AppMaker delivers the ability for you to create a full blown,
feature rich, royalty free, database application in less than a
day; and on top of that, programming is not required.
AppMaker fully exploits the latest component and database
technologies to deliver state-of-the-art applications in a
fraction of the time and cost as was previously possible.
AppMaker employs unmatched RAD techniques to deliver fully
functioning applications ready to be put into production.
Feature Rich Software:
The primary focus of the AppMaker software has been to allow
the developer to create feature rich software for their end
users. End users can modify many of their data views to group
or sort based on their needs, and AppMaker saves these views to
automatically apply them on the users next visit to the screen.
We have been very careful to give users many options while
still not allowing them to break the pre-set rules defined by
the database administrator or database author.
AppMaker has other abilities that have been created with the
database author in mind. These features are not revealed to the
end users. We include a full-blown SQL Query Builder to assist
with building your SQL Statements, or for less experienced
developers, we include an application-building wizard.
Database Requirements:
AppMaker ships with MS Access 2000 databases to get you going
right away. If you prefer to run your database against a SQL
Server database, no problem, just ask us for our SQL Server
transformation script and your MS Access database can be
imported at any time, ... either before you begin development,
or after you are finished. For evaluators, we recommended
creating linked tables in MS Access. Point these linked tables
to your various other databases.
The AppMaker software does not have any hard limitations, and
is bound by your database's capabilities and workstation's
available memory. For example, you could build an edit screen
containing 255 tabs, and have a sub query on each tab. This
would consume many more resources than are available to a
windows 98 system, but would run correctly on a Windows NT,
2000, or XP Professional system (where GDI and USER resources
are allocated dynamically). We strongly recommend that the
database author's workstation is Windows NT, 2000, or XP
Professional. This is not necessary for end users, but is for
database authors since they typically have multiple instances
of the software running.
How Do You Build an AppMaker Application?
It's easy. You first define your database tables (within MS
Access), or use an existing database. Then you log into the
AppMaker software with a user name of "System" and enter a
series of Main Catalog SQL Statements (i.e. SELECT * FROM
MyTable). You then group these statements and assign icons to
give you a two level, Outlook style interface. Next you define
your secondary tables (Sub Catalogs - typically the "many side"
of your "one-to-many" relationships) and attach them to the tab
pages of the Main Catalogs (for example, if a record in your
Main Catalog contains Order information, a tab page may contain
Order Details). The remaining tables needed are validation
tables (Pick Catalogs) and are attached to any other field in
your database that requires validation and/or selection. All of
the Pick Catalog values are suggested as you type. In the end,
you have a series of SQL statements that define your database
to the AppMaker software.
You can go back and change your database at any time. Adding
new fields or tables is not a problem for AppMaker; just
regenerate and your application will be updated. There is no
need to update any of your workstations since the software meta
data is stored in your database.
After your database is constructed, you will want to apply
various Cell Formats to your data fields. Cell
Formats include:
- All standard text, numeric, currency and date types;
- Pop up calculators;
- Numeric spinners;
- Embedded or linked images;
- Linked files;
- An HTML editor for memo fields;
- Password formatting;
- Masked data;
- A full featured color picker;
- OLE data (Word or Excel data stored in a memo field).
Security settings are also applied from within the AppMaker
software. Each catalog can be generated to support any of Add,
Edit, or Delete. As well, setting check boxes for Display Only,
No Change, and Mandatory Input, can further refine individual
data element edits.
This is, in essence, how to build your AppMaker database
application. You may not be interested in building a new
application, just interested in using the pre-built HelpDesk
software. This is not a problem. You are welcome to use the
software however it best meets your needs.
Additional Features:
- Includes a scheduling tool that can optionally be used in
your database. Create date driven views (monthly, weekly,
and daily; 7 in total). You have the ability to schedule
resources or people. The schedule can be applied to any
table that contains a date. Further capabilities can be
enabled if time and duration data is present.
- Includes a built in word processor allowing you to edit memo
fields and transparently store the data in web ready format
(HTML) in your database.
- Filtering can be used with all view types; and, filtering
values are saved and reapplied when revisiting the
data view.
- A VB programming interface is available if you would like to
add your own application wizards or software.
- Context sensitive help (bubble-help and context sensitive
F1-key). You can create use own integrated help file, or
supply help strings to be displayed on the application's
status bar.
- The application splash screen and "about box" is fully
customizable using our built in editor. No programming
is required.
- Any existing database (MS Access, SQL Server, or any ADO
data source) can be used. AppMaker will automatically create
edit screens based on the fields in the data source. The
order that the fields are listed in your SQL Statement is
the order that the fields will appear in your
edit screens.
- A database may be imported at any stage of its development.
Additions, changes or deletions of fields or tables may be
made at any time in the development process.
- Edit screens are created in real-time; therefore, any new
fields will automatically be inserted onto the edit screen
without requiring re-development.
- An integrated POP3 mail checker is included.
- Integration with Seagate's Crystal Reports. If you own
Crystal Reports you can create your own reports and have
them launched from within AppMaker.
- Extensive color formatting capabilities are provided and may
be used to identify special needs data. (Example, bold
new items).
Download File Size:26.97 MB
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