Linking to External Databases

Pathagoras works well with source documents linked (using those dreaded 'fields') to external databases. Linking to external databases, however, is beyond the scope of this Manual. It is an advanced feature of the program. See External Databases.

We have discovered by survey that external database linking is a rarely used feature. Part of it is due to the complexity of creating 'those dreaded fields' to the novice user.

Even among those who we know to be sophisticated uses of external databases, Pathagoras' IDB is still by far the tool of choice for database functions.

“Why is that?,” you may ask. “Why would advanced users choose to put their data in twice?”

•	The main answer is that the data collected by the external systems simply is not the same data needed for the documents being assembled in Pathagoras. (Some is, of course, but not sufficiently enough to make the effort at linking everything together worthwhile.)

•

Take, for example, a Last Will & Testament. The external database might contain the names of the Will's maker and his or her spouse, but rarely would the external database contain the names of every beneficiary or the Executor's or Guardian's names. And the ‘Trust Termination Date?' Of course that wouldn't be there.

•	Document specific variables can best be handled within the document. We don't want to discourage you from trying your hand at linking to your external database, but we know from experience that document variables are best gathered together and answered by Pathagoras’ Instant Database system.