Tutorial Chapters
Each chapter illustrates Genero Business Development Language (BDL) concepts with program examples.
| Chapter | Description |
|---|---|
| Tutorial Chapter 1: Overview | This chapter provides an overview of the Tutorial and a description of the database schema and sample data used for the example programs. |
| Tutorial Chapter 2: Using BDL | The topics in this chapter illustrate the structure of a BDL program and some of the BDL statements that perform some common tasks - display a text message to the screen, connect to a database and retrieve data, define variables, and pass variables between functions. |
| Tutorial Chapter 3: Displaying Data (Windows/Forms) | This chapter illustrates opening a window that contains a form to display information to the user. An SQL statement is used to retrieve the data from a database table. A form specification file is defined to display the values retrieved. The actions that are available to the user are defined in the source code, tied to buttons that display on the form. |
| Tutorial Chapter 4: Query by Example | The program in this chapter allows the user to search a database by
entering criteria in a form. The search criteria is used to build an SQL
SELECT statement to retrieve the desired database rows. A cursor is defined
in the program, to allow the user to scroll back and forth between the rows of the result set.
Testing the success of the SQL statements and handling errors is illustrated. |
| Tutorial Chapter 5: Enhancing the Form | Program forms can be displayed in a variety of ways. This chapter illustrates adding a toolbar or a topmenu (pull-down menu) by modifying the form specification file, changing the window's appearance, and disabling/enabling actions. The example programs in this chapter use some of the action defaults defined by Genero BDL to standardize the presentation of common actions to the user. |
| Tutorial Chapter 6: Add, Update and Delete | This program allows the user to insert/update/delete rows in the
customer database table. Embedded SQL statements
(UPDATE/INSERT/DELETE) are used to update the
table, based on the values stored in the program record. SQL transactions, concurrency, and
consistency are discussed. A dialog window is displayed to prompt the user to verify the deletion of
a row. |
| Tutorial Chapter 7: Array Display | The example in this chapter displays multiple
customer records at once. The disparray program defines a
program array to hold the records, and displays the records in a form containing a table and a
screen array. The example program is then modified to dynamically fill the array as needed.
This program illustrates a library function - the example is written so it can be used in
multiple programs, maximizing code reuse. |
| Tutorial Chapter 8: Array Input | The program in this chapter allows the user to view and change a list of records displayed on a form. As each record in the program array is added, updated, or deleted, the program logic makes corresponding changes in the rows of the corresponding database table. |
| Tutorial Chapter 9: Reports | This program generates a simple report of the data in the
customer database table. The two parts of a report, the report driver logic
and the report definition are illustrated. A technique to allow a user to interrupt a
long-running report is shown. |
| Tutorial Chapter 10: Localization | Localization support and localized strings allow you to internationalize your application using different languages, and to customize it for specific industry markets in your user population. This chapter illustrates the use of localized strings in your programs. |
| Tutorial Chapter 11: Master/Detail | The form used by the program in this chapter contains fields from
both the orders and items tables in the custdemo
database, illustrating a master-detail relationship. Since there are multiple items associated with
a single order, the rows from the items table are displayed in a table on the form.
This chapter focuses on the master/detail form and the unique features of the corresponding
program. |
| Tutorial Chapter 12: Changing the User Interface Dynamically | This chapter focuses on using the classes and methods in the
ui package of built-in classes to modify the user interface at runtime. Among the
techniques illustrated are hiding or disabling form items; changing the text, style or image
associated with a form item; loading a combobox from a database table; and adding toolbars and
topmenus dynamically. |
| Tutorial Chapter 13: Master/Detail using Multiple Dialogs | This chapter shows how to implement order and items input in a
unique DIALOG statement. In chapter 11 the order input is detached from the items
input. The code example in chapter 13 makes both order and item input fields active at the same
time, which is more natural in GUI applications. |