The SelectWare System Volume 5 #3/Selectware - The Ultimate Software Demonstration System - Selectware.ISO/bor10010/copyfile.swt/TRIAL\BOXTEXT.TXT

Text File | 1993-03-10 | 18.9 KB | 1,272 lines

Welcome to
ObjectVision
First Look!

What you're about to
see is not a
demonstration -- it's a
real, live working copy
of ObjectVision.  And
now you'll use it to
create an actual
ObjectVision
application!  Just
remember these keys:

* Whenever you're
ready to take the next
step, press F2 for more
instructions.

* To redisplay the
previous instruction,
hold down the ALT key
and press F2.

To continue now, press
the F2 key...
x

NOTE:
How to cancel
First Look.

To cancel this tutorial at
any time:

1) Close any tools that
you're using (such as the
Form Tool or Tree
Tool).

2) Press the F12 key.
You will be asked to
confirm that you wish to
cancel.

To continue now, press
the F2 key...
x

What you'll do in the
next few minutes.

ObjectVision makes
creating Windows &
OS/2 applications as
easy as A-B-C:

A. APPLICATION
INTERFACE.

First, you'll build your
Application Interface by
placing objects (fields,
buttons, tables) on a
form and changing their
size, shape and color to
your liking.

To continue, press F2.
x

(A-B-Cs continued...)

B. BUSINESS RULES.

Next, you'll embed logic
into your application by
creating "value" and
"event" trees that define
how your application
will work.

C. CONNECTIONS.

Finally, you'll link the
fields in your application
to a database.

To continue, press F2.
x
ACTION:
Start by activating the
TOOLS Menu.

1) Click on the TOOLS
option on the menu bar
above.

2) From the TOOLS
menu select the FORM
tool: (TOOLS|FORM)

This lets you create a
basic form on which
you'll add objects and
logic. Later, you'll link
those objects to a
database.

We've identified each
button on the Form
Tool's Object Bar to let
you more easily identify
the icons you need to
click.

To continue, press F2.
x

NOTE:
This form shows you an
example of what you'll
accomplish next.

You'll be creating two
fields, SALE AMOUNT
and COMMISSION,
defining their properties
and calculating the
commission amount
through the use of a
value tree.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Next, create, name and
draw a Field.

1) Click on the FIELD
icon.

Then, press F2...
x

ACTION:
Name and position
the field.

2) Name it:

     SALE AMOUNT

Then click OK or press
Enter.

Now, draw the FIELD.

3) Click on the form
wherever you want your
field to appear.

To continue, press F2.
x

Define the properties of
your object.

The handles at each
corner of your new
FIELD let you stretch
the FIELD to any size
you want.

To operate those
handles, click on and
drag them with your
mouse.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Select object properties.

1) To find out what
properties are available
for your field object,
place your mouse arrow
INSIDE the new Sale
Amount field and click
your RIGHT mouse
button.

All the object properties
available will be
displayed.

2) Click on the COLOR
option.

Then, press F2 to
continue...
x

ACTION:
Change the object's
color.

1) Under LABEL, use
the combo box to
highlight the color you
want for the field's text
label.

2) Click on the OK
button to save your
changes.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Change the field type.

1) Again, place your
mouse arrow INSIDE
the Sale Amount field
and click your RIGHT
mouse button.

2) Select FIELD TYPE
from the properties
menu.

3) Change Field Type to
CURRENCY under the
column of Numeric
types.

4) Click OK to accept
your changes.

Then, press F2 to
continue.
x

ACTION:
Create another field.

1) Click the FIELD
button on the Object
Bar.

2) Name the new field
COMMISSION, then
click OK.

3) Position your mouse
pointer to the right of
the Sale Amount field
and CLICK to place the
field.

Then, press F2 to
continue.
x

ACTION:
Change the Field Type.

1) Place your mouse
arrow INSIDE the
Commission field and
click your RIGHT
mouse button.

2) Select FIELD TYPE
from the properties
menu.

3) Change Field Type to
CURRENCY under the
column of Numeric
types.

4) Click OK to accept
your changes.  Then,
press F2 to continue.
x

NOTE:
See ObjectVision 2.1 in
a real-life application.

