Data Deployment

Many different data deployment options are available

This section deals with various options for deploying data assembled, refreshed and managed in Omniscope (.IOK/.IOM files and exportable DataPlayer Flash .SWF files created in Omniscope) to address broad-based reporting requirements.

Topics:

IOK files: Omniscope IOK files can be saved to shared folders, exchanged via email, or posted for download on intranet/extranet web pages. They can be accessed by others with the free Omniscope Viewer or a licensed edition installed, or using Omniscope Online (below). Omniscope .IOM files are produced by Workgroup Editions of Omniscope and are the same as .IOK files, except that they can only be opened in activated Editions of Omniscope, not the free Viewer.

Web Integration: Omniscope is a 'hybrid' desktop/web application, with internal browser windows (Web Views) and the ability to act as a universal web services local client. In web service client mode, Omniscope facilitates user interaction and input on the user desktop, then enables to user to submit their selections and input to configured remote web services. The HTML-formatted response from the remote server can be displayed in an adjacent Omniscope Web View or the users' default browsers. The response may also return other formats, including Omniscope files and Flash DataPlayers generated and e-mailed/displayed 'on demand'.

Publishing DataPlayer .SWFs: DataPlayers created and exported from Omniscope are stand-alone universally-accessible Flash .SWF files that contain all the data, visualisations and interactive query devices in a single file. DataPlayers greatly increase the ultimate reach of Omniscope-based reporting solutions as they can be posted and re-posted/overwritten to web pages just like any other SWF file, as easy as uploading a picture. They can also be embedded in common document files such as PowerPoint, Excel and Acrobat .PDF with full interactivity. Export options from the DataPlayer View of Omniscope include exporting the DataPlayer .SWF in an HTML wrapper for posting, or exporting as a standalone .SWF to overwrite the existing file of the same name already on the web server with a newer one containing refreshed data.

Outside browser option: Omniscope installations can be configured to open with a web browser view displaying a pre-defined web page containing lists of downloadable Omniscope files, embedded DataPlayer 'dashboards' and other elements. Users select from a menu of (Enterprise server-refreshed) files available for download just by clicking on the file links displayed in the opening Outside Browser view of Omniscope. 

Omniscope Online: Omniscope Online uses Java Web Start, standard Java technology for deploying applications over the web. Web Start allows an audience lacking install privileges to use the Omniscope Viewer, without installation, to open and explore your IOK files. Please note that Omniscope Online has some limitations compared to the installed Omniscope free Viewer. Omniscope Online allows both the readers' Omniscope and your .IOK data file to be launched from a single link on your website or in an e-mail.

Applet Limitations: This article provides more detail on why Java Web Start, and not Applets, provides the better results for no-installation deployments of Omniscope-based solutions.

Command Line Launch: Especially if you are running Linux, you may want to launch the Omniscope .JAR file directly from the command line (also Mac or Windows)

Web Server Configuration: Posting Omniscope files on web pages is generally the same as posting other common document file types, such as Acrobat .PDF, PowerPoint .PPT/.PPS etc. This article provides technical detail for webmasters.