PatternStream Version 2.2 and Prior Release Information

PatternStream Version 2.2

The current PatternStream release is version 2.3. The previous PatternStream version 2.2 had the following new features and functions added.

In Clause Predicate

New type of predicate for use in the WHERE clause of a select query. The list of items in the in clause can be statically bound using a parameter list at the beginning of the PSET file execution or dynamically generated during the running of the PSET file using either a string template, lookup table or a string variable

SQL Function Call

Support for the use of an SQL Function call in place of the standard table declaration in the FROM clause of a select query. A parameter list can be used to pass values to the SQL function if required.

XML Document

Version 2.2 includes a collection of new target objects that implement the direct generation of XML. This target object begins the process by creating a new XML document. User can specify prolog arguments, DTD file, and root element.

XML Element Target

Creates a standard XML element that can have any number of children through an attached target list or using attached sub-patterns. The element can have conditionally generated attributes where the attribute values are derived from PatternStream variables.

PC Data Element

Creates an XML element that can contain parsed character data generated from a string template.

CData Element

Creates an XML element that can contain character data generated from a string template.

Empty Element

Creates an empty XML element with only attributes and no text or children.

Complex Element

Creates the most general type of XML element that can have parsed character data that itself contains XML elements.

Processing Instruction

A target object that inserts a processing instruction into the current XML document. Supports the generation of dynamically generated parameters for each instance.

XML Connection

A new connection object that opens and parses an XML document. The name of the document can be derived dynamically to allowing multiple XML documents to be read during a given run of the PSET file. Additionally, the XML content can be derived from a variable whose value has be retrieved from some other data source, for example as a field value from an SQL database.

XML Document Query

Query object that selects elements from the current XML document associated with a given XML connection. The query is analogous to an XPath expression where elements in the result node set can be from children, descendants, ancestors or siblings. Filters can be applied to the final resulting node set based on any combination of element name or attribute value.

Datatype Conversion Directives

New directives to convert string variables to integer and floating point.

Database Insert Target

Target object that inserts record into a database table.

Graphic Inset Target

Insert a graphic directly onto an anchored or unanchored frame. This allows transparent colors to show through when imported graphics are stacked on top of each other.

PatternStream Console

A new console window that includes a variable debug window has been added. Error messages will be displayed in the new PatternStream console and no longer are displayed in the FrameMaker console.

Miscellaneous Enhancements

• Implement copy predicate for select query object and copy selector for XML query object.
• Conditional transform directives
• UI improvements for select query object

Generalized Runtime

The PatternStream runtime has been modified to allow customized applications that are based on pset files that have been created using PatternStream to built more easily. The runtime can be directly accessed using programming environments such as VB and C#.

PatternStream Version 2.1

PatternStream 2.1 is the first intermediate stage of what was a complete re-engineering of PatternStream. This effort allows PatternStream to use the same PSET file structure to output directly to Adobe InDesign and to create complex XML output without using the FrameMaker formatting engine as an intermediary. The following is a summary of what is included in the current 2.1 release.

Dynamic Graphing

Added collection of new target objects to allow dynamic creation of various types of charts using the CORDA Technologies Inc.® PopChart® charting engine.

Enhanced Flat File Import

Added connection object for fixed-field formatted ASCII files.

Custom Data Sources

Enables the use of query objects to access non-standard data sources with external dynamic link libraries (DLL).

Excel Data Sources

Instance of a custom data source that accesses data in Excel spreadsheets (available on a per-request basis).

Dynamic Table Configuration

Enhanced ability to dyamically structure a FrameMaker table at runtime.

Switch Query

New query object that conditionally selects one out of a collection of attached query objects for use on the same pattern object.

String Template Segment

New segment type allows the creation of complex hierarchical string template configurations.

PatternStream Version 2.0 and Prior Release Information

For PatternStream Version 2.0 and prior release information, see the early PatternStream history information page.