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Clarion/PHP
The
Clarion/PHP templates generate PHP web applications
which provide query, navigation, and editing procedures
for client/server databases over the web. The generated
pages integrate into existing sites both in looks and
via links to and from existing pages of the site.
The
generated code 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 and very scalable.
There
are five important things that Clarion developers should
know about the Clarion/PHP development paradigm:
-
By providing a system that uses HTML templates and
style sheets for the browser client layout, Clarion/PHP
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 PHP, ADOdb, HTML design, or Cascading
Style Sheets to produce a fully functional, fully
customized application. As the second Clarion Template
chain 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
PHP statements. The system, as is, is very complete,
but as always, Clarion provides unlimited options
for the developer. (Note: if maintaining both desktop
and PHP targets in a single app, PHP generation ignores
the Clarion embed code, and Windows OS generation
ignores the PHP embed code).
-
The Apache web server is the most popular web server
in use today. PHP web applications can be run on the
Apache server on any of the platforms supported by
Apache and PHP, which inludes Linux and Windows, as
well as many others.
-
PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language
that is especially suited for Web development
Requirements:
compatible with Clarion 5.508 or Clarion 6
Frequentely
Asked Questions
Do
I have to know PHP to use the Clarion/PHP Templates?
The templates produce a complete
working web page or pages to deliver a database web
app; no additional custom code is necessary to utilize
them.
I have never written any PHP code and need additional
resources; where can I learn more about this technology.
There
are many resources available on the Internet and in
bookstores to learn PHP.
I
am familiar with the Web Builder technology and modifying
the HTML look and feel is tedious; do the Clarion/PHP
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.
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/PHP templates interface.
2 - The Clarion/PHP “Processor Page” which
receives a submitted HTML form also contains validation
rules built from the Data Dictionary and selections
made in the Clarion/PHP templates interface. Both of
these tests are applied prior to any database updates.
3 – The final validation tests are any 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/PHP solution different?
The Clarion/PHP templates generate industry standard
HTML designed to work on the broadest number of web
browsers. We have also introduced a number of features
that recreate several must-have “desktop” like functions: 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?
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 PHP Script 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 PHP code, and
then mark the generated file as Read-Only.
My customer has modified the HTML run-time templates
and CSS files that I deployed and I want to update the
PHP code, can I do this without making the changes again?
Yes, you have the option with the Clarion/PHP 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.
Are my Dictionary settings enforced?
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 PHP format functions.
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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