How to use DataWindow objects
Before you can use a DataWindow object, you need to build the
object. To do that you can go to the DataWindow painter, which lets
you create and edit DataWindow objects. It also lets you make PSR
(Powersoft report) files, which you might also want to use in
applications. A PSR file contains a report definition—essentially a
nonupdatable DataWindow object—as well as the data contained in that
report when the PSR file was created.
This section describes the overall process for creating and
using DataWindow objects. You can use DataWindow objects in
client/server, Web-based, and multitier applications. For more
information about using DataWindow objects in different kinds of
applications and writing code that interacts with DataWindow objects,
see the section called “Using
DataWindow Objects” in DataWindow Programmers Guide.
To use DataWindow objects in an application
-
Create the DataWindow object using one of the DataWindow
wizards on the DataWindow tab page of the New dialog box.The wizard helps you define the data source, presentation
style, and other basic properties of the object, and the
DataWindow object displays in the DataWindow painter. In this
painter, you define additional properties for the DataWindow
object, such as display formats, validation rules, and sorting and
filtering criteria. -
For more information about creating a DataWindow object, see
Building a DataWindow
object. -
Place a DataWindow control in a window or user
object.It is through this control that your application
communicates with the DataWindow object you created in the
DataWindow painter. -
Associate the DataWindow control with the DataWindow
object. -
Write scripts in the Window painter to manipulate the
DataWindow control and its contents.For example, you use the PowerScript Retrieve method to
retrieve data into the DataWindow control.You can write scripts for the DataWindow control to deal
with error handling, sharing data between DataWindow controls, and
so on.
Reports versus DataWindow
objects
Reports and DataWindow objects are the same objects. You can
open and modify both in the DataWindow painter. However, a report is
not updatable and can only be used to present data. For information
about how you can specify whether users can update the data in a
DataWindow object, see Controlling
Updates in DataWindow objects.