Progress
Language Tutorial
for Windows
Glossary
Abbreviated IndexUses just the first few characters of a field, if the field is a character data field. Indexes not comprised of character data require an exact match.
Accelerator KeysFunction and special key combinations that you can press to choose a menu option.
Active DatabaseThe database that is currently in use. If you have more than one database, the Data Dictionary requires you to select an active, working database.
Aggregate FunctionsA set of functions that allow you to evaluate groups of values.
Aggregate PhraseA Progress language element that identifies one or more values to be calculated based on a change in a break group.
Alert BoxA window that appears on the screen requesting user response. The user must dismiss the alert box before the application can continue.
ApplicationA set of programming language instructions that accomplishes a specific task. An application can be created from Progress procedures.
ArgumentA piece of data that a calling procedure gives to a called procedure. Progress evaluates the passed data at compilation time.
ArrayA field or variable with multiple elements. Each element in an array has the same data type.
Array ExtentThe number of elements contained in the array.
Assignment OperatorThe equal sign (=).
AttributeA value associated with a widget or system handle. The value represents an aspect (e.g. size or color), state (e.g. visibility), or capability (e.g. to allow scrolling).
BlockA series of statements that Progress treats as a single unit. Typically, each block begins with a block header statement and concludes with an END statement.
Block HeaderThe statement that begins a block. It is different from other kinds of statements in two ways: it ends with a colon (:) (all other statements end with a period) and it can have a label (the label also ends with a colon).
Block LabelText in a procedure block that identifies the block.
BoxIn a frame, the four lines around the outside of the frame that designate its boundary. By default, frames have boxes; however, an application can turn off the box.
Break GroupA set of records having a common value in a certain database field. Break groups are used in reports to display file and record relationships.
Browse WidgetA widget that displays the results of a database query. There are two types of browse widget: updateable and read-only. An updateable browse lets the user view, update, add, and delete data in records. A read-only browse is used for display only. It shares properties of a container and field-level widget.
BufferA small amount of memory used as a temporary storage area for data during input or output operations. See also data buffer, record buffer, screen buffer. See also edit buffer.
Button WidgetA field-level widget that the user can choose to direct an application to execute a trigger or control the interface.
Character ClientA combination of hardware and software components that support a character-based interface. The following platforms support Progress running in character mode: UNIX, Windows NT, and Windows 95. Windows NT and Windows 95 only support the character mode by enabling a character client to run in DOS only when DOS is running under one of these 32-bit Windows operating systems.
Character ConstantA value made up of non-numeric or character data, or a combination of numeric and non-numeric data that remains unchanged during a procedure. Character constants must be enclosed in quotation marks when used in a procedure.
Character Data TypeA property of a field or variable that determines that the data stored there can be of the character data type.
Character FieldA field having a character data type.
Child FrameA frame parented to (contained by) another frame. See also parent frame.
Child WindowA window parented to (owned by) another window. See also parent window.
Child Window FamilyA child window and all of its descendant windows.
Column1.) A component of a record, a field. 2.) A vertically aligned set of character cells in the character coordinate system.
Column LabelA label displayed above a column of data (field values). This label is useful for creating lists of values, like columnar reports. See also side labels.
Combo Box WidgetA field-level widget that presents a scrolling list of character strings. The list is only visible when the user chooses the button next to the combo box. When the user selects a value, the combo box closes and displays only the selected value.
Comparison ExpressionA combination of constants, variables, operators, and parentheses used to compare values.
Concatenation OperatorThe plus sign (+) used to link or join two or more character strings into a single character string.
Conditional ProcessingA means of processing based on one or more logical expressions.
Connected DatabaseA database that is accessible and can be worked on in the Data Dictionary.
ConstantA value that remains unchanged during the execution of a program. A constant can be of any data type: character, date, decimal, integer or logical.
Container WidgetA widget that can contain other widgets. For example, a frame is a container widget.
Current BufferThe contents displayed in the procedure area of the Procedure Editor.
Current Window1.) The window in which one is working and so indicated by a filled-in window title bar. 2.) The window that contains the current widget.
Current WidgetThe widget that has input focus.
