CHAPTER 2: The Default Application Generator

Empress GUI Builder provides a Default Application Generator which creates an application to allow the user to perform basic SQL functions on a given table. The Default Application Generator works with one table at a time and allows the users to insert, delete and update records in a table. The table for which the default application is created must exist in the current database of Empress GUI Builder before an application can be generated on that table.

For example, a table named employee in the database named my_db has the following attributes:

*** table: employee ***
name        character (25,1)
address     text (20,20,16,1)
phone       character (20,1)
salary      dollar (10,1)

2.1 Creating the Default Application

From the Empress GUI Builder Application Manager screen, click on File from the menu bar and click on Create Default Application...from the pull-down menu.

Figure 2-1 Application Manager

A dialog box pops up asking the user to enter the name of the table on which to create the default application and the name of the application.

Figure 2-2 Dialog Box

If you wish to view a list of the tables in the current database, click on the list icon beside the table name field.

Figure 2-3 List of Tables

You may choose any table from the list. Once you have entered the table name and the application name, and click on the OK button and the default application is generated. Since the default application deals with only one table, it is a good idea to name the application the same as the table name.

Figure 2-4 Creating the Default Application

2.2 Running the Default Application

To run the default application, select the application from the list of applications in the Application Manager window.

Figure 2-5 Application Manager

Click on File from the menu bar and click on Run from the pull-down menu. The default application will run as shown in Figure 2-6.

Figure 2-6 Default Application

The title on the title bar and the heading in the window corresponds to the table name on which the application is created. The application window is divided into the following two sections:

A multilist showing up to four attributes of the table and all the records in the current selected context. This section contains two buttons: Choose and Delete.
A record window that is initially empty. This section contains four buttons: Match, Clear, Insert and Update.

The Default Application Generator uses the attribute name as the heading for the multilist and window and as label for the record window. When dealing with an attribute name longer than 15 characters, the Default Application Generator will truncate the attribute name to the following sizes:

In the multilist window:	1 attribute 2 attributes 3 attributes 4 attributes	64 characters for the heading 32 characters for the heading 21 characters for the heading 15 characters for the heading
In the record window:	15 characters

2.2.1 Inserting Records

To insert a record into the table, you have to fill in the attribute value into the record window. For example, type in the following data as shown below:

Figure 2-7 Inserting a Record

Click on the Insert button or click on Record from the menu bar then click on Insert from the pull-down menu. Now the record is inserted into the employee table and this record will also be displayed in the multilist window.

Figure 2-8 Record inserted

Now, you can insert more records as shown in Figure 2-9:

Figure 2-9 Inserting more records

2.2.2 Selecting Records

If you wish to select all the records on the table, simply click on the Match button. Otherwise, type in the same specific values for the attributes as the selection criteria, for example, “J*” for the name attribute and click on the Match button. The following screen appears:

Figure 2-10 Matching specific values

There are two records which satisfy the match condition. Instead of clicking on the Match button, you can also click on Record from the the menu bar then click on Match from the pull-down menu to select records.

The match pattern must conform to the standard supported by Empress SQL.

2.2.3 Choosing Records

Choosing a record from the multilist will make it display in the record window. There are three basic ways to choose a record.

One way to choose a record is to double-click on that record in the multilist. A second way is to select that record by single-clicking on the record in the multilist and to click on the Choose button next to the multilist. A third way is to select that record by single-clicking on the record in the multilist and to click on the List from the menu bar then click on Choose from the pull-down menu.

Once a record is chosen and displayed in the record window, it becomes the current record. The record window can then be used to see the values of all the attributes for that particular record. The record window can be also used to update the record.

For example, to choose the employee name “Jordan” from the list, double-click on the record named “Jordan” on the multilist.

The following screen will appear:

Figure 2-11

2.2.4 Updating Records

To update a record, you must make sure that the record which needs updating is in the record window. For example, to update Jordan’s salary from $60,000 to $65,000, choose the record from the multilist as shown below.

Figure 2-12 Updating a record

Move the cursor to salary and edit the salary amount from $60,000 to $65,000. Click on the Update button.

Click on Record from the menu bar then click on Update from the pull-down menu. Note that the value on the multilist will also be updated.

Figure 2-13

While updating a record into the table, Empress GUI Builder checks for the validity of data types of all the values in the record window with the type of the corresponding attributes of the table and will report any inconsistencies, if they exist.

2.2.5 Deleting Records

To delete a record, you must make sure that the record which will be deleted is in the record window. For example, to delete the record named “Jones”, select the record from the multilist and confirm that the record shown in the record window is indeed the record that needs to be deleted.

Figure 2-14 Deleting a record

Click on the Delete button or click on List from the menu bar then click on Delete from the pull-down. A dialog box will appear to confirm the deletion.

Figure 2-15 Confirmation

Click on the Yes button on the dialog box to delete the record.

Figure 2-16

2.2.6 Clearing the Record Window

Many times while using the default application, you may find it necessary to clear the record window to be able to further use it. There are two basic ways to clear the record window.

One way to clear the record window is to click on the Clear button next to the record window. A second way to clear the record window is to click on Record from the menu bar then click on Clear from the pull-down menu.

2.3 Exiting the Default Application

To exit the Default Application, click on Exit from the menu bar then click on the Exit from the pull-down menu. This will bring you back to the Empress GUI Builder Application Manager.

Figure 2-17 Exiting the Default Application

2.4 Deleting the Default Application

The Default Application is an Empress GUI Builder Application. Therefore, deleting a Default Application is the same as deleting an Empress GUI Builder application. For example, to delete the Default Application employee, click on the entry employee from the Empress GUI Builder Application Manager so that this entry is highlighted.

Figure 2-18 Deleting the Default Application

Click on File from the menu bar then click on Delete from the pull-down menu. A dialog box will appear:

Figure 2-19

To confirm the deletion, click on Yes. The employee application is deleted from the list.

Figure 2-20