FAQ

Installation and Maintenance

Do programs need to be installed?

No, installation is not necessary. It is sufficient to copy the programs to a computer and start them.

Are additional programs or frameworks required?

No, additional programs or frameworks are not required.

Does the server need to run as a service?

No, for testing purposes the server can run as a "normal" desktop application that is simply started with a double-click. For permanent operation, however, a service running in the background is recommended.

On which platforms does the server run?

The server runs on Windows™ and Linux. The database format is platform-independent, meaning databases can be copied from one platform to another.

Does a port need to be opened in the firewall?

Yes, communication between server and client runs over HTTP. A freely definable port is used, by default this is 8700. This port must be opened in the firewall.

Can communication between server and client be encrypted?

Yes, server and client can use the HTTPS protocol, which is secured via TLS 1.2 or 1.3. For this, a certificate is required, which must be installed on the server.

How can the data be backed up?

The database is an in-memory database. Therefore, the data must first be written from memory to disk. This is done with the API command "SAVE DATABASE", which can be started, for example, in the "Console". After that, all data is in a folder. This folder can then be copied to another drive or backed up with an archiving tool. It is recommended to do this regularly, e.g., with a task in the Windows Task Scheduler.

Is an SSD required for the server?

No, the database stores data in memory and does not access the disk for queries. However, an SSD speeds up loading (e.g., after a server restart) and saving the database. Large text files are also imported faster.

Database Management

Can object names be changed afterwards?

Yes, the names of, for example, dimensions, elements, trees, or tables can be changed without losing internal references.

Do captions have to be unique?

No, captions are additional information and do not have to be unique. They can also be left empty. Only the names need to be unique, e.g., for dimensions, elements, trees, or tables.

Do dimension attributes have to be defined in advance?

No, each dimension item can contain any attributes, which do not have to be defined in advance. Standard attributes can be set per dimension, but these are mainly a tool for filters and input.

Can a dimension contain multiple hierarchies?

Yes, any number of hierarchy trees can be created per dimension. When querying, you specify which tree to use. This allows, for example, historization.

Can the structure of tables be changed afterwards?

Yes, numeric and text fields can be added, deleted, or renamed in a table. Dimensions can also be added or deleted, provided the table is empty.

Can unused dimension items and empty records be deleted automatically?

Yes, you can delete dimension items that are not used in any table or records that are empty (contain only zeros and no text) in the Manager or via API command.

Can permissions be assigned to individual dimension items or hierarchy levels?

Yes, in addition to read and write permissions for tables and dimensions, permissions can also be assigned to items or tree sum levels. These permissions are considered in every query, ensuring that users only see the data they are allowed to see.

Imports, Inputs, and Queries

Can text files be imported?

Yes, there are assistants to prepare and import text files. Here you can also define delimiters, headers, time formats, or number formats.

Can data be imported from relational databases?

Yes, dimensions, trees, distributions, and tables can be created and imported directly from SQL queries using assistants.

Can data be entered?

Yes, data can be entered directly in the tables. Input dialogs support this.

Can values be entered at the sum level?

Yes, entries at the sum level are possible. There are various ways to apply the sum entry to the underlying items.

Can database accesses and changes be tracked?

Yes, all queries and changes can be logged in text files. These can be read with any text editor. There is also an assistant to prepare and analyze logs.

Can other programs access the database?

Yes, communication between server and client is based on the HTTP protocol and the JSON format. Other programs can thus easily send API commands.

Do all dimensions have to be specified in queries?

No, not all dimensions have to be specified as filters in a query. The records are then "aggregated" with respect to these dimensions. This makes it easy to filter tables with many dimensions.

Do multiple processor cores speed up the database?

Yes, queries and aggregations are split into multiple threads/processes when possible, which reduces response times.

Are date and time values automatically converted?

Yes, date and time values are automatically converted to other units. For example, days can be imported and months output in the report.

License

Is there a free or trial version?

Yes, you can start the server as a "local version". This version does not require a license number and has no functional restrictions or expiration date. However, client programs can only be used on the computer where the server is running. Access from "outside" is not possible.

What is the license model?

The license is based on the number of simultaneously active users. Any number of users can be created per database. However, if more users try to log in than are licensed, they will receive a message and cannot log in.

How many servers can be installed?

Any number of servers can be installed, provided the total number of licensed users is not exceeded.