Parameters and the XML Product Parameter Engine

A parameter aware application can be maintained and updated by the client company to a large degree. It is based on a parameter database in XML format that is both a repository for externalized application data that was previously stored in the application source code; this provides an easy to use mechanism to maintain simple configuration settings such as defaults, min / max values, message and help text etc.

The Novinsoft Illustration System Framework parameter database becomes a much more interesting concept when combined with the ability of the .NET framework to execute code compiled on the fly from source files residing outside the pre-compiled application and potentially maintainable by the client company with no or limited Novinsoft intervention. In this scenario (to take the example of a parameterized min / max validation) instead of entering actual numeric limits in the parameter database the client company can enter actual method names pointing to the externalized source code where complex real world business rules based on multiple input control can be evaluated. Last, but certainly not least, since externalized source files contain standard C# code and not proprietary Novinsoft scripting it is easily accessible to developers and can tap the full power of the .NET framework.

MS Office formats

The 1st MS office format to be supported natively by the Novinsoft Illustration System Framework is MS PowerPoint 2007 (pptx). With the new XML based Office file formats Microsoft is allowing, and even encouraging, developers to incorporate support for manipulating the contents of the files from within 3rd party applications; the new formats are thoroughly documented and supported by the .NET framework. The newly incorporated PowerPoint support allows a Novinsoft application to accept a PowerPoint file generated by the client company exactly as it was designed with no conversion to PDF and dynamically insert runtime application data to generate a customized presentation (application data can be used to manipulate numbers, generate graphs, control the slide navigation, replace logos, etc.) This means better dynamic presentations designed and built by client marketing resources, and less time and cost to add to client Illustration Systems.


As with previous architectural features the above enhancements have been added to the core Novinsoft tool base; making them available to all Novinsoft applications (desktop / and web) developed on the .NET framework. Also important: any externalized application data files are compressed and protected with strong encryption algorithms (such as AES 256) making online updates feasible and keeping control of the contents with the client company where it belongs.