Application Generator status
This is a quick note on the development status of the Application Generator (AppGen). The Application Generator is now well along in the internal test cycle. Converting an existing .App into C7 is as easy as pointing to an existing C6 app and choosing to open it. In the conversion process both the .App and its associated .DCT are converted to the new C7 formats -- while creating a backup of the old files. At this point a good percentage of App files convert as smoothly as clicking Open File, and have you up and running in Clarion 7 in under a minute (as it should be). But at present some converted .App files have problems for the reasons that I mention below, and that's why we haven't yet released the Application Generator into the beta program. But be assured that the Application Generator is steadily edging closer to public release status.
Conversion of the metadata within an APP file into the new format used in version 7 has a medium-level of complexity, partially because there are dependent conversions of Dictionary data, local data and Windows/Reports, and as of today conversions of .APP files still present a few bugs. We have a team focused on debugging code generation problems, and tracking down the root cause of code generation related errors. The teams' assignment is to isolate the problems and determine if the issues are;
- problem in the template and code generation engine
- problem caused by an incorrect App conversion
- problem with incorrect information in the converted DCT (such as incorrect column or key attributes and so on)
- or some combination of the above
Integrated support for the specialized behaviors required from the Window and Report designers for Appgen are also in test phase, as well as the Embed editor mode of the Source Editor. There are other supporting components (for AppGen) being integrated at the same time and the process of integration and bug fixing are progressing.
And what's happening outside of of AppGen? We are close to completing specialized components like the File Schema pad, and its integration into the Designers. You may be wondering what this File Schema pad is? In Clarion 6, when you open the Procedure Properties dialog and press the 'Tables' button a new dialog was presented with a title caption of 'Table Schematic Definition', that dialog is now transformed into the new 'File Schema' pad. Other components like the Dictionary Synchronizer and the Dictionary Editor are essentially code complete, and we are just working down the list of open bugs. Other areas in the IDE are either code complete and essentially debugged, or cannot be fully tested until either the Dictionary related issues are wrapped up, or until the final pieces of AppGen are completely integrated. I won't put a date on when we'll release AppGen into the Beta cycle, other then to say that it will be as soon as we think its reached the level of stability and reliability that we (and you) expect.
SoftVelocity Inc.