Yellowfin, has launched DashXML - a browser-based Java application to make it easier for customers and software partners to create customized analytical functionality and applications. According to the vendor, DashXML is a flexible framework that communicates with Yellowfin via a web wervices API to expose the functionality of Yellowfin's BI platform - such as reports, filters and security capabilities - while simultaneously providing complete freedom regarding application design, layout and user interaction.
"Creating highly customized analytical functionality and applications has always been difficult," said Yellowfin CEO, Glen Rabie. "Application managers and developers had two choices. Firstly, they could simply use an out-of-the-box BI tool, which limited their control over product design and user interaction. Alternatively, they used Open Source charting libraries to create a tailored charting experience, but lost the analytical functionality and security of an analytics platform, such as Yellowfin."
According to Rabie,"DashXML empowers organizations to leverage the power of Yellowfin's BI platform, which removes the need to build sophisticated BI functionality from the ground up, while simultaneously offering unlimited flexibility and control when it comes to design, layout and interactivity."
Custom dashboards created using DashXML are configured in a single XML file that describes each element on each dashboard tab as a widget. Each dashboard is a single page with an arrangement of widgets, which can include reports, text and filter widgets. All layout and styling can be achieved via customized CSS. Each dashboard is referenced directly by a unique URL and is accessible via Web-browser.
DashXML can be deployed alongside Yellowfin, or on a separate server.
Existing Yellowfin customers can download DashXML from the Yellowfin Support Center, at no cost, at www.yellowfinbi.com/YFSupportCentre.i4.