Differences between GDC-Native and GDC-UR

This topic lists the major differences you should be aware of when you migrate from Genero Desktop Client - Native (GDC-Native) to Genero Desktop Client - Universal rendering (GDC-UR).

Starting with Genero 4.00, Universal Rendering (UR) is the sole rendering option for Genero Enterprise front-ends. It simplifies the portability of the application, because you have the same rendering on the browser, desktop client, and mobile.

UR implements a Genero Browser Client (GBC) interface. Click the information icon to identify the GBC version. You can determine which GBC is sent by the runtime system, as specified in the Graphical mode rendering (GUI mode) topic in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide. For further details about the GBC, see the Genero Browser Client User Guide.

Table 1 outlines the difference between GDC-UR compared with GDC-Native.

Table 1. GDC-Native versus GDC-UR
GDC-Native GDC-UR
Looks like a typical desktop application. Looks more like a web page.
You can't resize the GDC window to a smaller size than the minimum allowed by the layout content. The first time the window is opened, it is at the minimum size. You can resize the window to be very small, and there is no minimum size. A window initially opens using a fixed size of two-thirds of the screen.
Each Genero BDL window opens in a separate window container. Each Genero BDL window opens on top of the previous Genero BDL window in the same window container. You can switch between windows using the Window list. For further details about the Window list, see Application page.

For more information about window containers, see Containers for program windows in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide

If you execute an application using "RUN command" and do not specify the "WITHOUT WAITING" clause, a new window container is opened. You can view the initial application by switching window containers, but you cannot interact with the initial application until the new application is completed. If you execute an application using "RUN command" and do not specify the "WITHOUT WAITING" clause, it opens a separate window in the same window container. You can switch between applications using the Window list, but you cannot interact with the initial application until the new application is completed. For further details about the Window list, see Application page.
If you execute an application using "RUN command WITHOUT WAITING", a new window container is opened. You can use the separate window containers to switch between and interact with open applications. If you execute an application using "RUN command WITHOUT WAITING", it opens in the same window container. You can use the sidebar to switch between applications. For further details about the sidebar, see Application page.

If you want to open a new RUN WITHOUT WAITING window container as in GDC-Native, use the style attribute desktopMultiWindow.

The Windows Container Interface (WCI) is supported. The WCI is desupported. For further information, see Removal of Windows Container Interface (WCI) in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

It is possible to run child windows inside a single window container by setting the tabbedContainer style attribute for the main window of a parent program. However, this feature is deprecated. See Window style attributes in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

You can use the web debugger tool to inspect and debug web components only. You can use the web debugger tool to debug any layout and performance issues
Local actions (such as copy, cut, and paste) are deprecated but still supported. Local actions are desupported. You are recommended to avoid putting local actions in the topmenu or toolbar. For further information, see (GDC) Local Actions in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.
Presentation styles support the desktop interface. Changes have been made to the presentation styles to support the GBC interface. For further information, see Presentation styles changes under the 4.00 Upgrade section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.