ClipIt

ClipIt is a powerful new approach to integrating legacy applications to other applications, and has raised the bar for simplicity in application integration. When integrated within web-based applications, ClipIt enables users to simply hit a key to quickly view important records and documents across the Internet.

The ClipIt toolkit leverages PaperClip's award-winning Visual Context Processor (clipping) technology that allows developers and integrators to seamlessly integrate two or more application software packages or systems. The Visual Context Processor is a transparent and unique technology that allows applications to share meaningful data to create "links" between themselves. The premise is that data is the important element in establishing a link, and not a programmed interface. Programs mature and change but the data remains (e.g. a person's name, social security number, etc.). PaperClip's technology provides application developers an independence from host or legacy applications, thus enabling unprecedented integrated solutions with miscellaneous applications.

Once ClipIt becomes part of the content application, integration with DOS, Windows and Emulator (green screen) applications, as well as some browser applications, takes minutes and requires no programming.

ClipIt details

Supported application user interfaces

  • Windows list view style containing database records (spreadsheet).
  • Windows dialog boxes containing text data controls.
  • Terminal Emulator (3270, 5250, ASCII, green screen) free text windows.
  • DOS mode applications under Windows NT/2000/XP/2003.

Screen overlay templates

  • A simple user interface allowing the user to identify the screens and data fields on the target application to be used for mapping. Any data visible on the screen can be mapped.
  • Static data on the screen can be used to "anchor" or identify the screen. This identification is used to determine what overlay template to be used thereby mapping the proper data fields.
  • The overlay templates need to be defined only once per application screen and are shared for all network users of ClipIt. This allows centralized control of the ClipIt system.
  • Non-authorized users are restricted from access to the Overlay Template Editor as it is an administration function.
  • ClipIt can be set up to transfer data between the host and target.

Scripting integration with the host application

  • Scripting is required for integrating with the host application. Once this integration is done, the host application is "ClipIt" enabled and ready to link to any target application without programming.
  • Scripts are run via Microsoft's Windows Script Host (WSH) which runs on all Windows platforms.
  • ClipIt provides default script files that allow for integration with PaperClip's WebServer and other command line driven applications.

API integration with the host application

  • ClipIt's VCP engine is a set of COM objects that can be supported by Microsoft's Visual BASIC and Visual C++, Visual C, etc.
  • The application programmer need only define a function to handle the event when the ClipIt VCP engine has data ready. The host application will then retrieve the data from ClipIt via its COM interface.
  • Overlay templates are stored in XML file format. If so desired, a custom Overlay Template Editor may be created using these XML files. This allows application developers more control over how overlay templates can be used.