In this Trial Disk, we're
using a fictional auction
house, AuctionRAMa,
to demonstrate the
power of ObjectVision
applications.

First, we'll add logic to
our form and calculate
the commission the
auction house earns on
a sale by creating a
VALUE TREE for the
commission field. The
commission amount will
be based on an item's
sales price.

To continue, press F2.
x

About VALUE TREES
and EVENT TREES...

ObjectVision uses two
kinds of decision trees
that let you program
logic into your
application:

VALUE TREE.  Logic
that automatically
calculates a value for a
specific field, such as a
sales commission.

EVENT TREE.  Logic
that causes other events
to happen, such as
displaying another form.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
To access the TREE
TOOL, simply double
click on the
COMMISSION field.

(You could also access
this field's properties by
using your RIGHT
mouse button and then
selecting VALUE
TREE from the
properties menu.)

Now let's create
a Tree!

Press F2 to continue...
x

NOTE:
The Tree Tool
Object Bar.

Since we've accessed
the Tree Tool, you may
have noticed that the
Object Bar changed.

It now displays different
buttons. (The first
button, which looks like
a left-point arrow,
closes the tool.)

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Build a value tree.

1) First, click once on
the button which points
upwards (fourth from
the left).  This will make
your value tree larger
and a little easier to see.

2) Next, Click on the
second button from the
left. This tells
ObjectVision that we
want to add a "branch"
to our Tree.

Press F2 to continue.
x

1) Find the field called
SALE AMOUNT on
the list of fields.  Double
click on it.

You just created the
first branch of your
Value Tree! The logic
we want to use here
could be expressed like
this:

IF SALE AMOUNT
     >500
THEN
     COMMISSION=
     SALE AMOUNT
     * 0.15
ELSE
     COMMISSION=
     MINIMUM
     COMMISSION
END IF

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Draw your conclusion.

1) Next, click the
Conclusion button
(upside down triangle)
and give your first
condition. Type:

     >500

2) Then click on the OK
button.

3) For your conclusion,
type:

    +Sale Amount*0.15

(It's important that you
begin this expression
with a + sign.)

4) Click the OK button
to accept your entry.
Then, press F2.
x

NOTE:
Whenever you're
specifying fields, instead
of typing field names,
you can click on the
FIELD button to display
and select any of the
available fields.

This way, you don't
have to memorize your
field names.

To continue now, press
the F2 key.
x

ACTION:
Now, make your other
conclusion.  (Make sure
your first conclusion has
a dotted line border
around it)

1) Click the
CONCLUSION (upside
down triangle) button
again.

2) Leave the expression
OTHERWISE on the
Condition line and click
the OK button.

3) In the Conclusion
window, enter the
expression:

+Minimum Commission

4) Finally, click the OK
button and press F2 to
continue.
x

NOTE:
Your value tree is
complete!

Displayed visually, your
logic works as follows:

If the first condition is
met (Sale Amount
>500), the value of
Commission will be set
to 15% of the sale
amount.

If the first condition is
NOT met, then the
value of Commission
will be set to the value
of the Minimum
Commission field.

To continue, press F2.
x

Now, see your logic in
action.

1) First, close the TREE
TOOL by clicking on
the CLOSE TOOL
button (looks like a left-
pointing arrow).

2) Next, close the
FORM TOOL by
clicking once again on
the CLOSE TOOL
button.

Press F2 to continue.
x

1) Click in the SALE
AMOUNT field and
enter the value:

     200

After pressing <Enter>,
a Scratchpad prompt
will automatically
appear and prompt you
for a MINIMUM
COMMISSION value.

2) Inside the scratchpad
window, type a
minimum commission:

     75

After pressing ENTER,
ObjectVision returns to
the main form and the
commission amount is
displayed.

To continue, press F2.
x

NOTE:
ObjectVision's
Inference Engine.

When you entered a sale
amount, notice how
ObjectVision
automatically prompted
you for the Minimum
Commission value. This
field isn't on your form -
- but its value was
needed for the value
tree to be evaluated.

ObjectVision uses a
"scratchpad" form to
display this field while
guiding you through to
completion.  Imagine
how much code you'd
normally have to write
to get this functionality!

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Automatic Update.

1) In the Sale Amount
field, change the value
to:

     700

2) Hit the ENTER key
and notice how the
commission amount is
re-calculated
automatically!

Then, press F2 to
continue.
x

Now for the "C" part:
making connections to
data.

You're now two-thirds
of the way finished!

You've built the
foundation of your
application by creating
your Application
Interface.

Then you've determined
how your application
will work by outlining
your Business Rules
using Event and Value
trees.

Now it's time for "C" --
connecting to a
database.

Press F2 to continue.
x

Our goal is to create a
new form, add a table
object and link that table
to a database.

ACTION:
First, make sure that
you're in the FORM
tool.

1) Click on the TOOLS
option on the menu bar
above.

2) From the TOOLS
menu select the FORM
option.

Then, press F2 to
continue.
x

NOTE:
This form shows you an
example of what you'll
accomplish next.

You'll be creating a
table object along with a
button called TOP.

Then, you'll see how an
EVENT TREE is used
to pull data from a
Paradox table.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Now, create a new
form.

1) Click on the FORM
menu at the top of the
screen.

2) From the FORM
menu select the NEW
option.

3) Name your new
form, ITEMS.  Click
OK (or press the
<Enter> key) to accept
your entry.

To continue, press F2.
x

Next, expand the new
form.

We want to make this
form larger than the
default size, so:

1) Drag the form close
to the upper left corner
of the ObjectVision
window.

2) Then, drag the lower
right corner of the new
form to make the new
form as large as
possible.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Add your first table.

1) Click the table button
(looks like a table grid)
on the Object Bar.

2) Give the table a
name. (For this exercise,
the default name,
"Table1", is fine.).
Click the OK button.

3) Click the mouse
close to the upper-left
corner of your new
form.  The new table
object will appear.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Resize the first column.

1) Drag the single
square handle on the
BOTTOM of the table
object to increase its
height vertically.  Drag
it almost to the bottom
of the form.  As you do,
ObjectVision shows you
how many rows your
table will contain.

Make sure that you drag
the handle on the
BOTTOM of the object.
If you accidentally click
somewhere else on the
table object, 4 handles
may appear on the
corners.  To redisplay
the BOTTOM handle,
click on the object title
"Table1".
x


2) Now, click your
mouse on the column
label "Col1" so that 4
corner handles appear.

3) Using the handles,
widen the first column
of the table -- it should
occupy at least 1/3rd of
the form.

Press F2 to continue.
x

ACTION:
Add two more columns.

1) Click on the title,
"Table1", so that a
triangle shaped handle
appears on the right-
side of the table.

2) Click and drag this
triangle handle to the
right to create a
SECOND column.  This
column should occupy
the next 1/3 of your
form's width.

3) Once you've
positioned your second
column, create a
THIRD column by
clicking and dragging
the triangle as before.

Press F2 to continue.
x

ACTION:
Size your columns.

1) Click on the column
headings and notice
how the handles change.

2) Next, drag the handle
in the direction you
want. The column size
and relative size of the
table will change
accordingly.

When you're finished,
press F2 to continue.
x

NOTE:
If you have too many
columns (we only want
three), here's how to
DELETE a column:

1) Click on the
unwanted column's
heading so that the four
corner handles appear
on that column.

2) Drag the upper right
column handle to the
left, compressing the
column width to zero.

3) ObjectVision will
then ask if you want the
column deleted.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Add a scroll bar.

1) Click on the table
heading ("Table1", if
you originally chose the
default name.)

2) Click the RIGHT
mouse button to access
table properties.

3) Click on the
SCROLLBAR option
and a scrollbar will be
added to the right-hand
side of your table.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
Link your table to a
Paradox database.

1) Click on the LINK
TOOL button (far right
side of the Object Bar;
looks like a chain).

2) The DATA LINKS
dialog will be displayed
(note the various
database formats
available). With
Paradox as the default,
click on the CREATE
button.








Press F2 to continue.
x

ACTION:
Name the link.

