases are assigned an owner as well as permissions for the group and world. The data dictionary controls the users’ access to the databases through these permissions, and therefore provides for maximum security of sensitive data.

The data dictionary executes several operations which help the user organize and control the data. For example, one command is used to find information in the databases according to either a specified field, table reference, user identification code, or remark and will then report its findings to the user.

Standard Database Models

InFoCAD supports four basic types of databases: Non-graphic, Point, Segment, and Figure. There are nine graphic database models, each of which is either a Point, a Segment, or Figure type, and one non-graphic model. The graphic database models are explained briefly below:

• Simple Point databases are used when database records do not need to be attached to specific graphic entities such as COGO points or segments. Rather the records are merely referenced to x, y, and z coordinates in the drawing Library.
• Address Point databases are used in conjunction with a Network database. They are designed to contain addresses and provide capabilities while geocoding or performing network routing.
• Block Point databases are used to attach records to blocks, which ear special graphics entities used primarily when placing symbols in drawings.
• COGO Point databases allow the user to attach records to COGO points in the Library. The record information is attached to the COGO point itself and therefore remains attached to it if the x, y, and z coordinates of the point are modified.
• Segment Topology databases attach information to segments and can maintain topological information, such as what figures are to the right and left of the segment.
• Segment Network databases are used to perform network routing and analysis, and can work in conjunction with Address databases. This is a special Segment database designed to hold impedance factors, from/to points, and more.
• Figure databases holds record that are associated with figures. Figures and Figure databases are used for spatial analysis and are the mainstay of a GIS.
• Image Schematic Point databases allow users to create a hierarchical structure of image file that interrelate with each other.
• The Geographic Lat./Long database is actually a pair of database fields that can be added to any graphic database. The purpose of the two fields is to hold the latitude and longtime coordinates (in the appropriate projection system) of the record tag.

Spreadsheet

InFoCAD includes a database Spreadsheet that provides users with both traditional and unique spreadsheet capabilities and allows for direct modification of database records.

All the traditional spreadsheet commands such a COPY, MOVE, EDIT, SEARCH, and REPLACE are available in InFoCAD’s spreadsheet.

In addition, unique spatial functions that relate the spreadsheet and database to the Library’s graphic are provided. For example, when a user selects a record in the spreadsheet, InFoCAD automatically highlights to shades the corresponding graphic on the display. Conversely, when a user graphically locates a graphic, the corresponding record in the spreadsheet is selected and highlighted.

The spreadsheet also provides users with instant access to custom database views foe editing or listing. This feature may also be accessed from inside InFoCAD’s Thematic Mapper. Other spreadsheet functions include:

• full database record viewing and editing functions, including the use of custom views,
• formula and individual cell editing,
• column "aliases"’
• the ability to hide columns, and more

This Database Spreadsheet utility continues InFoCAD’s tradition of functionality and ease of use.

In addition to InFoCAD's internal Spreadsheet, the Windows 95 and NT products also support import and export to and from external programs such as Excel, Paradox, Quattro Pro, Access, Lotus 123 and others.

Restructure

InFoCAD’s G-RDBMS includes a restructure command that allows the user to easily modify the SDF or structure file of an existing database. This command also contains an intuitive push-button menu that allows users to easily add new database fields, drop fields, or change the specifications of existing fields, including the key value.

Once a user makes the desired structural modifications, assuming proper access to the database, InFoCAD automatically updates the SDF and replaces it in the data dictionary. InFoCAD also modifies the data or SAM file to fit the new structure.

This feature not only enables to easily restructure existing databases, but also provides a tool for modifying imported databases, if needed.

Custom Views

In InFoCAD, databases views are the means by which database records are accessed for both data entry and record display. InFoCAD provides a database view manager that enables users to create exciting and intricate view.

These data entry and record display views are defined in the SDF field and can contain full color images, video files, color graphics, pie and bar charts, as well as field attributes.

The attribute which may be added to fields include:

• View - Only
• Response required
• Default data
• Range Validation Checking
• Field Data Selection

These attributes provide generated in this command are accessed via the database edit and list commands as well as through the SQL and Thematic Mapping commands.

The ability to customize the data entry and display panels results not only in the more efficient storage and retrieval of information, but also in its attractive and coherent display, thus maximizing the effectiveness of available data.

Additional Features

InFoCAD features several commands that automatically populate the following database types: Simple Point, Block, COGO, Figure Network, or Segment, with record tag coordinates, area, and/or perimeter information.

Populating a database involves creating records for graphic elements, establishing the link between the records and the graphics, and updating attribute information that relates to the graphic elements, such as length or area.

Other features enable users to display record tags using field data, symbols,pie charts, bar charts or images. One may also display record tags from multiple record collections, dynamically display street information, and dynamically zoom into record collections.