more new tags

There needs to be a mechanism to remove duplicates from results. This becomes useful for determining the number of unique items in a column. For instance, an Order dimension with a column for customers has numerous customer IDs. In fact, for repeat customers, the column has numerous duplicate customer IDs.

(GRML) Blog Title
(GRML) Blog Date
(GRML) Blog Size
(GRML) Blog Company
(GRML) Blog Category

(GRML) Blog Title
(GRML) Blog Date
(GRML) Blog Size
(GRML) Blog Company
(GRML) Blog Category

To find out the number of individual customers, a DISTINCT tag is used. For a specific column, in a dimension, it gives the number of unique items.

(GRML) Blog Title

(GRML) Blog Date
(GRML) Blog Size
(GRML) Blog Company
(GRML) Blog Category

(GRML) Blog Title
(GRML) Blog Date
(GRML) Blog Size
(GRML) Blog Company

(GRML) Blog Category

Since there is no enforcement of data constraints on individual result items, a UNIQUE tag has a use. It only displays one result, if more than one identical result exists. This is unnecessary in a normalized set of data. However, without data constraints, this tag has a potential place.

more tags to consider

It seems there are three types of GRML tags. There are form tags for inupt controls. There are data tags for columns and results. There are query tags for sorting, grouping, finding, filtering, joins, and unions. Of course, most of these tags have not been implemented, yet. However, this is the direction new GRML releases are following.

CSV Delimited
Building Backlinks
business software miami
business to business software
business solution ecommerce software miami

CSV Delimited
Building Backlinks
business software miami
business to business software
business solution ecommerce software miami
business medium small software solution

Form tags create input controls for users to submit forms. These tags are only used with web pages. However, a file, using form tags, has active input controls when a web destination is specificed.

Data tags create the view in GRML software. The view is where columns are results are displayed in GRML software.

CSV Delimited

Building Backlinks
business software miami
business to business software
business solution ecommerce software miami

CSV Delimited
Building Backlinks
business software miami
business to business software
business solution ecommerce software miami

Query tags determine where and how to use data tags. When GRML software saves a GRML file or web page, these tags may not be included in the markup.

best-case scenario

As an alternative to CSV and delimited formats, the absolute theoretical best advantage for XML is one-letter element names for its tags and every field quoted in delimited formats. While a practically unrealistic advantage, the overhead of XML is still slightly greater than 2 times the size of CSV or delimited formats. Typically, this is much greater. In practical terms, expect XML to be 9 to 90 times the size of CSV or delimited formats.

Pie Graphs

Intranet software
Web software
Inventory software

Pie Graphs
Bar Graphs
Web software
Small Business software
Web Ranking software


This is a direct comparison and considers transfers of regular tables (all rows of a column are the same type). The only circumstance where XML is comparable to CSV and delimited formats is when data is very sparse and using minimal element names. In this case, XML makes up much of the overhead a delimited format uses in delimiters. However, there is still a meaningful difference in overhead between XML and the delimited formats.

Pie Graphs
Bar Graphs
Web software
Small Business software
Web Ranking software

Pie Graphs
Intranet software
Data entry software
Inventory software

reworking the first GRML articles

CSV Files
Business services
B2B
B2B Marketing
B2B ecommerce

CSV Files
Business services
B2B
B2B Marketing
B2B ecommerce

The front-end requested and retrieved content from a few web services. A data format was needed to handle the retrieved output from the web. Using an arbitrary format was too limiting. Something formal was needed.

The requirements.

While trying to find a suitable data format, HTML and XML were considered. However, they were unacceptable because their features were incompatible with the front-end being developed. There needed to be another choice, one with...

• support for multiple views (for use in different applications);
  
• a way to define multiple sets of data for multidimensional views;
  
• content that translates to/from other formats; and
  
• a distinction between the display of the form and view.

Since there was no format meeting all the requirements, the front-end was going to need something new. Using the front-end, it was possible to develop a format and test it for these requirements. In other words, the front-end existed before the markup language!