1) In the LINK NAME
field, type:

     TABLE

This will be the name
used to refer to this
particular link.

Then, press F2.











CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x

ACTION:
Specify the database
table name.

1) In the field labeled
PARADOX TABLE,
type the filename:

     BIDS

BIDS is a table that has
already been created for
this example.

Then, press F2 to
continue.








CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x

ACTION:
Link to the Table.

1) Click the CONNECT
button on the right side
of the Paradox Link
Creation dialog and
ObjectVision will
connect to the BIDS
database table.

(Note how the fields
from that table are
automatically displayed.
If you pressed <Enter>
after typing the table
name BIDS, the
database fields will
already be displayed.)

To continue, press F2.



CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x

ACTION:
Connect the first
ObjectVision field to
your Paradox
table:

1)  Click on the LINK
CREATION dialog and
find the window that
displays ObjectVision
fields on the right side.

2) Double click on the
field labeled COL1.

(ObjectVision assigns
this field to correspond
with the BIDDER field
from the database.)

To continue, press F2.



CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x

ACTION:
Connect the other fields
from the table object.

1) Follow the same
procedure with the fields
COL2 and COL3.

Double click on them in
the ObjectVision fields
list.

To continue,
press F2.










CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x


Once you've linked all
three database fields to
the ObjectVision fields
(Col1, Col2 and Col3),
click on the OK button.

Then, press F2 to
continue.















CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x

ACTION:
Link automatic buttons.

To speed development,
ObjectVision
automatically creates
control buttons for a
link. Let's create a single
button for our new link:

1) Click the box next to
the word TOP.

2) Click the OK button.

To continue, press F2.








CLICK HERE to
redisplay instructions.
x

ACTION:
Complete the linking.

1) Since you're finished
defining this link, click
the OK button on the
DATA LINKS dialog.

2) The TOP button was
automatically created
for you on your form.
To find it, click on the
down-arrow button of
the ObjectVision
window's scroll bar.

3) Then, click and drag
the new TOP button
and move it up on the
form so it's close to the
table.

To continue, press F2.
x

ACTION:
View the Event Tree.

ObjectVision
automatically created an
event tree for your new
TOP button.

1) To see it, double-
click on the TOP
button.

When you click on this
button while running
your application, the
actions described in the
conclusion node of this
event tree will be taken.
In this case, when you
click on this button,
ObjectVision will move
to the top of the
database defined in the
TABLE link.

To continue, press F2.
x

Now you can actually
use your new table
object.

ACTION:
First, you must close all
your TOOLS:

1) To close the TREE
TOOL, click on the
CLOSE TOOL button
at the far left of the
Object Bar.

2) Next, close the
FORM TOOL by
clicking again on the
CLOSE TOOL
BUTTON.

3) Now click the TOP
button and watch the
data appear!

Press F2 to continue.
x

NOTE:
If any cells show
#######, your column
isn't wide enough to
display all the text.

Since we're only using
part of the screen for
ObjectVision during this
First Look, some of the
data may appear as
#######.

If you wish, go back to
the FORM TOOL, click
on any of the cells and
increase or decrease
their width.

Then, close the Form
Tool and try again.

To continue, press F2.
x
This is just the
beginning!

In this First Look, you
experienced how easily
you can build a
Windows application
with ObjectVision.

In the Sample
Application --
AuctionRAMa -- you'll
discover ObjectVision's
flexible linking powers
and how many different
ways it can be used.

And in Advanced
Features, you'll see how
ObjectVision lets you
easily add sophisticated
capabilities with
multiple data links and
formats, filters and
locates, custom @
functions and more.
x

Don't miss the Sample
Applications.

To further illustrate the
power of ObjectVision
2.1, we've included
more examples of
ObjectVision sample
applications on this
Disk.

You'll see linking to
dBASE and Paradox
tables on the same form,
one-to-many, and many-
to-many relationships as
well.

Press F2 to continue.
x

And don't forget, we're
backing this Trial Disk
with the same world
class support we give all
Borland products. So at
any time if you have
questions, just call
Borland Technical
Support at
1-408-461-9144.

So click ahead. You're
well on your way to
becoming an
ObjectVision developer!
x