With IBM's Net.Data product, you can create dynamic Web pages using data from both relational and non-relational database management systems (DBMSs), including DB2, IMS, and ODBC-enabled databases, and using applications written in programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, Perl, C, C++, and REXX.
Net.Data is a macro processor that executes as middleware on a Web server machine. You can write Net.Data application programs, called macros, that Net.Data interprets to create dynamic Web pages with customized content based on input from the user, the current state of your databases, other data sources, existing business logic, and other factors that you design into your macro.
A request, in the form of a URL (uniform resource locator), flows from a browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, to a Web server that forwards the request to Net.Data for execution. Net.Data locates and executes the macro and builds a Web page that it customizes based on functions that you write. These functions can:
Net.Data passes this Web page to the Web server, which in turn forwards the page over the network for display at the browser.
Net.Data can be used in server environments that are configured to use interfaces such as HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Common Gateway Interface (CGI). HTTP is an industry-standard interface for interaction between a browser and Web server, and CGI is an industry-standard interface for Web server invocation of gateway applications like Net.Data. These interfaces allow you to select your favorite browser or Web server for use with Net.Data. Net.Data also supports a variety of Web server Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for improved performance. The Net.Data family of products provide similar capablities on the OS/400, OS/390, Windows NT, AIX, OS/2, HP-UX, Sun Solaris, Linux, and Dynix/PTX operating systems. Net.Data also supports FastCGI and the major Web server Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) on multiple operating systems.
A graphical administration tool helps you administer Net.Data configuration settings for the AIX, Windows NT, and OS/2 operating systems. The administration tool also assists you in specifying security for your connections to databases that use Live Connection.
To help you easily access data from your database, Net.Data provides a variety of tools, including NetObjects Fusion plug-ins and wizards for Java-based development. These tools work with the Net.Data Java servlets in the Java environment, allowing you to create applications that are portable across operating systems. NetObjects Fusion plug-ins allow you to use the NetObjects Fusion Web development tool to build sophisticated applications with dynamic data from relational data sources. Net.Data wizards provide a graphical tool to guide you through creating basic Net.Data macros.