FormBuilder and AppBuilder BASIS RAD Tools

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FormBuilder and AppBuilderBASIS RAD Tools

Nico Spence, Chief Marketing Officer Jon Bradley, Software Engineer

BASIS International Ltd.


Overview

► Introducing FormBuilder and AppBuilder► Using the RAD tools

• Building a font chooser• Creating code blocks

► Customizing code profiles► Creating a file management utility

• Binding record sets to controls

► Incorporating validation► Enabling the pre-processor► Summary


Introduction

► FormBuilder creates/edits .arc files• Functional super-set of ResBuilder

• Resource file presents a GUI interface to the user with graphical controls

► AppBuilder creates/edits .gbf files• Functional super-set of GUIBuilder

• .gbf files specify code blocks linked to event handlers

• Generates BBj program source and tokens

► Integrated with each other


Advantages

► Integrated• Simultaneous edit of GUI screen controls and code

fired by their events

► Cross Platform• Edit .arc and .gbf files anywhere BBj runs

► WYSIWYG Interface• What You See Is What You Get

• Child Windows rendered in TopLevelWindows

• Look and feel of IDE or Visual PRO/5 legacy L&F


Using the Tool

► Building a Font Chooser• Build the form with child windows and tabs

• Add code blocks

• Create a menu

• Add Events and associate code with Code Editor

• Save file

• Build source and tokens

• Run program


FormBuilderDemonstration


Building a Font ChooserChild Window


Building a Font ChooserTabs


Update Font Code Block


Code Profiles

► Code pre-pended to code block for event handler

► Specified in the Default Code Profile► Profile can automatically add an event handler

for specific events on a given control type


Code ProfilesDemonstration


Record Sets

► BBjRecordSet • Set of records

From a data file via a string template SQL select query

• Maintains a pointer to the current record

• Provides method to insert, update, delete, and move between records

• Often bound to one or more data-aware GUI controls


File Maintenance Utility

► Use new RAD tools to create a simple file maintenance utility• Uses record sets• Navigator control

► Apply validation rules – special circumstance• Fields• Forms

► Enabling the mouse scroll event► Adding Images – the image bucket


Demonstration


Extending the RAD FMUMasked Events


Extending the RAD FMUMouse Scroll Code

gb__event! = bbjapi().getSysGui().getLastEvent()

gb__control! = gb__event!.getControl()

direction = gb__event!.getScrollDirection()

if(direction)

navigator!.getTargetRecordSet().next(err=*next)

else

navigator!.getTargetRecordSet().previous(err=*next)

endif


Extending the RAD FMUFormBuilder Renders Images


Image Bucket

► Resolves the Development vs. Deployment directory structure problem

► Develop with your images in one place► Deploy with the images in your prefix► Image Bucket has no effect on .arc or .gbf file;

exists to display images at development time


Image Bucket Demonstration


Pre-Processor

► AppBuilder provides a pre-processor• User programmable in BBj

• Example of easy string-literal substitutions by adding a pre-processed MessageBox

► Add KEY_PRESS event to Form 101► Add code to switch► Edit pre-processor source file

<install>/appbuilder/app_gb_pre_processor.src


Pre-Processor Demonstration


Pre-Processor Demonstration


Context Sensitive Help


Review

► Introduced FormBuilder and AppBuilder► Used the RAD tools

• Built a font chooser• Created code blocks

► Customized code profiles► Created a file management utility

• Bound record sets to controls

► Incorporated validation► Enabled the pre-processor


Summary

► Added function and integrated tools► Benefits

• Tenfold reduction in development time

• Investment in old code preserved

• Backward compatible

• Intuitive interface

• Facilitates rapid application prototyping

• Employee satisfaction enhanced

Documents

FormBuilder and AppBuilder BASIS RAD Tools