| data embedded graphics | |||
With traditional drawing programs, what you see is what you get. But empty graphics provoke more questions than answers. What is it? Where is it? Who uses it? How is it configured and what is it connected to? We don't use graphics just to create drawings. Rather, we use them because it's easier to understand complex information when it's presented graphically. So our graphics are embedded with data - precisely the information you need to know. By embedding objects with user-defined data, netViz arms you with real information about your network. Because netViz maintains an internal database of information about all of the objects in your netViz diagrams, it's easy to manage, troubleshoot, answer questions, plan and help make informed decisions. data embedding defined When you create an object or link type in netViz, you choose the data fields to embed in the object. You can select a virtually unlimited number of fields to record whatever information is important to you. Text fields store any text, including letters, numbers, words, phrases or multiple paragraphs up to 6,000 characters. Our users typically use text fields to store information such as user name, location, workstation configuration, procedures, design rationale, and so on. List fields store lists of items to select from to populate a field. Examples might include a modem's baud rate, the amount of RAM in a workstation, a CPU type, department name or function category. List fields force consistency and minimize the possibility of keying errors. One way to see an object's embedded information is by simply opening a netViz diagram. Just select an object and use the Inspector window to see the data associated with that object.
Information embedded in those data fields can also be displayed directly on the diagram. Using a simple drag-and-drop window, you choose the embedded data fields you want to see and arrange them around the graphic in whatever format you like. Whenever you open a diagram, displayed data fields will appear alongside the graphics. Data displays enable you to continuously display the most important subset of an object's embedded data.
You
can display as much . . . embedding data makes it easy to create different views In netViz, diagrams are just one way to view information about your network. Once you've created a netViz file of your network, it's easy to display that data in different ways. Using a simple toolbar pull-down, you can switch instantly from diagram view to Table View. This spreadsheet-like view organizes object data in rows and columns. A drag-and-drop interface allows columns to be re-sorted or moved. netViz tables are automatically organized by object type and are easy to print out when you need reports.
netViz also maintains information about how objects are connected throughout a system. One way to see that information is to switch to Connectivity View. When you choose Connectivity View from the menu pull-down, the diagram instantly changes to show how objects are connected through a system. This makes it easy to trace links, see which nodes are connected to a common link, see a "server-centric" view of system wide connections, and more.
searching diagrams netViz was designed to deal with large amounts of complex data. That means that it's easy to perform data searches across some or all of the diagrams throughout a netViz project. Say you want to locate all of the workstations with a certain amount of RAM, all of the monitors purchased before a specified date, or all of your organization's personnel using an old version of software you'd like to upgrade. Just specify your search parameters and netViz will instantly give you a printout that identifies and locates every object that you're looking for. You can print out the search-result table or see each record in a diagram view. Using our data-driven graphics, you could even set your netViz diagrams to change the color or flash every object that meets your search criteria. in netViz, data makes the difference Unlike simple drawing software, netViz respects data as much as the ability to draw. What we provide is an alternate way to visualize complex data. netViz creates drawings, but only because drawings are the best vehicle for conveying information about data and complex relationships. We did not set out just to give our users a way to create drawings; our mission is to give you a way to simplify and enjoy the process of visualizing and exploring complex data structures.
Copyright
(c) 2001 Data Stream Solutions |
