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PLATFORM INDEPENDENT
mmDB engine is written in Java which means it can run on any platform that JVM runs (Windows, Unix, MacOs, AS/400, etc.). A database created on one platform can be easily transported to another by simply copying its files.
Since text data is kept in UTF-16 format, it is not necessary to specify character encoding (Latin, ASCII, iso-8859-x, etc.).
HIERARCHICAL
The web is representation and the representation is by nature hierarchical. On the web, we represent companies, stores, departments, product-groups, products, features, etc. which all of them have some sort of hierarchy.
To implement the hierarchy with a relational system is not an easy task. This can only be performed by the experts in the field. However mmDB is a native hierarchical database and constructing a product catalog with mmDB is straight-forward even for an ordinary computer user.
Please take into consideration that the revolutionary XML is hierarchical too.
QUERY LANGUAGE IS MIXTURE OF SQL AND XPATH
mmDB has its own query language namely mmQL (MoreMotion Query Language). mmQL is a combination of SQL and XPath.
Here is an example:
select Name, Dept, Phone from /Members where ./Addr//City = 'Newyork'
MULTI-CURRENCY SUPPORT
In a currency type field of a conventional (relational) database you are able to store only one type of currency.
In mmDB, various type of currencies can be stored in the same currency field. During queries mmDB evaluates the actual values of currency type fields using the base currency.
If, for instance, you perform a query as follows
select * from /Products where Price < '100 USD'
no products with price '99 GBP' will return as the result.
WEB STYLE SEARCH
One of the significant features of mmDB is its web-style keyword search capability. You are able to search an mmDB database in the same manner that you would search internet via Google Search Engine. There is no difference.
Here is an example:
select top 20 * from //Desktop_Computer
where _keywords include 'RAM 256MB -celeron'
MAPPING
mmDB can integrate the data existing in other relational or in other mmDB databases into its hierarchical structure. The mechanism is called "Mapping".
Mapping types are:
- Relational database mappings
- mmDB database mappings
- XML data source mappings
- Custom mappings with Java classes.
mmDB Database is developed especially for web applications. Assume that you want to represent the products of a company on the web. The possibilities are
- Maintaining a new database to store the products. Disadvantages: Inconsistency, incurrent information and difficulty in maintaining the duplicated information.
- Using the legacy database of the company. Disadvantages: managing security issues, the current structure of the legacy database is not convenient for web representation (lack of descriptions, products images, etc)
The Better Solution
Using an mmDB database can eliminate these problems. You can fetch the current information from the legacy database with map definitions and you can merge it with additional information (Product descriptions, images, etc.)
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
On the file system mmDB manages documents as external files and provides interfaces to administer those documents and their folders.
You can define fields with type "External file" to store the names of the documents that are stored in server under control of mmDB. This leads to a very consistent and convenient way of publishing documents on the internet.
EASE OF USE
mmDB has an easy to use editor that runs on internet browsers. The editor enables the operator to insert/modify/delete data. More than one user can use database editor simultaneously.
mmDB also provides a Java API for developers. Using mmDB Java API, one can search databases, insert/delete/modify nodes and traverse nodes of database.
See MMDB Editor Features...
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