Getting Started
with WebSpeed
Glossary
3GL Programming LanguageA general-use programming language such as C, COBOL, FORTRAN, or BASIC that allows the programmer to control a computer at a low level while using a computer-oriented syntax that makes the program code understandable.
4GL Programming LanguageAn application development language that makes programming much easier because it allows the programmer to use statements that perform the work of multiple 3GL statements and provide intuitive default behavior while using readable English-like syntax.
AgentSee WebSpeed Agent
Agent Variables ToolThe WebSpeed WebTool that allows you to display the environment variables for your WebSpeed session.
AppBuilderThe visual programming tool you use to develop applications for client/server or for the Web. For WebSpeed applications, AppBuilder supports creating, testing, and deploying n-tier, HTTP-based applications.
CGI Environment VariablesStandard values, maintained by the HTTP server (part of the Web server), in a named area of shared memory. Common Gateway Interface (CGI) Environment Variables are accessible to other processes running on the Web server, such as the WebSpeed Transaction Messenger, and are often used to pass parameters between the Web server and other applications. The CGI specification defines standard CGI environment variables. In addition, Web servers often maintain their own particular environment variables.
ClientAny application or computer that accesses services on another computer over a computer network.
Database FieldThe smallest unit of useful information in a database.
A component of a database record that holds a data value of a single data type. Also called a column.
Databases ToolThe WebSpeed WebTool that allows you to look up information about the database schema (structure) of any database connected to the WebSpeed Agent.
Detail FrameA frame in the WebSpeed WebTools page that provides an index of links to the various WebTools.
Developer CornerAn information resource for Web programmers who are building ITP applications.
Embedded SpeedScriptSpeedScript code that is embedded in an HTML file within <script> ... </script> HTML tags, or within backquote (‘) escape characters.
Expression EditorA graphical, calculator-like user interface that is accessible from the Query Builder. A tool for defining expressions that, when evaluated at runtime, determine which records are retrieved from the database.
External TableA database record retrieved by an object external to the current Web Object but accessible to the current Web object.
ExtranetA system of connected Web sites that are separate from the Internet.
File ToolsThe WebSpeed WebTool that provides a directory listing from which you can view, open, run, or compile files in the directory, or extract or delete files from the directory.
FormAn interface for capturing information from a user, using text entry fields, option buttons, selection lists graphics, etc.
Frame1. A SpeedScript container object used to contain the contents of a single Web Object. A default frame is defined for each Web object created within the WebSpeed Workshop Environment.
2. An HTML container that displays as a separate scrollable window within a defined Frame Set.
Frame SetA set of HTML frames displayed within a single Web browser window. Each Frame in the frame set contains a separate HTML File that can be updated or navigated independently of the HTML files contained in the other frames.
Home PageThe World Wide Web site provided by an individual or corporation that presents what is available at or through the site and is considered the primary gateway to that site.
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)A standard text markup language that uses embedded HTML Tags to format a file of text. HTML tags allow you to:
HTML FileA text file formatted with HTML Tags.
HTML Format AttributesA set of attributes on the WEB-CONTEXT system handle that specify default HTML Tags to format different parts of a SpeedScript Frame. You can change these attributes for each Web request. Generally, you change them in pairs that specify a start and an end tag.
HTML TagA standard mark-up code in an HTML file that specifies how the Web browser should interpret the file contents. The tag starts with the less than character ( < ) and ends with the greater than character ( > ); for example, <P> to mark the start of a paragraph, and </P> to mark the end of the paragraph.
HTML Tag ParserA program or utility that parses (reads or analyzes) HTML files, locating and extracting information from HTML tags within the file. A Web browser acts as an HTML tag parser, using the information in the HTML tags within each file to determine how to display and format text and images on the screen.
HyperlinkA navigational link to another document, resource, subject, or site embedded in a graphical or Hypertext element.
HypertextAny text in an online document that provides a Hyperlink to another document, resource, subject, or site. By default, hypertext format is blue, underlined.
Internal ProcedureA code block that you write and compile as part of a larger containing procedure. The block for an internal procedure is defined by the PROCEDURE statement within the containing procedure file.
InternetAn international network of interconnected computers structured to permit organizations and individuals to exchange messages and share information.
