"Simba Technologies provided ExactOne with a winning ODBC data connectivity solution. Using SimbaEngine SDK we were able to build a customized ODBC Driver that integrated with our XML-based Query Engine Platform enabling us to extend this platform for use within the enterprise. They provided a quality product and unsurpassed expertise in developing this very unique and powerful data connectivity solution for us."
-VP of Technology, ExactOne Inc.
ExactOne required an ODBC interface for its Query Engine Platform. The business objective was clear - to extend use of this platform to the enterprise by allowing users to conduct searches from any Windows application. In order to accommodate the needs of their enterprise customers, ExactOne was required to incorporate an ODBC driver into the Query Engine Platform to permit connectivity to the Windows environment, while ensuring that the solution met stringent technical and business requirements.
Simba built an ODBC driver for its Query Engine Platform by customizing SimbaEngine SDK. This process involved mapping the Data Records Manager (DRM) layer of SimbaEngine SDK to that portion of the platform where search queries are dynamically generated. As part of this rigorous process, Simba tested and optimized the resulting ODBC driver to ensure that it met the necessary performance specifications and full support for Windows.
Simba was able to provide ExactOne with a unique connectivity solution that allowed them to better target users with the Query Engine Platform by enabling access from many popular Windows-based reporting applications. This allowed ExactOne to increase the attractiveness of their product offering and greatly broaden their target customer base. Moreover, the speed and performance of the Query Engine Platform dramatically improved with the integration of the ODBC Driver created using SimbaEngine SDK.
ExactOne, Inc. (ExactOne) is a data integration infrastructure and software provider that allows businesses to maximize the value of their current enterprise and web applications by providing real-time data access.
ExactOne developed a database-free search engine called the ExactOne Query Engine Platform, which sends dynamically generated XML based queries over the Internet to specific online data sources such as search engines, websites and online databases that are indexed to a specific search term. This platform is a specialized application server that is designed to provide real-time extraction, transformation and integration of data from multiple heterogeneous data sources.
The Query Engine Platform crawls the Internet to obtain information from various sources, and reassembles this information into an XML data stream sent back to the client. It receives search results that are displayed in XML format for viewing as well as hyperlink access by a user. This product offers consolidated Internet search capabilities to ExactOne customers thereby providing a more time efficient and extensive web search experience.
Simba Technologies Inc. (Simba) offers SimbaEngine SDK a Software Development Toolkit (SDK) that incorporates a full SQL Engine and provides ODBC, JDBC, OLE DB, ADO and ADO.NET connectivity to underlying proprietary data sources.
The design team at ExactOne required an ODBC interface for the Query Engine Platform so that users could send and receive search commands from any Windows application in addition to accessing the platform using an Internet browser.
ExactOne selected Simba due to the proven superior functionality and stability of SimbaEngine SDK as well as the extensive experience of the Simba team in developing ODBC connectivity solutions for a variety of development platforms, including Windows. Simba's long history in the ODBC marketplace and its long list of blue-chip clients, who have licensed SimbaEngine SDK, were also notable factors in this decision.
ExactOne required an ODBC interface for its Query Engine Platform. The business objective was clear - to extend use of this platform to the enterprise by allowing users to conduct searches from any Windows application.
In order to accommodate the needs of their enterprise customers, ExactOne was required to incorporate an ODBC driver into the Query Engine Platform to permit connectivity to the Windows environment while ensuring that the solution met stringent technical and business requirements.
ExactOne leveraged Simba's core competency in data connectivity to ensure that the capabilities of Query Engine Platform were enhanced in a manner that met their business objective.
The solution that Simba provided to ExactOne involved the following activities.
Building and Testing the ODBC Driver
Simba built an ODBC driver for its Query Engine Platform by customizing SimbaEngine SDK. This process involved mapping the Data Records Manager (DRM) layer of SimbaEngine SDK to that portion of the platform where search queries are dynamically generated. As part of this rigorous process, Simba tested and optimized the resulting ODBC driver to ensure that it met the necessary performance specifications and full support for Windows.
XML Customization Work
As the Query Engine Platform employs a dynamically generated XML data source, customizations were made to enhance search results. Use of SimbaEngine SDK allowed for an ODBC query, which uses SQL as its underlying language, to be generated and translated into an XML query that the Query Engine Platform could understand. As a result, all results were dynamic and search-oriented, providing real-time data access through a targeted web search with data existing for a short time period.
Integrating the ODBC Driver with the Query Engine Platform
Once the ODBC Driver had been built and tested, ExactOne integrated it into the Query Engine Platform working closely with the Simba technical team.
Simba was able to provide ExactOne with a unique connectivity solution that allowed them to better target users with the Query Engine Platform by enabling access from many popular Windows-based reporting applications. This allowed ExactOne to increase the attractiveness of their product offering and greatly broaden their target customer base. Moreover, the speed and performance of the Query Engine Platform dramatically improved with the integration of the ODBC Driver created using SimbaEngine SDK.
Simba Technologies Inc. is the recognized world leader in standards-based data access products and solutions. Simba works with the world's leading software companies to deliver first class data connectivity solutions.
Simba is a pioneer in ODBC, MDX, ODBO and XMLA. Since 1991, Simba has developed advanced data access solutions for thousands of end users. Today, more than half of all MDX providers have been built with Simba technology, and through a partnership with Microsoft, Simba's SQL technology has been installed on more than 30 million desktops worldwide.
Simba's firm commitment to delivering the highest customer value through innovative solutions and expert support has gained the company a reputation as the industry leader for data connectivity solutions.
For more information about Simba's data connectivity products and services, visit www.simba.com or call 1.604.633.0008.
The ExactOne name and logo and the Query Engine Platform name and logo are trademarks of ExactOne, Inc.. Additional product names indicated herein may also be registered trademarks of other companies.
