m-Power's Build Process

"I am so pleased with how incredibly powerful m-Power is compared to how simple it is to use."
--Nicole Kenneally, Senior Programmer/Analyst, Glatfelter Insurance Group

How does m-Power's build process save time?

m-Power's uniquely simple build process is the reason m-Power lets you build web applications so quickly. m-Power’s build process is driven by two main factors:

1. Model-based approach

m-Power drastically reduces web application development time thanks in large part to its model-based build process. We have developed, and continue to develop a wide variety of web application models, which provide the foundation for all applications built with m-Power. Here are a few benefits to the model based approach:
(Hint: Roll over small icons above to gain more in-depth information.)

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  Not your ordinary models

  These models are not your ordinary “fill in the blank” models. They come with loads of features built right in, so you won’t have to do it yourself. For example, m-Power models come with features like:

  

  • Advanced sorting
  • Ajax suggest
  • Hovers
  • Graphing
  • Drill downs
  • Filtering
  • Many more...
  All of the features are built right in
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  You're 80% done...when you start

  Creating web applications from scratch requires hours of tedious coding followed by a lengthy testing process. m-Power's build process eliminates the tedious coding and the program testing. We tested the code before you wrote it.

  Consider this: Thanks to m-Power's models, the moment you start building an application in m-Power, you’re already 80% finished . You only need to pick your data, create a few application specifications, and click the build button. m-Power’s models eliminate the need to write and test code.

  
  
  
  No coding or testing required
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  Multi-function models

  Regardless of industry, most applications in existance today fall within our 4 model categories:
  
  Retrievals: Retrieve data from a database and display it in a browser. Examples: Customer listing, order history, etc…
  Reports: Similar to Retrievals but can also list data at detail/subtotal/grand total levels, include graphs, and output to various formats. Examples: Business intelligence, executive dashboards, etc…
  Summary: Reads data from existing tables and outputs to a brand new table. Examples: Data warehousing and data stores
  Maintenance: Allow end users to insert, update, and delete data in database. Examples: Order entry, shopping carts, etc...

  
  
  Works for most any application type or industry
• 

  Customizable models

  While our models provide the foundation and functionality for your applications, they are very customizable. Each model can be easily customized in a few different ways:
  
  Customize the look: You can customize the look and feel of an application with m-Painter, our what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editor built into m-Power.
  Add custom logic: You can write custom logic in any language you know and integrate it to your m-Power application through a simple point-and-click interface.
  Customize the model: Our models are written in 100% open-source Java code. If your company ever needs to alter a model or create a new one, you won’t need to learn a proprietary language.
  

  
  
  
  Extremely customizable

2. Point-and-click-interface

From the moment you select your model, to the time you customize your application in m-Painter, everything is point-and-click. You truly do not need to learn any programming language or do any coding. The build process consists of 4 easy steps, all of which utilize a point-and-click interface:

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  Many models to choose from

  We have many different types of models to choose from. You simply find the one that most closely resembles the application you wish to create.

  
  
  
  Choose a model
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  Provide instructions to your application

  The application specifications include:

  • Data selection: Specify which data tables and fields you need for your application.
  • Sequencing: This tells the application how to sort your data.
  • Field settings: m-Power lets you customize each individual field or reorder the fields.
  • Optional specs: You can also add calculations, external objects, and smartlinks into your application, but these are not required.

  
  
  
  Determine application specifications
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  What goes on behind the scenes

  When you click the "build" button, m-Power combines the application specifications with the selected model to generate the application. The compile process automates these steps:

  • Generate the Java source code, including the SQL database access statements.
  • Compile the Java source code into a J2EE Java servlet program.
  • Create the HTML presentation file.
  • Create the XML properties file for setting application-level options.
  • Deploy the entire package to the application server.

  
  
  
  Click the "build" button
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  Add your company image

  Once you’ve built your application, open up m-Painter to adjust the look and feel of the application. m-Painter also allows you to insert graphs, charts, calendar popups, and much more…

  
  
  
  Edit the look and feel (if necessary)

Experience the build process for yourself