Component Types

Descriptions and associated icons for each application component type follow. The corresponding editor appears when you click its icon on the Component portlet's toolbar (Develop tab):

A user frame consists of a form that you design, a script whose code you write, and, sometimes, a menu that you create. This icon opens the Create User Frame dialog:

Note: For more information about user frames, see Creating Basic Frames.

A ghost frame is a frame that has no form, but otherwise functions like a regular frame. A ghost frame can be called from other frames and procedures and receive user, database, and terminate events. The end user does not interact directly with a ghost frame. Ghost frames are most useful for handling operations that run continuously without user intervention.

This icon opens the Create Ghost Frame dialog:

A user class is a set of developer-defined attributes (characteristics) and methods (behaviors) that you can use to refer to multiple data items as a single entity. This icon opens the Create User Class dialog:

Note: For more information about user classes, see Working With Classes.

An external class defines the class properties, methods, and events for one or more external objects. This icon opens the Create External Class Library dialog:

Note: For more information about external classes, see Create and Register External Class Libraries.

A 4GL procedure is a set of 4GL statements that you can call by name in an application. 4GL procedures are written in fourth-generation languages such as Java. This icon opens the Create Procedure dialog:

A 3GL procedure is a set of 3GL statements that you can call by name in an application. 3GL procedures let you access code written in third-generation languages, such as C or C++. This icon opens the Create 3GL Procedure dialog:

A database procedure is a set of SQL statements that you can call by name in an application. Database procedures let you call data-oriented procedures that are stored and executed within the database server. This icon opens the Create Database Procedure dialog:

A global variable is a variable that you can use in any script or procedure in an application. It contains data that any script or procedure in the application can access. This icon opens the Create Global Variable dialog:

Note: For more information about global variables, see Adding Other Components to Your Application.

A global constant is a value to which you give a name. You can then use this name to represent the value any place in an application. This icon opens the Create Global Constant dialog:

Note: For more information about global constants, see Global Constants.

An include script is a segment of 4GL code that you can include in any script or procedure in an application. This icon opens the Create Include Script dialog:

Note: For more information about include scripts, see Writing Scripts and Procedures.

A frame template is a frame that you use as a model for creating similar frames. Every frame that you create is based on a frame template that determines many of the visual and behavioral characteristics of the frame.

Field templates are prototypes from which you can generate individual fields on a form. This icon opens the Create Field Template dialog: