Spectre File Types

Spectre uses build, cbase, cplan, dive, measures, and qvset files.

Spectre File Types

File Type	Description	Workbench options
build	A Build script is used to transform data into a cBase. It is a configuration file that controls the actions of the build. It specifies what files to read, how to parse them, and what file to write. Options include specifying columns to ignore or rename, defining new columns with calculations, using lookups to collect more data, applying filters to keep or discard rows, and identifying data types.	Text editor or Spectre Build Editor GUI
cbase	A cBase file is used to supply data to DI clients such as DivePort, DiveTab, and ProDiver. It is a read-only columnar database. It contains the raw data in binary format and is meant to be kept mostly in memory and shared among processes on the server. During development and data validation, cBases can be accessed and manipulated using Workbench.	cBase Viewer, Spectre Dive, or launch ProDiver
cplan	A cPlan script is used to present a view of cBase data. It is a specialized view of the data in one or more inputs (cBase). It can define the inputs and calcs, inherit from another cPlan, import calculations from a file, handle parameters, specify time series, filter out data, merge data, perform lookups, and return metadata.	Text editor or launch ProDiver
dive	A Dive script is used to write a raw Spectre query. It is a query file that specifies steps to create a window into the data. The simple tabular data that is returned can be used to validate data from within Workbench, as a substitute for a Marker file used by DivePort portlets, or as a means to determine totals, subtotals, and top n. ProDiver writes dive scripts to talk to Spectre. A Spectre Dive is an advanced query tool—use cPlans or markers whenever possible.	Text editor
measures	A Measures script directs the creation of cBases and cPlans to support measures. It is a transformation and organization tool for the measures process flow. A measures script can be specified once the source data has been prepared and built into standardized data sets and the measures are defined. The script identifies any dimensions that need to be mapped, the data sets to be created from each source, and the summaries to be used for each measurement. Measure scripts are limited to Healthcare Framework applications.	Text editor
qvset	A Spectre QuickView Set defines filters for cBases via their cPlans. It is a configuration file for specifying QuickViews—the mechanism that dynamically changes what is presented to the end-user. When used with DivePort, qvset scripts create independent QuickView filters for the entire page that take advantage of the Spectre technology and speed. QuickView Sets are used by the DivePort and DiveTab clients.	Text editor