Progress
Application Development
Environment — Getting Started


AppBuilder Main Window

When you start the AppBuilder, the main window and the Object Palette open. You can move these two windows independently on your screen. The Object Palette has several display options that do not depend on the AppBuilder main window. For a discussion of these options, see the "AppBuilder Object Palette" section of this chapter.

The AppBuilder main window has four elements, as shown in Figure 1–3.

Figure 1–3: The AppBuilder Main Window

The following sections describe the four elements of the AppBuilder main window.

Menu Bar

The menu bar provides access to most of the AppBuilder functions. Some menu options are not available when working in WebSpeed development mode:

As you complete the tutorial exercises in this guide, you will become familiar with many of the menu selections. The menus and icons of the AppBuilder main window also provide access to all of the functions available in the ADE Desktop, including the ability to start other tools and to access the Progress online help system.

For more detailed information about the AppBuilder menu bar options, see the online help for that menu or the chapter on the AppBuilder interface in the Progress AppBuilder Developer’s Guide .

Toolbar

Each icon in the AppBuilder toolbar provides quick access to frequently used menu options. Table 1–1 describes the function of each icon.

Table 1–1: Toolbar Icons
Icon
ToolTip
Description

New
Creates a new object file and displays an associated design window or tree view. The New icon on the toolbar corresponds to the File New menu option.
The AppBuilder creates a design window or displays a tree view when you create a new object or open an existing procedure file. The design window is analogous to a canvas on which you visually assemble all or part of an application. For each action you take that modifies the appearance or functionality of the object, the AppBuilder adds, deletes, or modifies the 4GL code contained in the object’s procedure file

Open
Opens an existing procedure file and displays its associated design window. The Open icon corresponds to the File Open menu option.

Save
Saves the current procedure file. The Save icon corresponds to the File Save menu option.

Print
Prints the currently selected procedure. When you select the Print icon, a Windows Print dialog box opens. From this Print dialog box, you can specify printing options and properties. By default, the Print dialog box is enabled. You can use Options Preferences on the AppBuilder menu bar to disable the Print dialog box or to specify preferences for the page length and font. For more information on enabling the Windows Print dialog box and setting preferences, see the Progress AppBuilder Developer’s Guide .

Procedure Settings
Displays and allows editing of the procedure settings for the current procedure file. The Procedure Settings icon corresponds to the Tools Procedure Settings menu option.
Procedure settings maintain information about procedure files, the attributes they possess, and standardized ways in which they interact with other procedures.

Run
Compiles and runs the current procedure file. The Run icon corresponds to the Compile Run menu option.

Stop
Stops the currently running procedure. The Stop icon replaces the Run icon when you run a procedure.

Edit Code
Opens the Section Editor, which enables you to edit certain sections of the procedure file. The Edit Code icon corresponds to the Window Code Section Editor menu option.

List Objects
Opens the List Objects dialog box. This dialog box lists all of the objects currently in use in any design window. You can access an individual object’s property sheet by double-clicking an object in the list.

Object Properties
Opens the property sheet for the current object. A property sheet gives you control over settings that pertain to individual objects, including fonts, geometry (window size), and other window settings. The Object Properties icon corresponds to the Tools Property Sheet menu option.

Colors
Opens the Choose Color dialog box. Use this dialog box to specify a foreground and background color for the selected objects. The Colors icon corresponds to the Tools Color menu option.

Switch to Remote/Local Development
Changes the development mode between local (client/server) mode and remote (WebSpeed) mode. The tutorial exercises require that you run in local mode. For more information on using the remote mode, see the WebSpeed Developer’s Guide .

NOTE: You might not see this icon, depending upon your license.

Current Object Fields

The current object fields display information about the current object, which is a single object in a design window that has design focus. If you select multiple objects in a design window, then no current object information is displayed.

The current object fields display the following information:

Status Area

From left to right, the four fields in the status area display are:


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