Internet Transaction Processing (ITP)An open framework for developing and deploying Web-based transaction processing applications.
IntranetA network of interconnected computers, structured to permit individuals within an organization to exchange messages and share information behind the company’s firewall on a LAN or WAN. Traffic is not broadcast across the global Internet.
JAVAA popular, object-oriented programming language created by Sun Microsystems. JAVA programs, called applets, are stored on a Web server then downloaded and executed by a Web browser. JAVA applets can take advantage of resources on the client computer to create user-interface components beyond the scope of HTML and to allow client-side processing of some user interaction.
JavaScriptA Scripting Language, created by Netscape Communications, that is similar to Java in syntax and that can be embedded into an HTML file.
JoinA Query operation that requests information from two or more database tables at a time. The output is a results list where each row contains a record from each joined table. Typically, the two queried tables have a common field with a common name; for example, customer.custnum and order.custnum.
LinkSee Hyperlink
Local ModeThe client/server development mode that allows you to save any files you create to a directory on the client machine and runs any of your objects by a local Progress client.
Main FrameThe work area for the option you select in the Detail frame when working with the WebSpeed WebTools.
Messages ToolThe WebSpeed WebTool that you use to look up the meaning of any WebSpeed error message number.
Natural JoinA join that occurs when two queried tables have a common field with the same field name. For example, a natural join occurs between the CustNum fields of the Customer and Order tables because both tables contain the CustNum field.
Object State ToolThe WebSpeed WebTool that allows you to view the state of procedures running on the WebSpeed Transaction Agent.
Page ComponentA SpeedScript element, such as a dynamically generated table, that can be inserted into another Web object. A page component does not generate its own HTTP header.
Parent BrowserThe Web browser containing the hyperlink from which the current Web browser was launched.
Persistent ObjectA Web Object that resides in the memory of a locked WebSpeed Transaction Agent, available to service requests from a specific Web client (browser). See also Persistent Procedure, State Persistent.
Persistent ProcedureAn external SpeedScript Procedure that you execute with the PERSISTENT option of the RUN statement. After it returns, all data definitions, internal procedures, and user-defined functions contained in the persistent procedure remain available to other SpeedScript procedures and Web objects invoked for the current WebSpeed transaction.
ProcedureAny block of SpeedScript code that can be invoked by name from another SpeedScript procedure using the RUN statement, possibly with run-time parameters.
Procedure FileA source file that contains SpeedScript code that can be compiled into WebSpeed-executable r-code.
ProPathA WebSpeed environment variable that contains the list of directories a WebSpeed Transaction Agent will search to locate the WebSpeed file it has been requested to run.
QueryA request for data from a database.
Remote ModeThe WebSpeed development mode that allows you to save any files you create to your Web server/Transaction server machine.
SchemaA description of a database’s structure: the tables it contains, the fields within the tables, the indices, and field attributes.
Scripting LabThe WebSpeed WebTool that allows you to write and edit SpeedScript, SQL, JavaScript, VBScript, or HTML code and run it on the WebSpeed Transaction Agent.
Scripting LanguageAn interpretive language that supports Web page generation and that generally requires no compilation. Scripting languages are typically limited in scope and provide fewer logic and I/O management features than full programming languages, like SpeedScript and Java.
ServerA process that services requests made by other processes.
A process that access a database in response to client requests.
Server-centricPrimarily residing and executing on the server.
Session ToolsThe Databases, Agent Variables, ProPath, and Object State WebSpeed WebTools.
SmartDataObjectA nonvisual SmartObject written in SpeedScript that allows you to define and manage business logic and data verification. The SmartDataObject has at its back end a database query and at its front end an open interface to visual objects.
Source CodeThe original version of a procedure file containing SpeedScript code before it is compiled. Source code files usually have the extension .w or .p.
SpeedScriptWebSpeed’s native programming language. SpeedScript is an interpreted, block-structured, and statement-oriented 4GL programming language that provides native access to the Progress RDBMS and DataServers, as well as to Web servers for Web page input and output.
SQL (Structured Query Language)A database language that consists of a set of facilities for defining, manipulating, and controlling data in a relational database. Also called Standard SQL.
State PersistentAny Web object running on a locked WebSpeed Transaction Agent. When an agent is locked, only one client process can access it.
