Megapolis™ 2.0 Open Source Technology uses an object oriented approach to the description of data domains on the basis of methods and concepts which are appropriate for UML specification (Universal Model Language) and the descriptions of classes (objects) are contained in stores which use relational databases. The system is implemented in an n-tier architecture, providing the Client applications, Object Server and Data storage.
The industrial-strength Database Management System (DBMS) has high reliability and speed, and is used in this architecture for effective storage of objects and other necessary data. On the Object Server the logic of the developed application will be centrally stored and available.
Megapolis™ 2.0 Technology is based on usage of the COM/DCOM technology. The Applications Server (Megapolis™ Object Server) functions under control by COM+ for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server.
The Client’s link with the server is made possible using DCOM technology. It’s also possible to create a “thin” client-tier, which interacts with the Applications Server on the basis of the ASP technology (Active Server Pages).
The Applications Server’s connection with a DBMS is performed on the basis of the OLE DB and ADO technologies (v. 2.6). A large part of complex data structures (the description of forms and reports, DBMS-independent SQL-syntax format) is stored in the XML format. The same format is used for the data exchange between the system and external applications.
Any relational DBMS supporting the ANSI SQL standard can be used. The standard supply of Megapolis™ 2.0 Technology contains Oracle DB support tools (plug-ins for other DBMSs are supplied separately). The user can also develop plug-ins that will support any chosen DBMS.
Features
Application Server
Application Server is a system kernel working with a meta-model of the system in real time. It supports methods realizations of such objects as COM, SQL, VBScript and JScript, and it also supports distributed transactions. The Applications Server works in a COM+ environment under MS Windows 2000.
The UML-based description of data domain
Application development in the Megapolis environment always starts from construction of a functional model for this application. This model is created within the framework of object-oriented approach using UML concepts and methods (Universal Model Language).
Objects Designer
Objects Designer allows one to describe the data model using UML. In particular, there are objects, their parents, and attributes, and links with other objects are determined. Objects Designer partially defines the functioning of the created objects, i.e., those properties, operations, and possible states are set, which should be supported by the created object. The Objects Designer also includes conversion functions – turning the constructed object model into a form that is suitable for storage in a relational database. The functionality of Objects Designer can be extended through usage of plug-ins. The Objects Designer has a set of standard extensions, including:
· Objects Mapping
· Import of COM-objects into Megapolis™ objects
· Generation of source code for Visual Basic and Delphi 5
· Generation standard method for persist objects
Standard Console for user interface
Megapolis™ provides the developer the ability to integrate all user interfaces in a standard and unified working space. For this purpose, Megapolis has a special tool – the Navigator. It allows displaying the multifunctional windows, where the information is visualized by plug-ins. Using existing wizards, the developer can easily create new plug-ins for the Navigator.
Report Builder
Main features of the Report Builder are:
· Visual reports development
· Reusability of object methods
· Reusabile report generation both on the client and/or the server
· Integration of event handlers with report generation.
Universal Dictionaries System
· Basic characteristics:
· Fast user interface development
· Multilevel master/detail view
· Calling sub dictionaries
· Multiple grouping and sorting
· Searching and filtering
· Intermediate totals
· Export in XML, MS Excel, Html and text
· Printing and print preview capability
· Creation of event handlers
· Integration with Navigator
Megapolis™ OLAP Service
· Fast visual development of repositories based on the existing class structure
· Suport for various storage construction models (ROLAP, MOLAP, HOLAP)
· Support for Microsoft Analysis Services
· Use of any data sources that support OLE DB
· Power built - in client tools of a tabular and graphics data analysis of storage
· Administration of access rights at the level of measurement units and cells
· Integration with MS Office applications
Megapolis™ MS VBA integration
· Possibility of Megapolis objects access from the VBA and vice versa
· All capabilities of the integrated development environment are supported
Megapolis™ State Machine
· Complies with UML 1.3 standards for state models of Ě2
· Precise layers sharing: significant part business - logics can be presented by State Machine
· Event model: objects are event-driven
· Flexibility and expandability: the objects of established subsystems can react to events generated by existing subsystems
· High scalability: uses MSMQ as queues of events
Features and Benefits
· Supports complete applications development lifecycle
· Systems modeling capability
· Based on UML standard
· Close integration of business analyst, designer and programmer activities
· Powerful toolset provides fast applications development
· Extensive reuse of previously developed systems and components
· Scalable and extensible
· Uses any RAD tool that supports COM
· Simplicity of training and usage
· Decreased life-cycle costs
· Mature product support
Megapolis
