Dynamic frames are frames that perform operations based on decisions made by the user at runtime. In a dynamic database frame, you can let users decide which table to access or to execute an SQL statement that they compose. Dynamic frames can also create objects at runtime. With a dynamic frame, you can build any object that you can create with OpenROAD Workbench.

Dynamic database frames are often a useful way to provide a generic frame, that is, a frame that a user can run against any table in the database. For example, a library could give patrons the ability to search online tables of authors, titles, or subjects. Writing a separate frame for each possible table would be inefficient. Much more efficient is writing one general frame to run against any table in the library's database.

The DynamicFrame frame at runtime displays the starting frame that provides the user with a choice of database tables. The starting frame then builds a second frame that presents the columns of the chosen table as simple fields on a form. The second frame contains menu items that let the user update values in the current row, delete the row, or request the next row. A sample dynamic application illustrates this process.