The ASNA DataGate database access platform has been used by Visual RPG developers for many years to create useful Windows data applications. As development goalschanged, so did DataGate; implementing one of the first managed-code .NET data providers for both the iSeries and SQL Server. DataGate Studio leverages the power of the DataGate .NET provider, and the strong foundation of Microsoft Visual Studio to implement the tools required by developers and administrators to design, maintain, and manage the database. DataGate Studio is more than just a database manager.
It contains a suite of utilities that can be tailored to a particular usage:
- Developers will appreciate the project system and the Database and Print FileDesigners.
- Database administrators can use the various tools for moving, copying, deleting, viewing, modifying, exporting, and importing the data.
- Solutions technicians can easily deploy and configure databases and connections.
Primary Features
- Visual Studio Integration - DataGate Studio runs in the Visual Studio Shell; the same integrated development environment engine used by Visual RPG, Visual Basic, and Visual C#. The common IDE offers benefits such as Solution Explorer support, document window integration, output window integration, property window support, shortcut keys and menus, and many others.
- .NET and XML - DataGate Studio is implemented using 100% .NET managed code. The DataGate .NET data provider, which is the same library used by Visual RPG applications, expresses data and metadata with XML documents. This allows DataGate Studio to offer enhanced views of data and file definitions.
- File Definition Projects - With DataGate Studio™s file designers and project system, developers can design database and print files, and save and manipulate the definitions as source code. This offers many benefits, including off-line development and source code control.
- Data Viewing/Editing - View and edit data using two different tools: a singlerecord viewer, or a grid-based, multi-record viewer.
- Import/Export - Export a single member, or one or more entire libraries to a file on the local computer. Import the contents of that file to another database server, or another location on the same server. Import/export supports both database schema and data.
- Traditional Tools - Many of the same commands and applets DataGate users became familiar with in ASNA Database Manager are fully implemented or enhanced in DataGate Studio, including Copy Data, Copy Logical, and Work with Databases.
- Active Dictionary Access - Browse and modify all aspects of the current structure of the database, including libraries, files, data areas, and members using DataGate Explorer.
- File Designers - Design .NET print files with a WYSIWYG designer hosted by the IDE. Design database files with an all-new graphical designer. Both designers offer a code view, which allow you to edit the underlying XML document based definitions, independent of the database. Further, the XML schema for file definitions is installed with DataGate Studio, facilitating IntelliSense® and syntax checking features when using the XML editor view. DataGate Explorer commands also let you examine and modify the definitions of existing files using the Designer.
- Database Naming and Labeling - Browse, label, and configure connections to the database for every possible DataGate application deployment scenario.
Getting Started
To assist you with getting started with DataGate Studio, please refer to the following pages.