Cycling SequenceA sequence that begins at an initial value and increments in one direction until it reaches the designated limit.
DatabaseA collection of data organized in logically related tables or fields that can be accessed or retrieved.
Database EventAn action performed against a database, such as finding or writing to a record.
Database ObjectA component of the database that is defined in the database schema such as a field or a table.
Database PropertiesThe schema definitions that define the database, such as the database name, the database type, and so on.
Database TriggerA piece of code that an application associates with a component of a database and a database action (such as writing a record). When the action occurs on the component, Progress locates this piece of code and executes it on behalf of the application.
Data DictionaryAn interactive tool that enables you to create, modify, and delete Progress database objects. You can also use it to generate database reports.
Data TypeA property of a field or variable that determines the nature of data that can be stored there (integers as opposed to characters, for example). Progress supports five data types: character, integer, decimal, date, and logical.
DATE Data TypeA property of a field or variable that determines that the data stored there can be a date. In Progress, a date data type may contain a date and time from 1/1/32768 B.C. through 12/31/32767 A.D.
Date FieldA field having a date data type. You can specify dates in this century with either a two-digit year, such as 8/9/90, or a four-digit year (8/9/1990). Dates in other centuries require a four-digit year.
Decimal Data TypeA property of a field or variable that determines that the data stored there can be a decimal.
Decimal FieldA field having a decimal data type. A decimal field can contain decimal numbers up to 50 digits in length. Progress allows up to 10 digits to the right of the decimal point.
Dialog Box WidgetA container widget that either notifies the user of important information or requests more information. The main interface is disabled until the user is done working with the dialog box. A dialog box is a frame, but it has some properties of a window. Dialog boxes have modal properties.
DirectoryA file-system object that lists or contains files and, possibly, other directories.
Display FormatThe way data appears on screen and in printed reports. Progress automatically supplies a default display format for each data type, but you can change that default format.
Down FrameA frame that displays multiple records, one per line, one after another. See also frame.
Edit BufferA temporary work area for procedures under construction in the Procedure Editor. The Procedure Editor allows you to open several buffers simultaneously. If a buffer has no name assigned, it appears as “Untitled” plus a number that makes it unique (Untitled:1).
Editor WidgetA field-level widget that allows editing of large character variables or database fields. By default, editor widgets support features such as cut, copy, paste, and word-wrap.
Event ActionAny simple user interaction, like a single keystroke.
Event FunctionAn abstraction of one or more event actions.
Event-driven ProgrammingThink of event-driven programming as bottom-up programming, because you define the smaller components before you define the larger components.
ExpressionIn a program, a combination of constants, variables, operations, and parentheses used to perform a desired computation.
External ProcedureA group of Progress 4GL statements that you store as an operating-system file.
Field1.) The “atomic particle” of a database-that is, the smallest unit of useful information.
2.) A component of a record that holds a data value. Also called a column.Field-level WidgetAny widget that can be placed in a frame.
Field LabelA label on the screen or printed reports that identifies the field. If you do not supply a label, Progress uses the field name as the label.
Field PropertiesThe schema definitions that define the field, such as the field name, the field type, and so on.
Fill-in Field WidgetA field-level widget that handles text entry and display. The fill-in field is the default widget for displaying a variable or database field. Also known as a fill-in.
FooterText, such as a page number, placed at the bottom of each page of a report.
Format PhraseA Progress language description of the display characteristics for a field, variable, or expression.
FrameA container widget composed of a display area within a window that Progress uses to display field-level widgets.
Frame FamilyA related collection of parent and child frames.
Frame ScopeThe range or extent of a frame’s availability within a procedure.
Function
A prepackaged solution to a task that can be used in an expression-a “shortcut” to handling tasks. Progress supports two types of functions: pre-defined function that the Progress 4GL supplies, and user-defined function that allows you to create functions based on specific programming tasks you want to solve.
Function KeysSpecial keys to which Progress assigns certain actions. In procedures, you can reassign these actions to different keys.
Graphical User Interface (GUI)Features high-resolution graphics and an additional user input device called a mouse.
HandleAn internal identifier for a widget. See also system handle and widget handle.
