With Query by Example (QBE) and Report by Example (RBE), users simply select fields and fill in the blanks. Qarbine handles generating the native query, retrieving the data, performing the analysis, and formatting the result. This includes a variety of data grouping and Excel-like aggregate functions like SUM and COUNT. Many times the resulting output is all that is needed to gain the desired insight. If desired, you can generate Qarbine components to then access Qarbine’s full querying and template design tools. Click here to see an example of an RBE template and the resulting report result.

Modern databases store a very dynamic range of data structures. However, SQL centric tools can only handle simple, 2-dimensional table structures. Complex data structures such as embedded documents and embedded arrays are naturally supported by Qarbine. In addition, given the schema-less nature of some data, Qarbine provides a variety of conditional processing and formatting options. These features are required by any modern BI tool to analyze the dynamic data structures from modern databases.

Prompts are dialogs which promote flexibility in your data retrieval and reporting components. Rather than managing lots of hard coded queries, those queries can have placeholders that are filled in based on user input. Prompts are dialogs to obtain that input using input fields, lists, checkboxes, radio groups, and sliders. For example, a prompt may ask the user which sales region to perform an analysis. The Prompt Designer is a flexible “no-code” tool. End-users can be self-sufficient and not require often overloaded IT resources.

The Data Source Designer is used to perform interactive queries against your database and save those queries in the Qarbine Catalog. It also provides useful information on the general structure of data collections to help you write queries. Data Sources saved in the Qarbine catalog can then be reused by reference from any number of Analysis Templates. DBAs can manage and optimize those retrieval components independent of the many end user templates reusing them. Placeholders in your query and templates can be filled in using input obtained from no-code Qarbine Prompts.

The Data Source Designer tool complements tools like MongoDB Compass and interactive notebooks. Native queries can be pasted into Qarbine Data Source components and managed in the Qarbine Catalog. Likewise, raw queries can be copied from Qarbine and pasted into vendor tools.

The Catalog Browser uses a Windows Explorer-like metaphor to present the components in the Qarbine Catalog. Folders allow better organization and faster access as the number of components scales. Qarbine enforces several different component visibility, read, and write rules. Besides a simple name, Qarbine components include description and other metadata to facilitate discovery and overall productivity. 

Qarbine supports the familiar rich formatting options found in Microsoft Word and even conditional formatting found in Excel. Support for fonts, justification, borders, colors is all included. Furthermore, Qarbine has over 20 custom cell types to support images, interactive buttons, calendars, Adobe PDF forms, geographical maps, charts, and various graphics. In addition, it allows defining common formatting specifications such as headings, subheadings, and standard text. Like Word, these definitions can be stored together in a reusable Style Set. Qarbine report templates can reference a Style Set so that enterprises can quickly apply standard formatting and maintain presentation consistency across reports.