Application page for GDC

The application interface consists of a main container, a sidebar, a window list, and a chromebar.

Figure: GDC application page


Main container

The main container displays the application. It may contain topmenus, toolbars, forms, and action panels.

Figure: GBC main container


Sidebar

The sidebar lists all applications that are open and active. For example, if an application is launched using a "RUN command WITHOUT WAITING" instruction, both the calling and called applications are simultaneously active, and both appear in the sidebar.

If only one application is active, the sidebar does not display.

Switch between active applications by selecting from the application list. The selected application displays in the main container. When you close an application, it is removed from the application list.

You can use the arrow at the bottom of the sidebar to expand it to its maximum width, or contract it to its default width.

On mobile devices, the sidebar is not visible by default. It can be accessed from the icon located next to the window name in the title bar.

Topmenu

If an application has a topmenu, the default rendering is based on the front-end in use:
  • In desktop browsers and in desktop front-ends, a topmenu uses classic rendering and always appears on the top of the window.
  • In mobile browsers and in mobile front-ends, a topmenu uses the sidebar rendering and is displayed on the left of the window, when you click the hamburger icon.

Window list

The window list is a drop-down menu containing all open windows. Switch between windows by clicking on the window list and selecting from the menu. The selected window displays in the main container.

If the selected window is inactive, the window list displays an arrow. Click on this arrow to return to the active window.

If only one window is open, the window list menu is not active.

Figure: Window list


A new window will open and be added to the window list if your code includes:
  • An "OPEN WINDOW" instruction.
  • A "RUN command" instruction that launches an application with an OPEN WINDOW instruction, but that does not specify the "WITHOUT WAITING" clause.

For further information about the RUN and OPEN WINDOW commands, see RUN and OPEN WINDOW in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

Chromebar

The chromebar displays icons for selecting windows, changing settings, and debugging the application.

In normal mode, the chromebar displays the Settings icon, which allows you to specify:
  • Interface language - The language for GBC messages. This setting is independent from (and does not affect) the localization of the application.
  • Interface theme - The theme currently used by the existing application. Changing the theme immediately changes the look-and-feel of the application.
  • Stored Settings - settings that save user modifications to the user interface.
    • If the Enable Stored Settings checkbox is selected, your modifications are stored and used the next time you launch the GBC.
    • If Enable Stored Settings is cleared, the GBC uses the default values.
    Stored settings may include Genero application settings such as (but not limited to) table column configuration (order, show/hide, sort order, and so on), splitter positions, and sidebar visibility and size. This information is often stored in the system registry on Windows®, in property list files on macOS™ and iOS, and in ini text files in Linux® systems. It is not recommended to modify those files or registry entries.
  • Debug & QA (Only available in debug mode)
    • The Typeahead duration is used to simulate a slow network and force the typeahead mechanism to be triggered. The default is 5ms, meaning the layout request would be delayed for 5ms. It could be less, but the difference might not be visible or relevant. Typeahead cannot be disabled.
    • Log level.
    • Log types

In debug mode, additional icons are displayed.

You can customize the chromebar by customizing the Genero Browser Client. For further details, see the Genero Browser Client User Guide.

Zoom

You can make elements on an application using Universal Rendering larger or smaller using the zoom widget. To display the widget, change the zoom percentage from 100% by pressing Ctrl and +/- or Ctrl and using the mouse wheel. The + and - buttons can be used to zoom in and out of the form. Click X to hide the widget. To reset the zoom to 100%, press Ctrl and 0 or click on the button displaying the zoom percentage. The widget is disappears when it is set or reset to 100%.