Dashboard - Projects
Projects Section
The Projects section shows the total number of projects, the current project, and information about the presence of a test and web application project.
Concepts
Workspace
The DataFlex Studio operates within a workspace. A workspace defines the areas where your source files reside. The workspace is the area where you build your projects. Projects are built by assembling components into a single file. The components will use classes that are known to the workspace. These classes can be defined within the workspace, within libraries used by the workspace, and within the System Library.
Projects
A project is the code that you compile and run. A project consists of a file (usually a .src file) that uses other components (component files, class files, Data Dictionary files, etc.) to create an executable program. A project can be large (e.g., MyBigApplication.src), containing all of the components and classes within your workspace, or it can be small (e.g., MyTest.src) consisting of a few components that you wish to test.
You can create as few or as many projects within a workspace as you wish. Projects must be registered within a workspace. This is really just a simple process of adding a file to a list that Studio maintains. Projects can easily be added or removed from this list.
Current Project
The Studio, and the Workspace Dashboard, are current project oriented. You are expected to select a current project and then work within this project. When you tell the Studio to compile, debug, or run, it will always operate on the current project. When the Studio provides you with code-sense (interface information), it provides it from the current project’s perspective.
The Projects section of the dashboard is not current project oriented. It can include some or all of the following section details:
Projects Heading
Clicking on the Projects heading opens Workspace Explorer.
Projects
The number of projects currently available in the workspace is represented by a number to the left of this detail. This section detail has the following behaviors:
- If the workspace does not contain any projects, this detail will show a red exclamation point to the left. Clicking on this detail will open the Create New Project dialog.
- If the workspace contains a single project, this detail will show the number 1 to the left. Clicking on this detail will open the Create New Project dialog.
- If the workspace contains more than one project, this detail will show the number of projects to the left. Clicking on this detail will open the Select Current Project dialog.
Current Project
This section detail will only be displayed if there is a current project in the workspace. If available, the source name of the project is displayed. Clicking on this detail will run the current project, compiling it if necessary.
Test Project
The DataFlex Studio supports test projects - a special type of Windows project with specific behaviors to assist in testing components outside of any specific project, such as auto-activation of views, automatic sizing of the panel, and a Data Dictionary Inspector.
This section will only be displayed if there is at least one project in the workspace. If available, the detail will exhibit one of the following behaviors:
- If the workspace does not contain any test projects, this detail will show a prompt to 'Create a test project' and clicking on it will open the Create New Project dialog. You should select Test Windows Project from that dialog.
- If the workspace contains test projects, this detail will show the name of the source file for the current test project.
The tool-tip associated with this detail instructs you to use the Test View/Report in Project option on the context menu of the Visual Designer or Editor when you have a component you wish to test.
WebApp Project
WebApp is a special type of project for Web Applications and/or Web Services. This section will only be displayed if there is at least one project in the workspace. If available, the detail will exhibit one of the following behaviors:
- If the workspace does not contain a Web Application, this detail will show a prompt to 'Create a Web Application' and clicking on it will open the Create New Project dialog. You should select Web Project from that dialog.
- If the workspace contains a Web Application, this detail will show the name of the source file (WebApp.src).
Learn More About Projects
Clicking on this link will launch the DataFlex Help System and display the Workspace Dashboard Help.