ODABA GUI Framework - Concepts

The ODABA GUI framework is based on Active Data Link (ADL), which is a method that drives a GUI application by means of data events (see also Active Data Link). In general, the ODABA application development concepts are based on a three component architecture:

• application component
• business component
• data access component

In contrast to the traditional three tier architecture, the ODABA three component architecture does not require communication between application layer and business layer. The Application Logic Interface (ALI) provides the interface between application component and Application Logic Manager (ALM).

The application logic interface provides an interface for the developer in order to provide application specific functionality. Usually, application logic manages filling data into controls, displaying proper forms and running specific actions required by the user.

ODABA GUI framework provides an extension to this technology by supporting ADL. ADL describes a technology, which links the application tightly to the data access. Thus, the application is not only driven by GUI events, but also by data access events and data access is driven by the application while reacting on GUI and data access events.

ADL-based controls allow reducing the development resources up to 90% and more. Simple applications require just a proper design, while a generic application logic manager (ALM) controls the application behavior.

The ODABA GUI framework provides such an generic ALM (ode.exe, code.exe) that control main parts of the application logic. In order to provide specific behavior, event handlers can be overloaded and data type specific actions can be implemented in GUI context classes, which can be linked to controls, applications and projects.