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Data Dictionaries

Data Dictionaries are at the core of DataFlex database applications. Your application database rules are expressed through and managed by Data Dictionaries. Data Dictionaries serve two main purposes:

  • Coordinate database activity among data-aware controls.
  • Provide database validation and update services to a program.
  • Provide sets of business rules shared among multiple applications, both Windows and web-based.

Data Dictionary classes are created and maintained in the Studio. Many business rules can be maintained visually using modelers, but you also have unlimited flexibility by being able to customize and add to the Data Dictionary class code. You can further customize the code for each Data Dictionary Object (DDO) that is in a specific component, for example, a data entry view or web report.

You can create a set of Data Dictionaries for a particular project and define business rules in it that are shared across the entire project, whether they are used in Windows, web, or web services applications.

Read more about Data Dictionaries in the Data Dictionary Guide.