1. Introduction

The Forms-based Application Development Tools User Guide describes, in one online guide, how to use either Vision or Applications-By-Forms (ABF) to develop forms-based applications that access Ingres databases. It also describes how to use embedded-forms programming to develop forms-based applications without the use of either ABF or Vision. Finally, it describes how to use the Ingres Fourth Generation Language (4GL) to customize applications.

Note: For information on developing applications with the GUI tool, OpenROAD, see the OpenROAD Workbench User Guide and other OpenROAD guides.

This guide is divided into the following parts:

Introduces the tools and languages covered in this guide, presents general terms and concepts, and explains how to plan and create applications.

Consists of nine chapters and four appendixes that explain how to use Vision to quickly develop applications without writing programming code and how to access Vision functions through Applications-By-Forms.

Consists of three chapters and four appendixes that describe how to use ABF to create the frames and procedures in a forms-based application. ABF is more difficult to use than Vision, but gives you more control over the application.

Consists of three chapters that describe how to create applications that accept and display information on user-defined forms, without the use of either ABF or Vision. (The forms must have been created using the Visual Forms Editor. For instructions about creating forms, see Character-based Querying and Reporting Tools User Guide.) One appendix provides EQUEL/FORMS examples.

Consists of six chapters and five appendixes that provide a complete reference to 4GL statements and procedures. 4GL is used with both Vision and ABF to develop and customize applications.

Note: This part of the guide covers basic database manipulation statements. For information about SQL and descriptions of other SQL statements, see the SQL Reference Guide. For commands used only with a distributed database, see the Database Administrator Guide.

Lists the menu operations available in the Vision and ABF main windows and discusses sharing a Vision or ABF installation with other developers.

The initial chapters in each part provide introductory information for novice users; the remaining chapters in each part provide more detail. The appendixes in each part contain information specific to the tool or language described in that part.