This DataPort page introduces postings related to the concept of moving data from within one application environment (software package) into one of another environment, in a relatively general manner. Ideally, this will allow data users to move data easily between environments, allowing them to use the features of each to most efficiently maintain the data.
Objectives: - To be able to migrate data amongst various enclosing applications and database environments in an automated manner.
Initial environments include:
- the WikiWeb's mySQL data tables (the pages of which are well structured) (WikiWebMySql starts to explain some of the reasons),
- text files, some of which are highly structured,
- theBrain's *.RTF files, some of which are highly structured,
- Word's *.htm file structures,
- ...
What I mean by 'highly structured', is that I have disciplined myself to use relatively standard strings to delimit the text components of much of the information that I created. This should enable us to program the edits that are needed to transform the information for use between any two environments. I know this won't be perfect, but I do believe that I have reached the point where it will have a payback, especially since I have several thousand files and am accumulating many more.
Ideally, a generic (XML =based) GMUL solution may be the eventual result. I have not yet checked what the state of the art for GMUL is, in spite of knowing that several companies have been chasing this particular holy grail for quite some time.