Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
AppBuilder

Introduction to data-display objects

Presenting data to the user is an important intermediate goal in nearly any database application. Presentation techniques range from the most generic row/column display to sophisticated, application-specific graphing and charting.

AppBuilder provides four SmartObject building blocks:

Dynamic and Static SmartDataBrowsers, for presenting data to your users in a simple, tabular row/column format.
SmartDataViewer, for presenting one record at a time, in a layout you determine.
SmartDataField, including the dedicated SmartSelect, for adding ADM capability down to the individual field level in the SmartDataViewer.

Additionally, the Progress 4GL provides a number of basic objects that display and capture data. These include:

Data browser with built-in query, for representing data in tabular row/column format.
Combo box, for presenting a list of choices.
Data viewer (DB-Fields) with built-in query, for representing data on a per-record basis.
Editor (multi-line editor), with most of the capabilities of a standard text editor.
Fill-in (single-line editor), for capturing a small amount of data.
Radio-button set, for representing an exclusive set of (usually non-string) choices.
Selection list, for presenting a list of choices.
Slider control, for representing a point within a subrange of INTEGER.
Toggle box (check box), for representing a Boolean (LOGICAL) choice.

This chapter discusses these building blocks and their role in your applications.