“Quadrant” is part of the code name “Oslo” modeling technologies. As such, it is aware of the code name “Oslo” repository. That means that “Oslo” concepts, such as repository folders (a Windows-like organization concept), are used for navigating data in databases, and that modules, extents, and entities defined using the Microsoft code name “M” tool chain are surfaced directly in “Quadrant”. Instead of interacting with the underlying SQL Server data, you can simply use “Quadrant” to easily browse data.

Relationships between entity-types modeled using “M” are also used to navigate in “Quadrant”. When you define foreign keys between entity-types, they are visible when viewing an entity instance. Click an icon that corresponds to the foreign key to navigate to the related entity.

Workpads contain different views of data from connected databases. At the top of each is a query bar where users can enter queries to show different data, such as filtering a collection of entities to show certain ones.

“Quadrant” features different ways to visualize data. Along with table views for collections and properties views for single instances, there are also diagram, tree, list, and master/detail collection views.

Viewers can be combined to form composite views. For example, a tree view can be used to display the "master" in a master/detail view, and a table view can be used for the "detail" view. The following figure shows an example of the master/detail viewer.

An essential part of the “Quadrant” experience is the ability for the user to switch the view for data in a workpad to use other viewers. They can also configure view settings, such as the columns shown in a table view, and save the configured view to reuse later.

The code name “Oslo” repository is the central data store for all model instances in the “Oslo” modeling technologies. Any model found in the “Oslo” repository can be examined, edited, or generally used in the “Quadrant” environment. The repository explorer (or explorer for short) retrieves models from the “Oslo” repository in “Quadrant”. The explorer can be opened by clicking the View menu, then Explorer.

The folder is an “Oslo” modeling technologies concept for organizing data. For more information, see How to: Use the Repository Explorer to Examine Databases.

The inspector is a workpad that displays information about any selected workpad or item in a workpad. The information depends on the selection. For example, click an empty space in a collection, and the number of entities in the collection is reflected in the workpad. Click an entity, and the actual data from the entity will be reflected. The following lists some of the data that can be displayed:

• Query for a collection or entity.
  
  
• References to other collections or entities.
  
  
• Viewer configuration.
  
  
• Top and Left positions.
  
  

Besides providing a viewing and editing experience for “Oslo” repository-based data, “Quadrant” lets the user explore any SQL Server database by connecting to the database. For more information, see How to: Connect to Multiple Target Databases.

“Quadrant” provides you with the ability to customize the user interface to your demands. For more information, see Customizing the "Quadrant" Data Viewing Experience.

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