CSV Files
Business services
B2B
B2B Marketing
B2B ecommerce

CSV Files
Business services
B2B
B2B Marketing
B2B ecommerce

Navigation bar

The navigation bar has the following buttons:

Back loads the previous request in history. It is the same as the Back item in the Go menu, or, pressing Alt+Left Arrow.

Forward loads the next request in history. It is the same as the Forward item in the Go menu, or, pressing Alt+Right Arrow.

Graph Software
Intranet Software
Data entry software
CSV

Graph Software
Intranet Software
Data entry software
CSV
Business software

Graph Software
Intranet Software
Data entry software
CSV
Business software

Stop stops... attempts to connect to a website, downloading of a web page, or downloading of images; loading of a file, or loading of images; populating or adding results. It is the same as the Stop item in the Go menu, or, pressing Esc.

Refresh reloads the current web page or file request. It is the same as the Refresh item in the Go menu, or, pressing F5.

Home is the first file or web request of a newly created browser window. When this button is pressed, it loads this request in the active browser window. This setting is shared by all browser windows. It is the same as the Home item in the Go menu, or, pressing Alt+Home.

HTML Browser launches the default HTML browser.

Print prints the contents of the active browser window. It is the same as the Print item in the File menu, or, pressing Ctrl+P. Font sets the font for all browser windows. Send ... To bar.

Graph Software
Intranet Software
Data entry software
CSV
Business software
Record keeping software
Backlink software
Link Management Software
Link Campaign Software

Getting around the browser

When a web browser is used for the first time, it has a specific user interface layout. It allows navigation, browsing, and history. Some windows are movable within the user interface with options to show or hide. Others display content from file and web page requests.

Intranet software
Intranet software
Intranet software
Intranet software

Inventory software
Inventory software
Inventory software
Inventory software

It is important to understand how to submit a request and how to navigate history. The Address Bar is used to submit a file or web page request and the Navigation Bar is used to navigate requests in history. As requests are submitted, they are added to history. This history is displayed in the History window.

When a request has been made and the content has been read, a browser window displays the results. This window resides in the workspace. There may be one or more browser windows open at a time. All reside in the workspace.

Database software
Database software
Database software
Database software

Online software
Online software
Online software
Online software

Once the content is displayed, it is possible to view the details of a selected result item, see the associated image (if any), find out file details, or get an item count. This is done using the support windows.

The File, Arrange, Window, and Send To toolbars provide support for file and window management and advanced hyperlinking. It allows configuration of the interface that is remembered each time the web browser is used. These toolbars are called support toolbars.

Project management software
Project management software
Project management software
Project management software
Project management software

Payroll software
Payroll software
Payroll software
Payroll software
Payroll software

more new tags

There needs to be a way to add links to a GRML file or web page. A year ago, this feature was in Pioneer Report MDI. However, to simplify the history mechanism, it was removed. In hindsight, the feature was good, but the implementation was not.

A couple of ideas were considered. One was to have a complete navigation-tree for each file or web page. This proved to be impractical, for two reasons. One, what if the user decides to include links on two different levels of the hierarchy? Would the user see the links? Two, the hierarchy probably needs to exist on each file or web page from which it links. This makes navigation unwieldy.

GRML Blog Bar Graph
GRML Blog Headlines
GRML Blog Pioneer Report
GRML Blog Tree MDI

GRML Blog Bar Graph
GRML Blog Headlines
GRML Blog Pioneer Report
GRML Blog Tree MDI

GRML Blog Bar Graph
GRML Blog Headlines
GRML Blog Pioneer Report
GRML Blog Tree MDI

re-writing article text - Using GRML

Some GRML viewers do not display columns. Only images, or links, or partial text are displayed. For example, Pioneer Report MDI uses its thumbnail view to display an image and a result item appearing first in the column order. However, all GRML files or web pages require columns, if results are displayed.

Having shown how GRML uses input controls, columns, and results, it is possible to use the above example to create just about any type of GRML file or web page. There are form tags for handling user input and sending requests. There are view tags to display file or web page columns and results.

