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Clarion/ASP
Current
Users: To obtain the latest product updates go to the
"ASP downloads" news group on discuss.softvelocity.com
The
Clarion/ASP templates generate Active Server Pages (ASP)
web applications which provide query, navigation, and
editing procedures for client/server databases over
the web, increasing the productivity of web designers
and enabling business application developers to easily
“translate” behaviors from line of business
desktop applications to the web. The generated pages
integrate into existing sites both in looks and via
links to and from existing pages of the site.
The
code produced additionally includes important features
necessary for public and high volume sites such as the
ability to view only the parts of a database “owned”
by an individual user. The resulting applications are
highly reliable, containing sophisticated error checking,
yet tight and very scalable.
Watch
a video of an unedited "generated" Clarion/ASP
application here.
How
quickly can you build and deploy a Clarion/ASP application,
and how much do you need to know about ASP? Learn the
answers in less than four minutes, click on the Video
Demo 1 link on the right to download
the video to your system.
What
can you do with just a little customization? Here's
what you can do with a product that completely separates
the user interface from the application logic. Approximately
five minutes, click on the Video
Demo 2 link on the right to download
the video to your system.
There
are three important things that Clarion developers should
know about the Clarion/ASP development paradigm:
-
By providing a system relying on runtime HTML templates
and style sheets for the browser client layout, Clarion/ASP
completely separates the User Interface from the Application
and Business logic. This means the developer is free
to concentrate on the application, and the web designer
can make the page fit into the existing web design
via HTML formatting and style sheets. Either side
can make changes without affecting the other, yet
not lose them at generation time.
- The code generation system itself is template driven
(of course). The developer doesn’t have to know
anything about ASP, VBScript, ADO, HTML design, or
Cascading Style Sheets to produce a fully functional,
fully customized application. As the first SoftVelocity
Clarion add-in to produce non-Clarion applications,
this is a transition point to a time in which Clarion
developers will take their data dictionaries and decide
what language to generate by deciding what target
they wish to deploy to.
- The
system is completely extensible, via embed points.
In this case, however, your embeds must consist of
VBScript and/or ADO/SQL statements. The system, as
is, is very complete, but as always, Clarion provides
unlimited options for the developer. (Note: if maintaining
both desktop and ASP targets in a single app, ASP
generation ignores the Clarion embed code, and Windows
OS generation ignores the ASP embed code).
Clarion/ASP
Frequently Asked Questions
Do
I have to know VBScript to use the Clarion/ASP Templates?
The Clarion/ASP templates produce complete working routines
to perform all specified tasks; no additional custom
code is necessary to utilize them.
I have never written any VBScript
or ADO code and need additional resources; where can
I learn more about this technology?
In addition to the many resources available, SoftVelocity
offers professional services, technical support, and
educational courses that cover multiple levels of materials.
I am familiar with the Web Builder
technology and modifying the HTML look and feel is tedious;
do the Clarion/ASP templates work the same way?
No, an emphasis was placed on separating the business
logic / data access from the user interface. The result
is a run-time HTML template that contains “tokens” that are replaced at runtime with the corresponding
data values. In addition 99% of the formatting, fonts,
colors, sizes etc; are controlled by a generated Cascading
Style Sheet. The starting HTML design-time template
can be specified by you globally and on a procedure
basis, this permits mass generation of a particular
look and feel with the minimum amount of effort. These
HTML templates can be modified in most WYSIWYG editors.
I notice that some of the examples
are running inside HTML framesets, are they required?
No, the generated applications can be deployed to work
standalone or within a frameset, your choice.
How is data validation performed?
There are several levels of validation: 1 - Each HTML
input field receives JavaScript validation attributes
which are constructed from your Data Dictionary and
selections made in the Clarion/ASP templates interface.
2 - The Clarion/ASP “Processor Page” which
receives a submitted HTML form also contains validation
rules built from the Data Dictionary and selections
made in the Clarion/ASP templates interface. Both of
these tests are applied prior to any database updates.
3 – The final validation tests are the constraints
and rules that have been defined at the column level
in the database by the DBA.
I am familiar with web entry
forms and they are not feature rich; how is the Clarion/ASP
solution different?
The Clarion/ASP templates are intended to generate industry
standard HTML and work on the broadest number of client
web browsers. As a result there are overall architecture
constraints; which the generated code must work within.
Even so we have introduced a number of features that
recreate a number of “desktop” like functions
like a pop-up calendar, must-be-in-list and must-be-in-file
select controls (dropdowns), pop-up help screens, and
pop-up select procedures which can return multiple column
values.
I have my own JavaScript library
of functions can I use them?
A Yes, by using the correct HTML include statement in
your HTML design-time template you have access to your
existing library.
I would like to modify the standard
VBScript that is generated can I do that?
Yes, you have two options. 1 – You can use the
appropriate EMBED point within the IDE to enter your
own code which will be preserved on subsequent generations.
2 – You can modify the generated ASP code, which
will not be preserved on subsequent generations.
My customer has modified the
HTML run-time templates and CSS files that I deployed
and I want to update the ASP logic, can I do this without
making the changes again?
Yes, you have the option with the Clarion/ASP templates
to suppress generation of the HTML and CSS files globally
or on a procedure basis. Additionally you can merely
choose not to deploy them once generated.
What steps are taken to maintain
my Dictionary options?
We implement every option and attribute possible given
the architecture. There are some differences such as
picture formatting. On a column basis we allow you to
select from a standard list of VBScript format functions
and options such as FormatDateTime(), FormatCurrency();
which include regional locale settings.
I cannot find an answer to my
question, what are my options?
You can contact SoftVelocity via email,
telephone 800-270-4562, call your Distributor or visit
the public newsgroupsand post a question.
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Product Sheet
White
Paper
Users
Guide v. 1.3
Annoted
Examples v. 1.3
Video
Demo 1
Video
Demo 2
ASP in 14 Days
Online Training
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