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DataFlex Classes

The DataFlex class library contains many classes for Windows, Web, and Web Services development. This page discusses some of the most commonly used classes.

DataFlex Windows Application

A DataFlex Windows application is normally made up of the following parts:

  • Main Panel: Serves as the outermost container for most other components of a Windows application. This panel contains a number of supplied and easily configured components: a menu-bar system, a tool-bar system, a status-bar system, and a client area.
  • Client Area: An MDI (Multiple-Document Interface) parent window. It contains views (main user-interaction areas, such as data entry views and views that launch reports) and modal popup panels (data lookup lists and dialogs).
  • Data Entry View: Consists of data-dictionary objects (DDOs) and data-entry objects (DEOs) that use the services of the data dictionaries.

DataFlex Web Application

A DataFlex Web application is normally made up of the following parts:

  • Web Application Object: Serves as an outer "wrapper," which contains one or more web objects (WOs).
  • Web Objects: Such as Web Views (cWebView) and Web Dialogs for applications interacting with browsers and thin clients, or Web Service Objects (WSOs) (cWebService) for serving Web Services.

DataFlex Web Services Application

A DataFlex Web Services application is normally made up of the following parts:

  • Web Application Object: Serves as an outer "wrapper," which contains one or more web objects (WOs).
  • Web Objects: Are Web Service Objects (WSOs) or Web Handlers (cWebHttpHandler) for serving Web Services.

For many of the user-interaction classes, there are two class versions available: a data-aware version and a non-data-aware version. In the Windows Framework, the data-aware version is usually preceded by db (e.g., dbForm, cDbCJGrid), while the non-data-aware version is not (e.g., Form, Grid). In most cases, the data-aware version of the class is better developed and can be used for non-data-aware purposes as well. In the Web Application Framework, the data-aware and non-data-aware classes are combined in a single class.

There are many third-party libraries, frameworks, and controls available to extend your application's functionality beyond what DataFlex offers out of the box. The best place to find out about what is available to you is our forums, where you can interact with our developer community, read what other successful developers are doing, and ask questions.

Below is a list of the most commonly used DataFlex classes. To view the complete DataFlex class library, see the Class Reference.

DataFlex Windows Application Classes

DataFlex Web Application Classes

DataFlex Web Services Application Classes