The only limitation of the above GRML is it does not demonstrate dimension tags. It is a topic discussed in another article. To respond to a request submitted using input controls, server-side processing is required. A server-side scripting, or programming language, such as ASP, JSP, CGI, .NET or PHP is needed. These techniques are discussed in another article.

GRML Blog Bar Graph
GRML Blog Headlines
GRML Pioneer Report
GRML Blog Tree

GRML Pioneer Report

GRML uses

File and web browsers require a reader. It downloads and reads files and web pages. Additional uses of GRML include adapters, viewers, editors, and writers.

Bar Graph MDI is a GRML reader. It is an example of a file and web browser using GRML in only one way. It does not adapt, display, edit, nor write GRML. Instead, it creates graphs from GRML files and web pages.

Tree MDI reads and displays GRML using a tree control. The tree control is the viewer of the Tree MDI file and web browser. Tree MDI uses a reader, viewer, and writer. The writer reads GRML and writes (saves) GRML.

A writer allows content in the viewer to be saved to a disk, hard drive, or web server. It does not matter whether the content in the viewer has been changed. Changing, or editing, content is another use.

When Tree MDI displays content, it supports editing. Therefore, Tree MDI is an editor. An editor requires a viewer and therefore, a reader. However, without a writer, there is no way to save edited content. Since Tree MDI has a writer, it allows GRML content to be changed and saved. To save in another format is another use.

An adapter saves GRML in other formats. Or, it saves other formats using GRML. It requires a reader and a writer. Tree MDI has a reader and writes (saves) using GRML, CSV or text delimited formats. For example, it is possible to use Tree MDI to read GRML, edit the content, and write (save) using the CSV or text delimited format.

GRML Blog
GRML Blog
GRML Blog
GRML Blog

GRML Blog
GRML Blog
GRML Blog
GRML Blog

GRML Blog
GRML Blog
GRML Blog
GRML Blog

Tag types

GRML uses form tags and view tags. The form tags create the input controls in a viewer (viewers display content from GRML files or web pages). The view tags create columns and results. Every tag supports a name.

For form tags, the name is used to associate a value to the input control when sending a request. When it is a view tag, the name is used to create a dimension (i.e. group) of columns and results. While a name is required for form tags, it is optional for view tags.

When GRML reads a line, the tag is read first. All tags use a parent-child relationship to specify values. The parent tag defines the type of tag, whether input control, column or result. Each child tag sets the attributes. Parent tags have closing tags and may use a name. Child tags do not have closing tags and do not use a name.

All tags reside on one line. Once the end of the line is reached, the next tag is read. Once a parent tag is read, everything else on that line is ignored. Child tags are read using an value pair. Once the carriage-return or line-feed is reached, the attribute value is set and the next tag is read.

GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser

GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser

GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser
GRML Blog Browser

Why use CSV and delimited formats?

With the emergence of XML, many have chosen to avoid CSV and delimited formats. They consider them legacy formats. There are numerous cases where software has abandoned them in favor or XML. It is viewed as an option for reading and saving data. The question becomes, "With XML now available, are other formats necessary?"

The largest software providers (Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle) continue to support CSV and text delimited formats. With support from such industry heavyweights, the question of their relevance may be moot. In addition, many legacy systems depend on CSV and delimited formats so much, they have become a de-facto industry standard.

Bar Graph software
Data entry software
Data entry software
Data entry software

Bar Graph software
Data entry software
Data entry software
Data entry software

Bar Graph software
Data entry software
Data entry software
Data entry software

last support of "freeware"

As development of these additional GRML features continues, support for the "freeware" versions is likely to be halted with the current version. Any additional capabilities resulting from development of GRML are to be available with premium versions only. At least, this is the direction things seem to be headed.

The next version of GRML is estimated to be completed in another 6-8 weeks. The reason for the broad range is the unpredictability of developing the software to test each capability. From previous experience, there is nothing simple about releasing software. If the problem is not in design, then it is in programming. Or, it is testing. Or, it is feature complications. There is always something.

Bar Graph software
CSV files
CSV files
CSV files

Bar Graph software
CSV files
CSV files
CSV files

Bar Graph software
CSV files
CSV files
CSV files