Web: GAS/GWC configurations

To display web applications or to run web services, you must configure both for the application and for the Genero Application Server.

You can create multiple GAS Configurations, each with a different name.

Note: If you did not install the entire Genero Studio package initially, you must install and set up the Genero Application Server (GAS), which includes the GWC rendering engine. For information on installing the Genero Desktop Client outside of Genero Studio, see the Genero Installation Guide.

When you select a GAS configuration, Genero Studio will dynamically generate an external application to enable you to run, debug, or preview an application or file.

For development, the GAS standalone dispatcher: httpdispatch can be used instead of a web server.

You can specify the browser to use with GWC in General Preferences or in the Configuration Management dialog.

Configure for the Genero Web Client

In the Display section, select the Use GWC radio button.

Screen shot of Use GWC radio button selected

Figure 1. Use GWC for the display

GAS configuration combobox: Select which GAS configuration to use. To add a new GAS configuration, click the Edit icon. The Genero Application Server Management window opens.
Application type: Select Universal Agent to use GAS 3.00 GWC-JS.; Select Web Application to use GAS 2.50 GWC-HTML5 (deprecated).
Theme: Select a theme to use.
Browser: Specify a specific browser to use. When left blank, the default browser is used.

Configure the Genero Application Server

In the Genero Application Server Management window, existing GAS configurations are listed in the left-hand panel. Select a configuration from the list to modify its settings. Use the integrated Toolbar to add, duplicate, remove, or edit a configuration. Once a name is added, enter its settings.

This figure is a screenshot of the Genero hosts management dialog showing details of a selected GAS Configuration.

Figure 2. GAS Configuration

GAS Connection Details section

Host

Specify the IP address or the network name of the server you are connecting to when running an application with the GAS. If you are in a “direct connection” using GAS Standalone, specify the IP address or the network name of the Application Server (the one where the compiler resides). If you are connecting through a web server, specify the IP address or the network name of the web server.

Port

Specify either the port of the GAS (if you are in a “direct connection”, GAS Standalone) or of the web server.

Connector

Leave blank if you are using a “direct connection” using GAS Standalone for development purposes. Enter the alias configured for your dispatcher in your GAS installation (often, gas). See the section, "Configuring the Genero Application Server" in the Genero Application Server User Guide for more information on configuring your dispatcher.

Secure protocol

The URL used when launching an application is impacted by this selection.

When selected, the protocol is "https".
When not selected, the protocol is "http".

GAS Configuration Details section

Installation directory

Directory where the GAS is installed locally.

Use start script

The check box specifies whether to use the startup script to launch the GAS. When checked, the field specifies which start script to be launched when this configuration is used. The GAS standalone dispatcher: httpdispatch can be specified here to launch httpdispatch. httpdispatch can be used as the GAS script. In versions prior to 2.50, set the environment by specifying -p <GASDIR> in the Start script options field. Alternatively, call a script that calls . ./envas before calling httpdispatch, such as:

. ./envas 
httpdispatch

For GAS versions prior to 2.30, set the path for gasd instead of for httpdispatch.

Note: The start script is only used when no GAS is found on the host at the port specified. The start script is not called even if the GAS to be launched from start script is different from the one already launched.

Start script options

Specify any options to be used with the start script. See GAS standalone dispatcher: httpdispatch for httpdispatch options. For more information on script parameters, see the Genero Application Server User Guide.

Application Details section

Application group: The name of the Application Group defined in the GAS as.xcf file. Enter the value _default for the group to use the default configuration file, unless you have an explicit group to specify.
Application directory: The directory of the Application Group, the same path as the one referred to in the as.xcf file. If using the default application, the corresponding directory (usually GAS installation directory/app) has to be entered in the Group Directory field.
Parent application: The identifier of the parent GWC application; if no identifier is given, the default GWC application will be used.
Services group: The name of the Web Services Group defined in the GAS as.xcf file. Enter the value _default for the group to use the default configuration file, unless you have an explicit group to specify.
Services directory: The directory of the Web Services Group, the same path as the one referred to in the as.xcf file. If using the default application, the corresponding directory (usually GAS installation directory/app) has to be entered in the Group Directory field.
Parent service: The identifier of the parent Web Services application; if no identifier is given, the default Web Service application will be used.

URL example

The URL used when launching application from Project Manager is impacted by the Secure protocol option and the Application Type selection:

<protocol>://<host>:<port>/<connector>/<application_type>/r/<application_name>

protocol is either "http" or "https", depending on the value of the Secure protocol option.
application_type is either "ua" or "wa", depending on the value of the Application type option.
application_name depends on the executed application in project manager.
Other values depend on the GAS configuration parameters.

Example GAS configuration

Host: <Automatic>
Port: 6394
Application group: mygroup
Group directory: c:\work
Parent application: defaultgwc

In this configuration, GAS applications will be run using the GAS located on the current computer at port "6394". The group "mygroup" in the as.xcf file points to the directory "c:\work"; the corresponding fields in the GWC configuration dialog are filled with the same information.

Note: Users on Windows™ 64-bit machines who are using a network proxy: The browser cannot open 127.0.0.1 or localhost unless you modify your Advanced Network settings to avoid going through the proxy for these addresses.

See the Genero Application Server User Guide for information on setting up GWC and GAS and adding applications.