HeaderText, such as a page number, title, or date, placed at the top of each page of a report.
IconA small, rectangular graphic image that represents a window when the user has “minimized” (or “iconified”) it.
ImageA field-level widget used to display an image from a bitmap file.
Include FileA separate file containing Progress code that you can call from other procedures by placing the filename in braces within the procedure. Include files have a .i extension.
IndexA directory or table containing 1) the field or fields identifying the records in a file, and 2) the locations where the records are stored.
Index PropertiesThe schema definitions that define the index, such as the index name, the fields it comprises, and so on.
Initial ValueThe value to which a field is set when it’s created.
Inner JoinA join where records from the first (left-hand) table (or join) are only returned to the results list that also return a corresponding record from the second (right-hand) table.
Input FocusThe ability for a widget to receive user-interface events.
Integer Data TypeA property of a field or variable that determines that the data stored there can be an integer.
Integer FieldA field having an integer data type.
Internal ProcedureCode blocks that you write and compile as part of a larger containing procedure.
IterationA repetition of a procedure block.
JoinA type of query operation that requests information from two tables or joins at a time. The output is a results list where each row contains a record from each joined table. A join can only occur when the two queried tables or joins have a common field.
Join ConditionThe criteria used to relate the fields of one table in a join with those of another.
Key FunctionsTool functions that map to a keystroke.
Key IndexA primary, unique index field in a table.
LabelText that appears with a field or variable when it is displayed.
Left Outer JoinA join that returns all the records of the first (left-hand) table, including the records from the second (right-hand) table for an inner join and null field values for all records in the right-hand table that have no corresponding records in the left-hand table.
Local VariableA variable that you can use only within the procedure in which you defined it. The data in the variable is no longer available when you exit the procedure.
LiteralAn alphanumeric constant. Literals can be character strings, numerics, dates, or logical data.
Logical Data TypeCan be one of two values consisting of yes/no, true/false, or a logical value pair.
Logical Database NameThe name of a physically connected database. The logical database name is used to resolve ambiguous database references.
Logical ExpressionAn expression that, when evaluated, yields true or false.
Logical FieldA field having a logical data type.
Logical OperatorAn operator such as AND, OR, or NOT used in an expression that yields a true or false value.
MenuA widget containing a list of commands that users frequently use. The two kinds of menu widgets available are menu bars and submenus.
Menu Accelerator KeysA key or key combination which when pressed invokes an associated menu item. See also accelerator key.
Menu BarA horizontal bar displayed at the top of a window. The menu bar contains menu labels arranged horizontally. When you select a menu label, a pull-down menu containing a vertically arranged list of items is displayed.
Menu ItemA menu component that the user can choose to direct an application to perform some action or task.
Menu TitlesThe text strings in a menu bar.
Menu OwnerThe widget a menu is associated with. For menu bars, the owner is always a window.
Message Area of ScreenThree lines at the bottom of a Progress screen. The first two lines are for procedure-specific messages. The third line is for Progress system and help messages.
MethodA function associated with a widget or system handle that performs a specific action and returns a value (like a function) representing the result of that action.
MnemonicA single letter that you can press to choose a menu option. The mnemonic for each option is underlined when it is displayed.
Modal ApplicationAn application or part of an application that forces you to perform a specific action before you can go on to other tasks.
Modeless ApplicationAn application that gives you control over which tasks you perform when. It allows you a number of processing choices and then reacts depending on the event you trigger.
MouseA device for communicating with a user interface.
Nonterminating SequenceA sequence that begins at an initial value and increments in one direction with no limit. See also terminating sequence.
One-to-one RelationshipOccurs when one record can relate to only one instance of a record in another table.
One-to-many RelationshipOccurs when one record can relate to many records in another table.
Operating SystemSoftware that controls and manages the execution of computer programs and services.
OperatorThe symbol you use to perform numeric calculations, date calculations, character string manipulations, or data comparisons (+, /, and GT, for example).
OptionsSimilar to a phrase, only smaller. Options also modify the way Progress executes a statement. Options usually consist of a single keyword and a possible accompanying value.
