Answer: A graph database is a data storage structure that organizes data in nodes related by arcs rather than in rows and columns as in a relational table. See the Cogito White Paper "Graph-based Relationship Analytics" for more information.

Answer: A graph database allows for a fully normalized data model that can be quickly queried and viewed. By nature, it uncovers relationship patterns and thereby improves data analysis, situation intelligence and process understanding. See the Cogito White Paper "Graph-based Relationship Analytics" for more information.

Answer:The graph database lends itself to a wide variety of applications. For this reason, Cogito has partners ranging from national security analysts to bio-informatics researchers. To discuss the possibilities, fill out our partner application form and we will provide more information on becoming a partner.

Answer: As a Cogito partner, you can use either the Cogito Java SDK, or the Cogito .NET SDK to c reate customized graph database solutions for network relationship analysis according to your unique information needs.

Answer: The Cogito Knowledge Center Workbench is a Windows application that can be installed on Windows 2000, or Windows XP. To install it run the setup.exe file on the Cogito Installation Disk. If you are already a partner, you can also download the product by logging onto the Partner Portal. Otherwise, fill out our partner application form and we will provide more information on becoming a partner.

Answer: You can import data from standard CSV and tab delimited text files. You may also connect directly to live databases via an ODBC connection.

Answer: To assimilate data, make sure you have added your data as a source and mapped existing fields to nodes and arcs. If you have already done this, you can then select "Graph" on the menu bar and then either "Assimilate and Append" or "Delete and Assimilate." Assimilate and Append adds new instance data to the graph. Delete and Assimilate removes all data and re-assimilates the graph.

Answer: To map data to nodes and arcs you must first add the data as a source. To add data to the source, right-click on "Sources" in the left panel and select "Add Item". Select tabular. After selecting your data source, click on the "Column Mapping" tab. This is where you can select which columns will act as nodes or attributes, and create relationships through arcs.

Answer: This is done so bi-directional relationships can be established. A relationship may be different depending on which node you are starting from. For example, two people nodes may be connected by a parent/child arc. This is a bi-directional arc. If there is no need for a bi-directional arc, the same ID can be used for both arc directions.

Answer: Yes, you can make two fields from different data files the same node type. When data from one file is also represented in another file, give both fields the same node name. This is where the graph enables a normalized model.

Answer: Because everything in a graph is either an arc or a node, it is important to think in those terms. You can query to find any node in an arc by its value or any of its attributes. The real power of the graph, however, is exposed when you are searching for relationships between nodes and patterns. You can perform "shortest path" queries, N-degree relationships, and pattern matching with the graph. For more information on graph queries, refer to the Cogito White Paper "Graph-based Relationship Analytics"

Answer: A hop is an arc between two nodes. A relationship between two nodes may be separated by more than one hop. For example, Kevin Bacon and Tom Cruise are separated by two hops. Kevin Bacon acted in the movie “A Few Good Men”. This is one hop from the person node Kevin Bacon to the movie node “A Few Good Men.” The movie node “A Few Good Men” then links to Tom Cruise as one of the actors in that movie. So, when starting with Kevin Bacon, this relationship is separated by 2 hops; a hop to “A Few Good Men” and then to Tom Cruise. This may also be referred to as two degrees of separation.

Answer: Yes, you can change arc colors. Change arc colors by right-clicking on the graph name at the top of the left panel and then selecting “Properties”. From there select the “Arc” tab.

Answer: While viewing in graph view, you can change the focus node simply by right-clicking on the node on which you would like to focus.

Answer: This happens when a particular record you may have assimilated does not have a node value. If you would not like to see a 0 value node, you can specify a Null Value indicator in the “Null Detection” column of the Column mapping screen for the data. In this case, if you specify “0”, it will ignore any fields that have a null value for the node.

Answer: Right-click on the graph name at the top of the left panel and select “Properties”. From there, select the “Model Blueprint” tab.

Answer: Once your graph is assimilated, go to “Graph” on the menu bar and then select “Statistics”.

Answer: “Append and Assimilate” writes any new data to the graph that may have been added to the original data files. “Delete and Assimilate” deletes all data and re-assimilates the graph. You should use “Append and Assimilate” when new instance data is being added to the graph, while you should use “Delete and Assimilate” when you have made changes to the column mapping or have added new data sources.