AppWrap is a Web application for managing mildly dynamic data among a distributed workgroup. The data to be managed are limited only by user's needs. Users will like how easily they can unlock a ton of data from Word and Excel files, and the many ways to manipulate the data onscreen simply by clicking hyperlinks.

AppWrap retains all data, and a history of changes to any data element is available by clicking a hyperlink. Data can be downloaded in spreadsheet friendly format. Data displayed onscreen can be sorted, filtered and paginated by clicking hyperlinks. Time sequence data can be shown in a month-at-a-time calendar view, and click-to-chart capabilities exist.

IT staff will appreciate how quickly new data elements can be added for User's clicking enjoyment. Multiple data elements, grouped in an SQL table, can be made available for user input and view in about 5 minutes. Some refinement of default values typically will be desired, but you get the idea. Compare this to the time required to code a CGI script and input form, even using one of the template modules (TT, Mason, etc.)

AppWrap also eases the chore of creating reports. Some coding may be inevitable, but nothing a Perl novice can't cook up. (That would be me.) See the AppWrap Developer Guide and Module Documentation. AppWrap requires the Apache web server, mod_perl and MySQL. Using current versions is recommended.

The beauty for IT is that there is no limit to the number of data elements AppWrap can manage, and all are managed with the core AppWrap code. You don't need a week to cook up every new CGI script, and there won't be dozens of one-off scripts to babysit and nurture. IT can service many more requests for web-based forms than possible using one-off methods. At the same time, all data are stored in a relational database, backed up and managed by IT. Big win for the business.