| Meaningful URLs and History Management |
This section describes some of the changes that have been made to the Studio to support Web Application development.
To create a new Web Application in your workspace, select “Web Project” from the Projects tab of the Create New dialog. The Create New dialog is accessed by clicking New on the toolbar or selecting New… from the File menu.
This will pop up the “Web Application Information” dialog. In this dialog you will be required to supply two names:
The Web Application Name. This is the name assigned to your web application for the Web Application Administrator. This is used by the Web Application server technology to identify each web application and its settings.
The Virtual Directory Name. This is the name used by IIS (Internet Information Services) to reference and share your workspace’s AppHtml folder. You can manage the virtual directory settings using the IIS Manager application (Windows Administration Tools).
Your web application’s URL will include the Virtual Directory Name as part of the address. For example, say your web application is hosted on your local machine, your virtual directory name “is WebOrder” and the html file is called Index.htm, then your web application’s URL would be: “localhost/WebOrder/Index.htm”.
Some tips regarding these names:
It makes things easier if your Web Application Name and Virtual Directory Name are identical. These names are case sensitive so ensure that the casing also matches in both names.
It makes things easier if you do not use spaces in your Web Application Name or Virtual Directory names.
Once you have entered this information and clicked OK in the New Web Project dialog, the Studio performs the following actions:
The web application is set up for the DataFlex Web Application Server (as seen in the Web Application Administrator).
The virtual directory is set up in IIS.
Your initial WebApp.src file is generated according to the new web application template. This includes the generation of a 40 character encryption password that is used for secure file streaming when uploading or downloading files.
The client side JavaScript engine and standard theme CSS is copied into your AppHtml folder.
An Index.html file is created that will load your web application in the client browser.
The project properties are set up in the Studio to load Index.html in your default browser when debug-running your web application.
See Project Properties - Web Application for details about understanding and managing the web project properties.
The Studio supports the creation of fully functional views and lookups through the use of wizards and also provides templates for common components for web views and dialogs. See Create New - Web Object for details.
Use the WebApp Designer to create and review the visual design of your web application, views and dialogs. To activate the designer, select WebApp Designer from the View menu or press F7 while editing a Web View, Web Dialog or WebApp.src file.
The WebApp Designer is implemented as a Studio Docking Tool Panel. Initially it is docked to the bottom of the Studio, but you can drag and resize the panel to have it free floating. If your computer has a dual monitor setup then you can drag the designer onto your second monitor.
You can drag and drop web controls onto the designer. You can use the designer to change to size and location of web controls.
See WebApp Designer for more information about using this tool.
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