Benefits

• Users do not need to understand the intricacies of the database to pull out useful information for their reports and ad hoc queries
• Reduce IT support for end user ad-hoc queries and reports
• Save time normally required to perform tedious table linking, database field decoding, and data mining details

Features

• Each dictionary presents data grouped by business function
• Presents common baseline information from the VISUAL database, hiding more detailed and esoteric data
• All data has been denormalized and therefore does not require linking tables
• Columns have been renamed to present a clear, intuitive understanding of their function
• Column descriptions are available within the eDictionary
• Codes used in the database are decoded into easily understood terms
• Future changes to the VISUAL database are automatically remapped in your existing reports by using an updated eDictionary
• Utilizes an ODBC connection to the VISUAL database

Why not just use Crystal Reports?
Because Crystal is a generic report writer, it has no intimate knowledge of the VISUAL database.  The burden of selecting tables and the attendant joins is still left to the user.  Once the data source is properly established, report writing becomes a snap.  eDictionary is a meta-layer that resides between Crystal Reports and the VISUAL database.  This meta-layer presents business information in data groups that resemble business functions such as Sales, Purchasing, Inventory, and Payables.  Inside each of these groups are the most common data elements with simple English names.