PATH
WebObjects 4.5 Documentation >
Getting Started With Direct to Java Client
Rule System Requests
The user interface of a Direct to Java Client application isn't generated all at once. Instead it's generated piecemeal as each new window is activated. Correspondingly, the controller factory makes rule system requests as each new window is activated.
When an application starts up, the controller factory makes requests for the following keys:
- availableSpecifications which tells the controller factory all the specifications (dictionaries of request keys and state information) that are valid for the application. A Direct to Java Client application caches this information to avoid unnecessary round trips to the server later on as it generates windows.
- defaultSpecifications which tells the controller factory which windows to open automatically once the application has finished initializing.
- actions which tells the controller factory what actions to add to the main menu along with standard menu items such as Quit and Edit. For example, you could add an action to open a form or query window.
Then, to generate the controller hierarchy for a window or dialog, the controller factory makes requests for the following keys:
- window which returns the controller hierarchy XML for the window the application will open next. In the request's specification, the controller factory must also provide state information (typically a task and optionally an entity) so the rule system can determine what window is being generated.
- modalDialog which returns the controller hierarchy XML for the dialog the application will open next. In the request's specification, the controller factory provides a task and optionally an entity.
As the rule system generates the controller hierarchy XML, it can make additional rule system requests. For example, to generate the XML for a select Studio dialog, the rule system must know what the Studio entity's query and list properties are. This information is also stored in the form of rules.
© 1999 Apple Computer, Inc. – (Draft. Last updated 05 Jan 00)
