[Nodal-j-devel] Harland--Placeless Documents

[Jack P. <jac...@th...>]

fyi...
http://www2.parc.com/csl/projects/harland/

Harland provides:
"=B7      persistent document objects that can hold application data in a=20
dynamically-extensible set of named property values
=B7       a query facility for retrieving these objects based on the values=
=20
of their properties
=B7       enforcement of application-supplied constraints
=B7       automatic manipulation of a relational database for storage and=20
query processing without a fixed schema for the application data
"

Reference was found at http://nooface.com/

"Harland is a Java API developed by Xerox PARC that provides a persistent=20
attribute store for document-based applications written in Java. Harland=20
works in combination with a relational database by providing a layer on top=
=20
of the relational model to simplify attribute storage and retrieval, while=
=20
retaining the performance and aspects of data structuring that make RDBs so=
=20
powerful. Document properties are statements about documents that make=20
sense to the user, and affect what they can do with the documents. Harland=
=20
is the latest implementation of Placeless Documents, an architecture=20
developed by Xerox in which documents are organized and managed according=20
to their properties, rather than according to their location, as in=20
traditional hierarchical file systems (see online presentation). A 90-day=20
trial version of Harland can be downloaded. "

Placeless Documents: http://www2.parc.com/csl/projects/placeless/
"Placeless Documents are documents that are organized and managed according=
=20
to their properties, rather than according to their location. Document=20
properties can be things you already know about your documents, like that=20
they're published, or notes, or about the budget,or drafts, or source code,=
=20
or important, or shared with your colleagues, or from your manager, or big,=
=20
or from the Web, or... whatever suits you. Document properties can also be=
=20
things that you want to be true about your documents, like that they are=20
backed up, or replicated on your laptop, or can be purchased for a small=20
fee. These latter properties carry the code to implement or interface with=
=20
the desired functionality. Document properties are statements about your=20
documents that make sense to you, and affect what you're going to do with=20
the documents. "
"Our vision is one of customizable, context-aware management of integrated=
=20
information spaces, which:
=B7       integrate information components from many sources: repositories=
=20
(WWW, mail, file systems), devices (scanners, video-cameras, television,=20
phone), and dynamic processes (workflow, source code management systems,=20
search engines, and dynamic document content),
=B7       allow customizable organization of the information based on=20
properties of that information, e.g., budget related, read at home, shared=
=20
with John, and From: pet...@pa...,
=B7       allow information properties to be arbitrary objects specified=20
through many different mechanisms: explicitly by the users themselves,=20
captured by physical context sensors, inferred from usage, automatically=20
generated by content analysis, etc.
=B7       allow information properties to be active and carry behaviors to=
=20
automate information work, enabling functionality like fax to John at 5pm=20
each day, translate to English, notarized, backed-up in Utah for safety,=
 etc.
=B7       scale to sizes anywhere between an individual and the enterprise,
=B7       are available at all locations required by the users, and
=B7       protect the privacy and intellectual property of users.
In this world the focus is on information, customization, and functionality=
=20
that extends beyond the abilities of monolithic applications. Essentially,=
=20
information carries the behaviors and semantics needed to operate on it.=20
Information is independent of location and becomes responsive to the=20
environments it is used in and the contexts of individual users, and it is=
=20
managed independently by both its consumers and providers. "