DTI Generates E-Business XML

Applications using 4GL Meta-Code XPATH

and XMLSchema

Jason Brown

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Overview

• DTI BackgroundDTI Background• IT HistoryIT History• Solutions InvestigatedSolutions Investigated• FOX Radical Solution FOX Radical Solution

(Demo 1)(Demo 1)• FOX ArchitectureFOX Architecture• Building Fox Modules Building Fox Modules

(Demo 2 )(Demo 2 )

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DTI Business Processes

• Receive ApplicationsReceive Applications• Issue Notices, Permits, Issue Notices, Permits,

ContractsContracts• Request Information / DataRequest Information / Data• MonitoringMonitoring

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Our Data

• Offshore well operationsOffshore well operations• Production ReportingProduction Reporting• Environmental Consents & Environmental Consents &

MonitoringMonitoring• Decommissioning Liability Decommissioning Liability

NoticesNotices• Etc.Etc.

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Mission

UK government mandatory UK government mandatory requirements:requirements:

• Paperless by 2005Paperless by 2005• Alignment with the internet Alignment with the internet

(Browser)(Browser)• XML data exchangeXML data exchange• Data about our data (Metadata)Data about our data (Metadata)

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dtiMission

ReviewSubmission

Produce Documents

Digitally Sign & File

Deliver Contract

Acknowledge Contract

Submit Application

Obtain Copy

internet

Master Legal

documents

Electronic Communications Act 2000

Obtain Copy

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Challenges

• Central Government – limited Central Government – limited resourcesresources

• Sizable Complex DataSizable Complex Data• Complex WorkflowComplex Workflow• Technology Choices for E-Technology Choices for E-

businessbusiness• Skills & TimescalesSkills & Timescales• Future SupportFuture Support

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IT History

3GL, T.P. Forms, Cobol, Codasyl Database.Everything hard work !

10-20 md

1980’s

TechnologyBuild Period

3GL, Hand crafted Pl/Sql HTML, Oracle8.

3-6 md

>2000

4GL, Case*Generators, Forms3, Oracle7/8.

2-5 md

1990’s

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Problems post Y2K

• 3GL (been here before)3GL (been here before)• Focus divertedFocus diverted• Restricted XML tools Restricted XML tools • GUI less robust GUI less robust • Individual coding styles Individual coding styles • Lost productivity, reliability, Lost productivity, reliability,

and consistencyand consistency

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Solutions Considered

• Oracle pl/sql - stateless• Mod OSE • Webview/Webdb/HTML DB• UIX (bc4j) • EJB • Jdev/jsps/servlets• .NET• JSF/webforms/ADF • XSLT

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Radical SolutionFOX

UK OIL PORTAL

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E-Business

The UK Oil PortalThe UK Oil Portaldti

Complex XML Processing Engine

Oil Companies

Browser

DTI Staff

Other Government Departments

Oracle Application Server 9i

J2EE Java Servlet ......

......

<ORG>...200

......

XML_DATAID

XML DATA TABLE

Oracle Server9i R 2

XHTLM & JavaScript

JDBC

XMLMeta-Code

FOX

The Solution in Action

Live Demonstration 1

http://www.foxopen.net/foxdemo1.html

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Fox ApproachRadical Solution

• Modules written in XML 4GL Modules written in XML 4GL Meta-code Meta-code

• 1 Line of Code = Much Work1 Line of Code = Much Work• XPath used in 4GL meta-codeXPath used in 4GL meta-code• XMLSchema design generates 4GL XMLSchema design generates 4GL

logic and screens (e.g. LOV)logic and screens (e.g. LOV)• Stateful/Transactional – uses

module call stack

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Fox Approach (continued)

• Fewer tables and columns:ID NUMBER(12), XML_DATA (SYS.XMLTYPE)

• No XMLSchema on tables - data builds over time

• Incremental validation (Levels 1 and 2)

• Level 3 validation using SQL & PL/SQL

• XML cached in memory using DOM• DOM node - a wonderful object (pass

it around)

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FOX Development Technology

• Fox Engine (upfront one-off investment):

Java J2EE Servlet, IDE Oracle JDEV, 9iAS

• Fox Meta-code: XMLSchema, XMLSpy

Stored in Oracle Tables• Developer Tools and Features:

Oracle XMLType, Blob, Clob, Collections Toad Beta for XMLType Developer Testing

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Fox is SophisticatedModule Manager

Module Cache

Activity Thread Manager

Action LogicEngine

PresentationGenerator - XHTML

- Java ScriptDOM Lock

Manager

Fox Modules

Thread XML

Application XML

Application

TablesDML Generator

API Engine

SQL Engine

DOM

CACHE

Browser

FORM Translatorvalues merged

into XML Hierarchy

1 – INITIAL URL REQUEST

3 – LOAD MODULES

8

2-LOAD MODULE

4-MODULE JAVA OBJECT

6

7

7-XHTML

8 – HT

ML F

OR

M P

OS

T

Selects, PLSQL,

Inserts, Updates

Deletes

6

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Document Generator

5 – THREAD STATE MEMORY

Application Component Build

Live Demonstration 2

http://www.foxopen.net/foxdemo2.html

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Conclusion• Handles large complex Handles large complex

submissions and complex submissions and complex workflow – performantworkflow – performant

• Manages document preparation Manages document preparation & signing& signing

• Achieves 100% paperless and Achieves 100% paperless and electronic legal compliance electronic legal compliance

• XML complianceXML compliance• Fox engine improvements Fox engine improvements

benefit all apps at a strokebenefit all apps at a stroke• Road not always smooth but Road not always smooth but

Good PositionGood Position

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More Info and Contacts www.og.dti.gov.uk/ukoug2005References /

Acknowledgements:

• Altova XMLSpy: XML Editing, XMLSchema Design/Validation; XSL-FOhttp://link.altova.com

• The Apache XML Project: XPATH Engine (Xerces), PDF Document Generation (FOP)http://xml.apache.org/

• interactivetools.com: WYSIWYG Text Editor (htmlArea)http://www.interactivetools.com/

• Oracle: Oracle 9i/10G, 9ias Application Server, JDeveloperhttp://www.oracle.com/

• Quest Software Toad: Developer Database Toolshttp://www.toadsoft.com/

• World Wide Web Consortium: DOM, XML, XHTML, XPATH, XMLSchema, XSLT, XSL-FOhttp://www.w3.org/

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