Standard Web Application Features

Web Applications built with DataFlex have many features integrated into the standard web application framework. Some of these features are specific to database applications, typically those defined by data dictionaries. You will see some of these features here, and you will discover many more as you continue to learn DataFlex.

Data Dictionary Business Rules

One of the most powerful features of DataFlex is Data Dictionaries. These allow you to define very simple (e.g., CapsLock on a table field set via a checkbox) as well as very complex (code-based) business rules. These business rules can be shared across multiple applications or, more typically, across Windows and web-based applications that use the same database.

For example, in the image below, you can see a Customer web view with a cleared customer record, ready to add a new customer. The state field is a combo form that allows selection of any U.S. state and has defaulted to Florida.

The credit limit field on the Balances tab page has defaulted to a value of 1000. All of this is done via simple business rules.

Standardized Menu, Toolbar, and Layout

The web-based wizards in the Studio do a lot of work for you, and the web application framework integrates the separate pages easily.

For example, the standard framework comes with a menu and toolbars that support easy access among various web views and other pages.

The standard toolbar supports data-aware functionality.

By default, the web application framework comes with several fully functional themes that can be changed dynamically.

This instantly results in a completely different look and feel:

Also wizard-created with a few clicks, and easily integrated into an application via a Data Dictionary business rule, are sortable and searchable lookup lists for quickly finding records:

Built-In Security

It is very easy to make a view or table column read-only or even invisible based on users' rights or other conditions. The web application framework comes with fully functional rights and session management that can be used out of the box or customized to your specific needs via the cWebSessionManager class.

The web application framework also stores information on the client representing the current state of the application via checksum protection. This checksum is generated using a password and is used to ensure that the RowIds are not changed outside of the DataFlex process. This makes Web Framework Applications more secure than most ASP and AJAX Library web applications. We advise you to set a custom password using the psEncryptPassword property of the cWebApp class.

High Level of Flexibility

With minimal amounts of additional coding, additional features can be integrated into wizard-generated code. For example, you can give users rights to certain fields on a web view.

Next Step

This concludes your introduction to creating database application components in the DataFlex Studio. Next, you will put this newfound knowledge to practical use and create a complete order entry system: Creating a Complete Order Entry System