Presented by:Katie Milanowski

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Formed in 1982 Bruce Barrington (HBO & Company) Apply RAD technology to IBM PC 1986: Clarion Version 1.0, Atlanta, GA 1988: Clarion Professional Developer

◦ Version 2.0◦ Included Designer

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1990◦ licensed compiler technology◦ State-of-the-art

1992: merger

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Founded May 2000 Acquired Clarion from TopSpeed Latest technology Stay ahead of technology curve

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Fourth generation language Data-centric Advanced RAD tool Includes:

◦ C++ compiler◦ Modula-2 compiler

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Code generation Reusable metadata Consistent coding standards

◦ Adopt styles quickly◦ Learn quickly

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Define application Predefined templates User-made templates

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Helps manage files/processes Includes:

◦ Source◦ Executables◦ Resources◦ Editing◦ Compiling◦ Linking

Highly configurable

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Basic Windows design Common commands Pick menu

◦ Recent files◦ Arranged by type◦ Open or remove from list

Project menu◦ Commands◦ Project only commands

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Information on:◦ How data is stored/accessed◦ How data is displayed/processed

Important step in development Organize data

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Information in central place Consistent look/feel Fields/relationships/validity defined once Default data handling

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File names and descriptions Field balloon help File key and index definitions Field status bar messages File relationship definitions Field validation rules Database connection information Field entry pictures and formatting Relational integrity rules Default screen and report controls for each field Field data types and descriptions

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Tool used for development Creates procedures Procedures accomplish tasks “Writes” source for application

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Used in application generation Two types

◦ Legacy◦ Application Builder Class (ABC)

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Mix template language and clarion language statements

Source generated by options specified At the end of the road Problems with Legacy templates

◦ Lacks readability◦ Doesn’t always make complete sense◦ No visual development tools

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Introduced in Clarion 4 Recreate Legacy templates Contain core functionality of application Rely on class library for source code

◦ Contain commonly used code◦ Generic code◦ Must know methods in library

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“ToDo” procedures◦ Main procedure◦ Other procedures

Select templates Define procedure Add variables

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Template Type Description

Browse Browse fields in a page-loaded list box

External An external procedure

Form View/edit a record from a file

Frame Multiple document main menu

Process Sequential record processor

Report Generic reporting procedure

Source Source procedure

Splash Splash window

Viewer View an ASCII (text) file

Window Generic window handler

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A description of the procedure The procedure prototype The module containing the generated source

code Whether to export the procedure Whether to declare the procedure globally Parameters passed to the procedure Return values from the procedure INI file settings used by the procedure Files accessed by the procedure

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The window displayed by the procedure, including the size, shape, appearance and functionality

The report generated by the procedure Data items (fields and variables) used by the

procedure Custom source code embedded within the

procedure Formulas used by the procedure Template generated extensions

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Code added to generated source Embed points

◦ Where code is inserted◦ Most standard events◦ Developer created points

Allows for full customization Saves embedded code for future

generations Must understand template source

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Source in popup menu in application tree◦ Opens Embeditor◦ Embedded code in surrounding generated code◦ Text editor

Choose Embeds◦ Only embedded code◦ Sorted alphabetic/logical◦ Find embeds◦ Tools to copy/move embeds

23 www.softvelocity.com

24 www.softvelocity.com

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Easy to use Helps generate appropriate source code Provides essential tools for development Direct manipulation of window/controls

26 www.softvelocity.com

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Reports built in Can use external reporting tools Visually develop Formatter helps create necessary code Report sub-structures

◦ Form◦ Header◦ Detail◦ Footer◦ Break

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GROUP('Ship to'),AT(3938,2375,3365,823),USE(?ShipTo),BOXED,TRN,#ORIG(?Group2)STRING(@s35),AT(4063,2604,2948,167),USE(GLOT:ShipName),#ORIG(GLOT:ShipName)STRING(@s45),AT(4063,2771,3125,167),USE(GLOT:ShipAddress),#ORIG(GLOT:ShipAddress)STRING(@s40),AT(4063,2927,3125,167),USE(GLOT:ShipCSZ),#ORIG(GLOT:ShipCSZ)ENDLINE,AT(83,3302,7229,0),USE(?Line2),COLOR(COLOR:Black),LINEWIDTH(2),#ORIG(?Line2)ENDdetail DETAIL,AT(,,,240),USE(?detail)STRING('Lines'),AT(21,21),USE(?ILines),TRN,#ORIG(?String43)STRING('Line'),AT(73,31),USE(?ILine),TRN,#ORIG(?String42)STRING(@n7),AT(5635,52,635,167),USE(DTL:QtyOrdered),RIGHT(100),#ORIG(DTL:QtyOrdered)STRING(@s10),AT(115,42,896,167),USE(PRO:ProductSKU),#ORIG(PRO:ProductSKU)STRING(@s35),AT(1083,52,2677,167),USE(PRO:Description),#ORIG(PRO:Description)STRING(@n$10.2B),AT(5500,10,135,52),USE(DTL:Discount),TRN,HIDE,#ORIG(DTL:Discount)CHECK,AT(3969,42,250,177),USE(DTL:BackOrdered),#ORIG(DTL:BackOrdered)STRING(@n$10.2),AT(4552,52,771,167),USE(PRO:Price),DECIMAL(250),#ORIG(PRO:Price)STRING(@N*10.2),AT(6396,52,865,167),USE(ExtendPrice),RIGHT,#ORIG(?String16)STRING(@n$10.2B),AT(5635,10,63,52),USE(DTL:TPd,,?DTL:TPd:2),TRN,HIDE,#ORIG(DTL:TPd)STRING(@n$14.2B),AT(5406,21,83,52),USE(DTL:TotalCost),TRN,HIDE,#ORIG(DTL:TotalCost)END

Code snippet from www.softvelocity.com

29 www.softvelocity.com

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Powerful development tool Require less storage Saves time Easy to use, easy to learn

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[1] Harms, D. (1999, March 08) ABC or Legacy: Which Templates Should You Choose? Clarion Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from http://www.clarionmag.com/cmag/v1/v1n1abcorlegacy.html

[2] SoftVelocity. (2003). Clarion 6. Retrieved October 9, 2007 from http://softvelocity.com/

  [3] TopSpeed, (1998) Clarion 5: User’s Guide. Pompano

Beach, Fl: TopSpeed Corporation.

[4] TopSpeed Corporation. Why: A layman’s guide to the merits of Clarion for Windows. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from www.clariondeveloper.com/why.pdf