Trends

In this step you must define where your application data is located. In this example, we'll use a provided pre-configured external SQLite database named petstore-SQLlite.

Actions required:

• Select from a database and then select Next.
• Select the data source called petstore-SQLlite and then select Next.
• Select the Complex Type named Account and then select Next.

Step 2: Define XForms to Generate
The Application Builder uses both standard BPEL to define an applications process flow and XForms to define an application's layout. A Process (or BPEL file) contains XForms, Actions, and Services. By selecting the XForms you want to generate, the Application Builder will automatically generate an application Process flow (.bpel) consisting of the selected XForms. You can later use the Process Editor to add, delete, or modify XForms, Actions, and Services and the XForm Editor to edit the individual XForms.

The Application Wizard will let you select the XForms you'd like to generate for each complex type you selected. You can select from the following XForms to generate:

• Search / List XForms - Generates both search and results lists XForms, where the search is based on either the first five attributes of the complex type or based on all index attributes.
• Detail XForm
• Edit XForm
• Insert XForm

Actions required:

• Leave the defaults to create the following XForms (Select Search/List, Detail, Edit and Insert XForms) then, select Next.

Note: XForms are transformed at runtime by the LAMP Application sever to HTML pages based on the user's role and the client context. For example, if the user is using a more advanced browser then tables are rendered as DHTML and JavaScript validation is used. If the user has an older browser version then tables are rendered as static HTML and all validation is done on the server side. This lets developers concentrate on application functionality instead of writing "if - then" statements to handle different browser capabilities.

Step 3: Define Application Look and Feel
Application Builder uses Skins (.skn) to define your application's look and feel; in addition you can also pre-define such elements as Headers, Footers, and Navigation Style.

The Application Wizard will let you define the application's Headers, Footers, and Navigation Style; these elements can be changed later using the XForm Editor and editing the TopContainer.xform. Changes made to this XForm are applied to all XForms in the current Process (.bpel).

Actions required:

• Enter the following application defaults then select Next.
• Header - Account Maintenance
• Footer - Company Confidential
• Navigation Style - Left

In addition, you can define an application Skin that will be applied to all processes in your application. You can define many standard-style components such as Color Schemes, Font Family, Font Size, Table Style, Navigation Style, and Title Bar Style using the Application Wizard. You can then use the Code Editor to modify the Skin (.skn) file to change the application's style elements.

Actions required:

• Change any of the style options then select Next.

Step 4: Save your Application
You must now name your application and define the location where you'd like it to be saved. Once you've saved your application, the application wizard will generate the needed XML files, and you are ready to run your application.

Actions required:

• Give your application a name and select a location where you would like it saved then select Next.

Running Applications:
Application Builder comes with everything you need to run your applications, providing for real-time iterative development. You can choose to run your applications in the Application Builder development environment or by using any external Web browser.

Test Run your Project: By default your project will run in the application builder. You can use an external browser by selecting Options under the Tools Menu. Select the Browser tab and point to the location of the browser you'd like to use when you test run your applications.

Actions required:

• Select the Run menu option then select Run. Select your Project and the name of the Process you'd like to run.

Modifying Your Applications:
The Application Builder comes with three main editors that can be used to modify your application and the underlying standard XML files quickly. The graphical editors make it easier for developers to edit the Standard XML files without actually having to understand the underlying standards completely. In addition, the Application Builder also provides a code editor that supports the PHP, Python, and Perl scripting languages.

Below is a brief description of each of the built-in editors.

Add Your Feedback

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

Register | Log in

Please wait while we process your request...