The Dodeca FrameworkDodeca is, at its core, a framework for rapidly deploying highly tailored, customized applications. The framework provides extensive out of the box functionality to get users up and running quickly. It also accommodates user needs and requirements that fall outside the box. Dodeca was purpose-built from the ground up for configurability, customization, and extensibility. Virtually every aspect of a Dodeca application, from appearance and behavior to report generation, can easily be configured and customized to deliver a unique user experience. Dodeca is designed to accommodate even the most challenging and unique customer-specific business requirements.Out of the box, Dodeca supports an extensive array of configurable settings that control the appearance, behavior, and data generation of a view or report. The settings are configured using a point-and-click, form-driven user interface, which is integrated into the client-side application. When a requirement falls outside the box, Dodeca offers two extensibility methodologies: Workbook Script and the Dodeca Open Framework Architecture The most commonly used methodology, Workbook Script, is a built-in automation capability that gives customers the power to implement customized spreadsheet behavior and appearance without writing a single line of code. Designed for use by administrators to quickly tailor reports and views to fit user needs, the Workbook Script Editor provides a point-and-click, form-driven user interface that is easy to use. For customers and partners who have requirements that go beyond Workbook Script-based customizations, the Dodeca Open Framework Architecture provides an object-oriented extensibility model. Built on the Microsoft .NET platform, the framework provides the infrastructure for plugging in custom modules that extend the out of the boxfunctionality. The Open Framework Architecture is targeted to software developers and provides a nearly unlimited ability to extend the Dodeca environment. Dodeca modules can be written in any .NET compliant language, including C# and Visual Basic.NET. Custom modules are managed and deployed using a patent-pending process which makes it easy to roll out changes to a wide user base. Dodeca is based on a web services and metadata-centric architecture that is highly scalable, easy to configure, and easy to upgrade.The patent-pending and simplified metadata-driven architecture makes deployment as easy on the Internet cloud as on an internal network. The Dodeca environment converts all configuration information, including data generation and behavior settings, connection information, Excel templates, toolbars, etc., to metadata that is stored in a central data repository. This application metadata, which is stored internally as standard xml, is separated from application code and is highly flexible. The architecture simplifies system upgrades, as well as backup, recovery and life cycle management. The architecture makes upgrades to a new version of the framework very easy; typical upgrade procedures are accomplished, risk-free, in less than an hour. Dodeca combines the best of both worldsTraditional web-based applications are very easy to deploy, but due to the limitations of their HTML foundation, leave users wanting for more performance, functionality, flexibility and usability. Dodeca bridges this gap by combining the ease of web-based deployment with the rich, responsive user friendly experience of a rich client application. Dodeca uses Microsoft's ClickOnce technology to deploy and update applications over the web using the standard HTTP protocol. Designed to work in highly secure, locked down environments, ClickOnce has a proven and widely acknowledged track record. Many companies using Dodeca have very wide deployments, including one company with 7,000 users across the United States and Europe. The user interface in Dodeca provides capabilities not available in HTML-based applications. Users see views or reports presented in tabbed windows and multiple tabbed windows can be opened simultaneously. The windows may be grouped and dockable control panels can be pinned or unpinned to optimize the workspace real estate.
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