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GRANTA MI:Admin

GRANTA MI:Admin is a Windows software application that makes it easy for appropriately-authorized users to configure and update your GRANTA MI database and system.

A GRANTA MI materials database (provided by GRANTA MI:Server) enables storage of your corporate materials data and provides a range of enterprise data management features to support your needs for security, change management, and traceability.

Database configuration

The structure of any GRANTA MI database is captured in its schema - which defines the types of data that are to be stored in the database, the relationships between them, and the operations that can be performed on objects in the database. Granta provides sample schemas. An example is a detailed schema developed by the Materials Data Management Consortium to support the complex needs of the process for managing test lab data, analyzing that data, and delivering it to design.

Defining unit systems - click for larger image

But most organizations will want to design or modify schemas to match their own data environment and requirements. MI:Admin allows suitably-authorized users to do just this, through the use of a Windows software application on their personal computer. Features include:

• Define and modify the table structure that specifies how data is stored in the database
  
  
• Define and modify unit systems for use in the database (illustrated above)
  
  
• Choose appropriate attribute types for your data
  
  
• Define how records or items of data in the database are linked, making use of features such as 'smart links' that can automatically link records based on their content
  
  
• Create and configure the database 'homepage' seen by the MI:Viewer user - this can help users within your organization to understand and navigate the database and supporting tools using your organization's own language
  
  
• Create search templates that make it easy for users to find the data that they need
  
  
• Implement quality ratings that help to ensure data is used appropriately
  
  
• Specify how GRANTA MI's version control features are applied to specific tables in the database

If required, Granta provides consultancy and training to support the initial design and subsequent maintenance of the database.

Access control

It is often vital to ensure that access to specific data is restricted to particular users, or groups of users. This may be required for reasons of security or commercial confidentiality. Or it may be to enhance usability - making sure that users only see the data that they need. MI:Admin allows you to configure access control to the needs of your organization. You can:

• Segment your user audience, either using a simple hierarchy or based on user categories and permissions
  
  
• Implement access control settings enterprise-wide based on this segmentation