VISUAL DEVELOPERTM

"Your Doorway to Windows"

 


VISUAL DEVELOPERTM provides a rapid application development set of tools for host-centric and client/server development in both MultiValue (UniVerse, UniData) and relational database (Oracle, SQL Server) environments. An individual VISUAL DEVELOPER application supports Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh clients and character-based terminals concurrently. VISUAL DEVELOPER's unified architecture and design reduces time and investment for Windows interface conversion from green screens and also for new graphical user views (screens) development. Applications can be created entirely with VISUAL DEVELOPER, or VISUAL DEVELOPER can be used in conjunction with other development environments, such as MultiValue legacy character-based applications and with desktop environments, such as Microsoft Visual Basic. Specialized VISUAL DEVELOPER modules perform data mapping and normalization functions, insulating application programs from the physical data model.

The VISUAL DEVELOPER Difference

One of the significant features of VISUAL DEVELOPER is its ability to support rapid application development independently of how and where the data is stored: UniVerse, UniData, Oracle, or SQL Server. VISUAL DEVELOPER is unique in its ability to provide concurrent support for graphical workstations and character terminals from a single application source, a big plus when it comes to application maintenance.

VISUAL DEVELOPER delivers uncommon application development power, automating the routine aspects of changing legacy green screens to Windows or MAC screens, facilitating business object reuse, and enforcing business rules at the database (global dictionary) level. And for the power-programmer, subroutine exits are provided for absolute control where appropriate. With VISUAL DEVELOPER, application distribution, data and application integrity, and data replication and recovery are all simplified, which frees the developer to focus on the unique aspects of the application being developed.

Legacy applications were originally developed for only character terminal support. With VISUAL DEVELOPER, legacy applications can have a Windows graphical look-and-feel. VISUAL DEVELOPER intercepts screen controls in existing applications and invokes workstation resident graphical controls, providing a true Windows environment without the need to rewrite a legacy application. VISUAL DEVELOPER delivers a Windows GUI interface without disrupting proven legacy logic. VISUAL DEVELOPER delivers a strong foundation for rapid application development and easy migration from MultiValue legacy green screens. VISUAL DEVELOPER includes a global data dictionary (an extension of the MultiValue character based data dictionary to handle business graphical enhancements); visual tools for rapid screen creation, multiple industry standard application integration alternatives, and data model and location flexibility to support local and distributed databases. VISUAL DEVELOPER also provides concurrent support for MultiValue database models like UniVerse, UniData, and PI/open and relational models such as Oracle, Sybase and Microsoft SQL Server. The VISUAL DEVELOPER rapid application development approach is to organize and automate the routine, time consuming aspects of application development.

VISUAL DEVELOPER provides the facilities for a developer to add custom procedural code. Custom developed functions can be stored at the object (dictionary) level for convenient and consistent reuse throughout the application. However, most business rules can be handled with little or no programming.

To provide the easiest and quickest way to create Windows views for MultiValue applications, VISUAL DEVELOPER uses a wizard form, drag and drop facility to place objects onto Windows application screens. With the click of a mouse the developer can drill-down to the lowest level business rules and programming exits. Screen objects are defined in the global data dictionary, simplifying screen design and ensuring consistency. This approach will be very familiar to Windows developers and is a comfortable transition for programmers more familiar with a character-based 4GL approach. It is equally suited for graphical client and character-based terminal development. Graphical Windows screens are developed in a wizard form environment within Visual Developer, yet support for character terminals is an automatic by-product. Developers can even toggle between graphical and character views during the development process to see the immediate effect of changes to a screen design. The Global Data Dictionary is the cornerstone of programmer productivity, application integrity, and business object reuse. The VISUAL DEVELOPER global dictionary stores business rules at a high level so that they can be enforced consistently across all applications. Business rule objects are independent of the specific programs in which they are employed.

Many other business objects and functions, such as default value and referential integrity, are stored in the global data dictionary, allowing easy reuse of functions within and across application systems. This promotes application integrity and boosts application development productivity while reducing maintenance throughout the application development life cycle.

Referential integrity can be enforced automatically by simply selecting dictionary options such as (1) enforce referential integrity, (2) cascade deletes.

VISUAL DEVELOPER allows the development of applications without regard to the ultimate physical database type, structure or location. This reduces application development concerns; and, as well, it protects future options for different database platforms and network topologies. The logical model is maintained in the VISUAL DEVELOPER Deployment Definition Tables. If the database model is changed from a MultiValue model like UniVerse to a first normal form (1NF) model, like Oracle, VISUAL DEVELOPER performs the required data re-mapping or translation so that application programs do not have to be changed. If the database is relocated to a different network node or server, network directories are updated, and the change is transparent to application programs. VISUAL DEVELOPER provides support for industry standard integration and data access methods. VISUAL DEVELOPER supports Microsoft Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).

Although it is not a prerequisite for Windows functionality, Visual Basic programs can employ the VISUAL DEVELOPER API to access data in both MultiValue databases and relational databases. Without this functionality Visual Basic programs cannot access MultiValue databases.

VISUAL DEVELOPER provides the maximum flexibility by allowing the developer to choose from the four basic client/server topologies: The applications can be developed under any of the four topologies and later deployed in a different way under a different topology.

Integration Case Study

Integration challenges often require a decision as to whether the most cost-effective integration approach is to re-face, to re-engineer and modify, or to replace with new development. VISUAL DEVELOPER supports all three approaches.

A major international engineering services and construction firm needed to decide how best to update its MultiValue character-based legacy application. Users throughout the world were using personal computers with terminal emulators to access this mission critical application. They demanded a more intuitive Windows look-and-feel. Since the core application was serving current needs and was likely to be satisfactory for the foreseeable future, the firm decided to update the application with a graphical front end.

Even though the application was not originally developed in VISUAL DEVELOPER, the VISUAL DEVELOPER tool set was used to re-face without extensive changes to the existing application. The end result was a contemporary graphical interface that pleased users and minimized training of new employees. The life of a proven legacy application was extended. The new development and the business disruption costs of debugging and installing a new application system were avoided.

New Application Development Case Study

The legal department of a major United States government agency confronted a common application development challenge: quickly develop a new system where users can access and update host data and concurrently run Windows desktop applications like Word from the same Windows view. VISUAL DEVELOPER was used to create a Windows front end to the host MultiValue data server that offered the familiar Windows application look-and-feel. The paralegals are now able to manage caseloads and claims processing on the host, while creating and updating legal documents and correspondence from the same Windows screen.

VISUAL DEVELOPER Compatibility and Technical Specifications

VISUAL DEVELOPER is compatible with MultiValue database models including UniVerse, UniData, and PI/open. VISUAL DEVELOPER also runs on relational database products, such as Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and Microsoft SQL Server. Applications designed for use with one data model can read and write data to another model by employing specialized VISUAL DEVELOPER modules that perform dynamic data re-mapping, translation, or normalization as required for compatibility.

WordMark

WordMark International Corporation is a software solution developer and marketing firm serving the MultiValue and relational DBMS community since 1979. For more information, contact WordMark International at 800-835-2400

E-mail: info@multivalue.com
Web:   http://www.multivalue.com/
 


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