Visual DataFlex 12 is a complete application development tool for Windows and Web environments, and is known for being one of the most powerful database application development tools in the industry. Visual DataFlex is specifically designed for the purpose of building client/server database applications - fast.

Visual DataFlex's integrated Web Application Server technology delivers dynamic, fast, secure, web-enabled database applications utilizing Windows Server technology. Visual DataFlex Studio's web application wizards and other rapid development facilities seamlessly build ASP and business logic code for creating database-enabled Web applications. The Web Application Server is the business logic engine and deployment tool, for controlling intelligent database integration and centralized business rule and process execution.

As an added extra, Visual DataFlex 12 also includes a complete application for Web content management - Electos! Electos is a perfect choice to accompany Visual DataFlex 12. Electos is immediately useful to end-users, and it opens a wide range of opportunities for Visual DataFlex developers to integrate the system with their own applications to create exciting new Internet solutions.

Visual DataFlex Developers in Asia Pacific now also receive a FREE license of the newly released FlexODBC Version 4 with their Visual DataFlex 12 Studio and subscription renewals, valued at A$467.50!!!

FlexODBC is an ODBC driver (DLL) for the DataFlex Embedded DBMS. This driver allows any ODBC compliant front end application to read and write data contained Visual DataFlex applications. A user in Microsoft Office can use Excel to pull company accounting or invoice information directly into a spreadsheet and create a chart. Microsoft Word users can do a customer mail merge directly from DataFlex files. Crystal Reports users can create multi-file reports from DataFlex data. Microsoft Access or Borland Delphi can even be used to merge DataFlex data with other data sources to produce complex reports, or to run mass file updates based on multiple criteria.

Visual DataFlex Features

Studio -- Visual DataFlex's operations centre for application building
The finely tuned interaction among Studio's components enhance developer productivity; Data Dictionaries and Business Process Objects eliminate huge amounts of redundant, high maintenance code. Visual DataFlex's rich, object oriented language and robust class library provide developers with everything needed for successful custom projects and high quality commercial products.

Fast, easy visual development
With Visual DataFlex Studio's application framework, class library and rich set of pre-programmed controls and components, the design and implementation of Windows and Web applications is a structured, well managed process. Integrated source-level debugging facilities help track down and fix problems quickly and easily. Studio can fully integrate custom class libraries and generate application code based on custom libraries. Component Explorer enables the loading of multiple Components and source-code files on separate tabs.

Web-enable Windows applications with Web Application Server
Visual DataFlex Windows and Web applications share a common technical and operating foundation so developers can reuse large portions of Windows applications to create new, browser based solutions in minimum time. The secure, high-performance Web Application Server seamlessly integrates with the Windows application environment.

Windows-enable Web applications
Internet applications with browser, PDA or wireless interfaces often need companion Windows applications to complete a business solution. Visual DataFlex's cross platform application components enables the rapid construction of Windows interfaces on web, ecommerce and intranet solutions deployed with Web Application Server.

Extend Windows desktop applications to the Internet
Visual DataFlex provides robust support for XML through a class interface based on the industry standard XML Document Object Model (DOM). XML documents can be delivered to Internet URLs using Visual DataFlex's FTP and HTTP classes. The cMapiHandler class provides extensive MAPI support to read and write email.

Data Aware Controls without the need for custom code
Writing code just to establish the links between a control and your data is a thing of the past.

Easily Integrate COM Automation and Active-X controls
Built-in COM automation enables you to easily integrate the vast array of COM servers and ActiveX controls into your VDF applications

No more worrying about data integrity
An application's business rules and data validations are encapsulated in middle-tier Data Dictionary Objects that are automatically bound to an application's user interface whether it runs on the Windows desktop or in a web browser.

Eliminate repetitive tasks and improve the consistency of your applications
Every component of your application, from the database and business rules, to complete views is reusable - and extendable. Visual DataFlex's enhanced support for sub-classing and external classes provides the simplicity of drag and drop development for all custom controls.

High-level control when you want it
When dealing with code is inefficient or unnecessary, the high-level tools in the Studio provide quick and easy access to the visual and database properties of each control.

Complete control when you need it
When you have to touch and feel your applications code, the Studio's Code Explorer puts it, and the awesome power of Visual DataFlex's object-oriented 4GL, all at your fingertips.

Multi-user database operations are automatic
The applications you create in Visual DataFlex manage multi-user concurrency without the need for any special coding. Plus, if you elect to use on of the many client/server options available for Visual DataFlex applications, your unchanged applications will trigger the transaction capabilities of the host environment.

Increase the return on your investment
Visual DataFlex's tiered development system is designed to accommodate the latest trends in distributed, rule-based, client/server database application architecture. The combination of the Visual DataFlex methods and the Studio provides an easy-to-master environment for business process-based application design. Visual DataFlex enables you to quickly take multiple applications to deployment, through well-controlled and structured development processes. Applications powered by Visual DataFlex today will continue to deliver value tomorrow with open connectivity to database management systems, efficient life-cycle maintenance, and future access to changing application client and server environments.

Visual DataFlex Studio

The Visual DataFlex Studio is a complete application development toolkit including an integrated set of development tools, compiler, application framework, component library, database utilities, FlexODBC ODBC Driver and documentation. A Visual DataFlex Studio License is required for each person that uses the Visual DataFlex Studio. The Studio license fee includes the first year’s Annual Subscription.

The Studio license also functions as a 3-User Visual DataFlex Client Engine for internal development, testing and deployment of application software (you may not deploy outside of the company that the license is registered to using this license). Additional users and sites each require additional Client Engine Licenses. A distributable Evaluation Client Engine is also provided with the Development License as a facility for commercial software developers to market their application products.

A Web Application Server - Lite Edition licensed for development & testing only is also included with the Studio, however it cannot be used for Web application deployment.

The Visual DataFlex Studio Annual Subscription provides subscribers with new product features and enhancements, updates, bug fixes and documentation. The subscription fee is paid annually in advance.

Visual DataFlex 12 Studio 30 Day Evaluation
A ready-to-install, Visual DataFlex 12 Studio 30 Day Evaluation is available to application developers. The Evaluation has no limitations other than a splash screen and will automatically expire and cease to operate 30 days following installation on a given computer system. Specific terms and conditions of use are defined in the License Agreement. A Visual DataFlex 12 Studio 30 Day Evaluation can be “activated in place” to enable a developer to use the Studio without re-installation.

Once you've installed Visual DataFlex 12, the best way to quickly acquaint yourself with application development using Visual DataFlex is to get started by reading the Web Application Quick Start and Windows Application Quick Start sections in the Visual DataFlex Help system.

Use WASP to search the Community Newsgroups
WASP (Web Application Search Page) allows developers to search existing content (posts) in the Data Access Worldwide Community Newsgroups quickly and efficiently using a Web browser interface. WASP is a free service, developed and provided by Sture Andersen of Sture ApS in Denmark. WASP was originally developed using Visual DataFlex 9.1. Click here to use WASP to search the Community Newsgroups.

The Visual DataFlex Environment