Output DestinationA file or device to which a program sends output. Output destinations can include a terminal, a printer, an ASCII file, or a printer queue.
Outer JoinSee left outer join.
ParameterA variable or constant passed between a subroutine and the main program. Also, a Progress startup option.
ParentThe widget that contains or owns other widgets.
Parent FrameA frame that contains another frame. See also root frame, child frame.
Parent WindowA window that owns another window. See also root window, child window.
PathnameSpecifies the complete name of a directory or file by starting at the root directory or disk volume and tracing the hierarchy of the file.
PhraseA collection of keywords and values that modifies the way Progress executes a statement.
Physical Database NameThe actual name of the database on a disk.
Predefined FunctionA Progress-supplied function that provides short cuts for accomplishing common programming tasks. See also Function.
Primary IndexUsually the most frequently used index. Progress allows you to set one index as primary and uses it by default when searching for a record.
ProcedureThe largest Progress unit of execution, consisting of one or more Progress source or r-code statements in a single, outer block.
Procedure AreaThe visible part of the current edit buffer. This is where you type and edit Progress procedures. It is also called a text pane.
Procedure BlockA series of statements that Progress treats as a single unit.
Procedure EditorAn interactive utility that provides operations for editing code. You can use it to create, compile, and run Progress procedure files.
Procedure File (.p file)A source file containing Progress 4GL code which can be compiled into r-code. Procedure files normally have a .p or .w (window procedure files) file extension.
Progress 4GLAn application development language which has a highly readable syntax employing a default behavior while performing the work of multiple 3GL statements.
Pull-down MenuA vertically displayed list of menu elements (menu items and submenus) appearing when the user selects a menu title in a menu bar.
Query1. ) A request for information from a database. 2.) A set of database records that you create with your procedures. A query can involve one or more tables and can consist of all the records in a particular table or just a subset. The browse widget is a ready-made interface to a query.
Radio ButtonOne of the components of a radio set; it represents one of the possible values that the radio set can take on.
Radio-set WidgetA field-level widget composed of a series of buttons that represent a single field or variable, with each button representing a different possible value. Derived from the preset tuning buttons on many automobile radios-when one button is selected, any previously selected button is deselected.
ReadableMeans that your application can read the current value and assign that value to a variable.
RecordA single occurrence of the data contained in a table. Records are treated as single units. Records are made up of fields.
Record BufferA temporary storage area in data memory for a record, field, or variable. When you write a record to the database, Progress gets that record from the record buffer.
Record ScopeThe life span of a record in a record buffer. When the scope of a record ends, Progress releases the record and writes the changes made to the record buffer to the database.
Rectangle WidgetA decorative parallelogram (all of whose angles equal 90 degrees) displayed in a frame or in a frame background. Rectangles are display-only and cannot receive user input.
Related TablesTables that have at least one field in common.
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)A collection of hardware and software that organizes and provides access to a relational database.
Relational OperatorA symbol such as = (equal to), < (less than), or > (greater than) that is used to compare two values. It specifies a condition that can be either true or false.
ReportAn organized display of data from a database.
Root FrameA parent frame that is owned by a window and is the top parent of a frame family. See also parent frame, child frame.
Root WindowA parent window that is parented only by the window system and is the top parent of a window family. See also parent window, child window.
Row1.) A collection of related items. Also called a record. 2.) A horizontally aligned set of character cells in the character coordinate system.
SchemaA description of a database’s structure-the tables it contains, the fields within the tables, views, etc. In addition to database structure, Progress database schemas contain items such as validation expression and validation message.
Screen BufferA display area for a field, variable, or the result of a calculation. When you prompt for information or display information for the user, Progress places that information in the screen buffer.
Selection CriteriaConditional expressions used to select particular records from a database table or tables.
Selection-list WidgetA scrolling list of character strings. The strings are the possible values for an underlying field or variable.
SelfIn a trigger, SELF is a system-handle whose value is the widget handle of the widget that received the event that fired the trigger. See also system handle and widget handle.
Sensitive WidgetA widget that reacts to user actions.
SequenceA database object that provides incremental values to an application. Sequences can generate sequential values within any integer range with a positive or negative value.
