Database Sharing Software – FAQ

DataPortal™ is a software solution that enables secure, instant and effortless sharing and exchange of business data, in database form, over the web and across database vendors. It is the only solution currently available that enables the sharing of database data among hundreds of partners within minutes.

A database is published to a DataPortal™ server. It then becomes a datasource available to any authorized DataPortal™ client. There are different forms of the client. One form the client takes is a Java applet which can be automatically installed into a Java-enabled Web browser. So, a user needs only a Web browser and access to a target database and the datasource can be transferred directly to the user’s database of choice within the user’s own business system,  simply by pushing a button.

Unlike conventional data sharing tools, DataPortal™ requires NO development or programming effort to transfer data. Standard database tools are intended to aid with development projects so they necessarily require a development effort. Similarly, EDI solutions also require development, along with the communication, planning, staff, and expertise to support the development effort. Further, DataPortal™ transfers business securely over the Web so no special network or firewall modifications are required, sensitive databases are not exposed directly to the Internet and the features of the Web (e.g. automatic software installation using Applets, secure transfer via SSL, standard ports that normally pass through firewalls) can be exploited.

The advantage of DataPortal™ over previous solutions requiring development resources becomes clear when business data must be shared among hundreds of business partners. With DataPortal™, partners can be sharing and exchanging data within minutes, while solutions requiring collaborative development efforts could take days, weeks or longer. Further, multiple solutions must often be worked out among different partners. DataPortal™ takes advantage of the natural standards that are so widely used today, the Web and SQL based databases, to provide a solution requiring minimal effort. And the DataPortal™ solution scales to meet the needs of new partners without any additional effort, reducing the burden on new partners to join in the business processing community.

DataPortal™ is a candidate solution whenever business data needs to be shared quickly and easily with a minimal investment in resources. DataPortal™ can help provide businesses with the agility they need to respond to the demands of a dynamic business environment.

Notable examples include:

• Manufacturing / Supply Chain Management – sharing order information with hundreds of companies all over the World in minutes
• EDI Replacement: Companies needing a more agile solution to replace traditional, legacy EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
• Dynamic Sales Data Delivery: Companies needing dynamic sales data delivered to databases in the field, e.g. MS Access/Excel
• Mergers, Re-Organizations: Businesses needing to share data with new companies, departments, partners, suppliers…
• Automation of Business Processes: Companies needing to automate end-to-end business processes (sales, billing, orders, inventory.)
• Financial Data Exchange: Companies needing to exchange financial data (transactions, account info…)

Like the Web, DataPortal™ consists of a server, where databases are published, and multiple clients that can access any available DataPortal™ server. Both DataPortal™ servers and clients use Java technology so they can be deployed on any system that has Java installed so DataPortal™ works on all major operating systems. A DataPortal™ server is deployed to a Java servlet engine or application server (such as IBM WebSphere, Tomcat or JBoss). DataPortal™ clients come in different forms, including an Applet that installs on a browser automatically. There is also an available client application version which is permanently installed and is more full featured than the Applet version.

A database can be easily published, in seconds, to a DataPortal™ server by using the Web form GUI provided by the server. A published database is available to any authorized client and the client can request that the datasource be transferred to any supported database of choice. The transfer works across database vendors and over the Web. The only information required by the client is a URL location for the DataPortal™ server.

Also, similar to the Web, in the DataPortal™ pricing model, the different client versions are available at no cost. There is a fee only for DataPortal™ servers.