Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
ADM and SmartObjects

SmartLink overview

SmartLinks are an important element of the ADM architecture. A SmartLink is a bidirectional association of two SmartObjects. It establishes how one SmartObject relates to another and what sort of behavior each can expect from the other. SmartLinks also are part of the overall ADM messaging scheme (communication between SmartObjects).

A SmartObject associated with another by a SmartLink serves as either the link’s source object or its target object. Data flows across the SmartLink primarily from the source to the target, but in some circumstances, from the target to the source.

SmartLinks are created and maintained by each SmartObject’s container. Each link is a property in each SmartObject that supports that type of link. The smart.p super procedure has procedures and functions for link management. Each link is mapped to one or more events that use the PUBLISH and SUBSCRIBE statements. These event lists also are SmartObject properties. For more information on PUBLISH and SUBSCRIBE, see the chapter on named events in OpenEdge Development: Progress 4GL Handbook and the PUBLISH and SUBSCRIBE entries in OpenEdge Development: Progress 4GL Reference .