Sequence PropertiesThe schema definitions that define the sequence, such as the sequence name, the initial value, and so on.
Setable AttributeAn attribute to which the application can assign a new value.
Shared VariableA variable used to pass information from one procedure to another.
Side LabelsField labels to the left of the data and separated from the data by a colon and a space. See also column labels.
Slider WidgetA field-level widget composed of a rectangular scale that represents a range of INTEGER values. A marker within the scale indicates the current value. Only values of type INTEGER can be viewed as sliders.
Sports DatabaseA sample Progress database containing files, fields, and indexes (including some data) that procedures in Progress documentation use to acquaint you with the way Progress operates.
StatementAn instruction written in the Progress language.
StreamA sequence of characters or items.
StringA character expression (a constant, field name, variable name, or any combination of these that results in a character string value).
SubmenuA vertically displayed list of menu items and submenus that appears when the user selects a menu title in a menu bar.
SubprocedureA procedure that runs from the main procedure. A subprocedure can be either an internal or external procedure.
System HandleA pseudo widget handle that provides a range of system capabilities sometimes associated with a visual widget. System handles that reference instances of visual widgets (for example, FOCUS) adopt all the attributes, methods, and events of the widget. Other system handles provide monitoring and control capabilities (for example, CLIPBOARD). System handles have their own attributes and methods, but do not respond to Progress events.
TableA collection of logically related records organized into rows and columns. A table can contain a program, data, or text. A table is made up of records. It is also called a file.
Table PropertiesThe schema definitions that define the table, such as the table name, the table type, and so on.
Terminating SequenceA sequence which begins at an initial value and increments in one direction until it reaches the designated limit. See also nonterminating sequence.
Text WidgetA field-level widget that displays any kind of data. It is read-only, and does not receive normal user events. Text widgets cannot have input focus.
Toggle Box WidgetA field-level widget composed of a small box that represents a logical value. Only values of type LOGICAL can be viewed as toggle boxes. The presence (TRUE) or absence (FALSE) of filling in the toggle box indicates the current value. A toggle box can be a field-level widget or a special type of menu item.
Top-down ProgrammingTraditional programming where you define larger structures first and then define smaller and smaller components.
TriggerA piece of code that Progress executes on behalf of an application when a certain database action occurs or a certain user-interface event occurs. There are two types of triggers: database triggers and user-interface triggers.
Unique IndexAn indexed field where every index key must be different. For example, Social Security number could be a unique index.
User-defined FunctionA function that you can create based on a programming task that you want to solve. You can reuse this code once you create it. See also function.
User Interface TriggersA piece of code that an application associates with one or more event-widget pairs. When the widget receives the event, Progress locates this piece of code and executes it on behalf of the application.
Validation ExpressionA test to make sure that the user does not enter invalid data in a field.
Validation MessageA user-defined message the Dictionary displays when the user attempts to delete the selected table without meeting the table-validation criteria.
VariableA temporary field for storing data.
WidgetAn object that provides visual and interactive capabilities for a Progress application. A widget is a 4GL-aware control. That is, it is a control that shares common capabilities with other controls of the same type defined in the 4GL. There are several widget types that form a hierarchy in the 4GL, starting with windows. Windows can own other windows. Windows also contain frames and dialog boxes. Frames and dialog boxes contain field groups, and field groups contain field-level widgets or other frames. Widgets have attributes and methods and respond to events. Widgets serve as receptors for user input and also display application output.
Widget AttributesCharacteristics of the widget such as its type, screen location, size, color, font, and relationship to other widgets.
Widget HandleTo allow you to reference widgets within an application, Progress assigns each widget a unique widget handle. A widget handle is a pointer to the widget. Progress provides the WIDGET-HANDLE data type, to support handle values.
Window FamilyA related collection of parent and child windows.
Window WidgetThe workspace of your application. Each time you start a Progress session, it automatically creates a default window.
Word IndexContains all the words from a character field or array of character fields. Searching with this index makes it very easy to locate records that contain specific words.
Working DirectoryThe directory you are in when you issue a command.
Working DatabaseThe connected database that is currently in use. Multiple databases can be connected at any time, but only one is the current, working database.
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