In emakin you can store all kinds of relational or document based data including files. Depending on your needs you are free to choose which database to use. For example a process may store all customer information on relational database, store all quote documents in a file database and store order information on document database for further analysis.
Each database type has own advantages or disadvantages depending on your needs.
Relational Database
Provides storage for large number of small entities. Database operations generally performed on small number of entities without affecting other entities.
Advantages
- Stores large number of entities without any performance lost.
- Efficient at processing small changes to data that can be logged and rolled-back (undone) if required.
Disadvantages
- You have to specify database schema.
- Database schema must be identical for all entities.
- Technical and engineering knowledge is required to manage.
Please refer to relational database section for more information.
Xml Database
Provides storage for small or large number of large size entities in a hierarchy. Database operations generally performed with reading or writing full on tree of entities.
Advantages
- Ideal for highly variable data structures, and even unstructured data.
- Optimized for extremely fast storage and retrieval of whole documents or objects.
Disadvantages
- Slow performance when need to join other data out of entity tree.
Please refer to xml database section for more information.
File Database
Provides storage for binary files with small or large size. Please refer to file database section for more information.
Advantages
- Efficient for binary files.
- Full text indexing
Disadvantages
- Only accessible from file id