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 in a relational database, store all quote documents in a file database, and store order information in a document database for further analysis.
Each database type has its own advantages or disadvantages depending upon your needs.
Relational Database
Provides storage for large number of small entities. Database operations are generally performed on a small number of entities without affecting other entities.
Advantages
- Stores large number of entities without losing any performance.
- Efficient at processing small changes to data that can be logged and rolled-back (undone) if required.
Disadvantages
- You have to specify a database schema.
- Database schema must be identical for all of the entities.
- Technical and engineering knowledge is required to manage it.
Please refer to the relational database section for more information.
Xml Database
Provides storage for small or large number of large size entities in a hierarchy. Database operations are 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 the whole documents or objects.
Disadvantages
- Slow performance when the other data, out of the entity tree needs to be joined.
Please refer to the xml database section for more information.
File Database
Provides storage for binary files with small or large size. Please refer to the file database section for more information.
Advantages
- Efficient for binary files.
- Full text indexing
Disadvantages
- Only accessible from the file id