TagSee HTML Tag
TagExtractA component of the WebSpeed product. A generic HTML tag parser that parses HTML documents and identifies data-mappable tags. TagExtract is implemented as a DLL that is invoked at design time and at run time to determine data-mappable fields, offsets, field objects, and related utility procedures. An initialization file is used to specify what HTML tags the parser will consider data mappable, what field object types to map them to, and what utility procedures to use.
TagExtract is integral to WebSpeed’s ability to map database fields to HTML text and data entry fields.
TCP-IPSee Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)A suite of standard networking protocols that define how computers and applications exchange data over the Internet.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)The address of a resource or site on the World Wide Web. The URL contains information about the method of access, the server to be accessed, and the path of any file to be accessed. The path for any WebSpeed Web Object references the WebSpeed Messenger, either directly or indirectly, prior to a reference to the Web object.
Web BrowserThe software that allows access to, and formatting and navigation of, information from a server. Popular Web browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, NCSA Mosaic, and Netscape Navigator. HTML is key to proper Web-browser functionality.
Web-centricFocusing on World Wide Web technology.
Web Context IDThe value of the EXCLUSIVE-ID attribute of the WEB-CONTEXT system handle. This is a name/value pair uniquely generated by the WebSpeed Agent for each WebSpeed transaction. It contains the name WSEU set equal to a string concatenated from the host name and several integer values that uniquely identify the transaction.
Web ObjectAn external SpeedScript procedure ( a .r file) that can be invoked by a URL or executed by another SpeedScript Procedure and that generates and services Web pages.
Web PageAn HTML document that is accessible on the Web, typically through a Web browser.
Web ServerSoftware resident on a machine on the Web to which a Web browser connects. The Web browser requests a file, which the Web server locates and sends to the Web browser.
WebSpeedProgress Software Corporation’s development environment that provides the tools required to create high-performance, scalable, complete Internet Transaction Processing solutions.
WebSpeed EditorA Workshop editor used to edit code in the current Procedure File.
WebSpeed SESSION AttributesAttributes of the SpeedScript SESSION system handle, showing the session status of the current WebSpeed Transaction Agent.
WebSpeed AgentThe WebSpeed application process that executes Web objects, performs database transactions, and dynamically merges data into HTML format. A WebSpeed Agent can be in only one of the following states at any one time:
AVAILABLE—The WebSpeed Transaction Agent is available to receive a Web request.
BUSY—The WebSpeed Transaction Agent is busy processing a Web request.
LIMBO—The WebSpeed Transaction Agent is in limbo because the agent ID has been sent out as available for use.
LOCKED—The WebSpeed Transaction Agent is unavailable because it is currently locked to a particular Web browser.
WebSpeed BrokerThe WebSpeed application process that passes Web requests to a WebSpeed Agent for execution.
WebSpeed MessengerThe WebSpeed application process that finds an appropriate WebSpeed Broker that can process a request from the Web server.
WebSpeed VariablesA set of variables and attributes that shows the transaction state, URL components, and Web Context ID of the most recent Web request.
WebSpeed WEB-CONTEXT AttributesAttributes of the SpeedScript WEB-CONTEXT system handle, showing the Web Context ID and HTML Format Attributes for the most recent Web request.
WebSpeed WebToolsA collection of utilities that enables developers to easily perform tasks and access information frequently required throughout the development process.
WebSpeed Workshop EnvironmentThe environment in which you develop Web-based Internet Transaction Processing (ITP) applications, which are business applications that support real-time data access and data management. The WebSpeed Workshop Environment includes the AppBuilder, the WebTools, and the WebSpeed Server.
WebStreamA named stream opened with output to the Web from a WebSpeed Agent. All HTML output from Web objects and utility procedures should be put on this stream.
Working DirectoryA directory that the installation process automatically identifies and adds to the WebSpeed ProPath. You develop your sample WebSpeed application in your working directory so that WebSpeed can automatically find and run the Web objects and procedure files you create.
World Wide WebThe fastest growing portion of the Internet, the Web uses the HTTP protocol to provide access to a vast array of hyperlinked resources, powerful search capabilities, and multimedia features, including graphics, sound, and video.
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