FLEXIBLE APPLICATION BUILDER

by AppliWare
At your applications' base
FlexAB is an application development tool that requires no
programming, with object-oriented flexibility, and solid relational
databases. The developer interacts only with objects; the data and
their relational structure are transparent to the configurator,
without need to lose time with relations, indexes, tables, etc, which
allows for the development of applications in a shorter time. The
use of Objects allows for their reutilization in other applications, as
well as their link to other applications, sharing the information with
the array of systems developed directly by FlexAB, without
interfaces or mid processes.
FlexAB is based on a special, standardized, fixed and optimized table
structure of relational databases which enables the storage of
objects transparently. This table structure and the data management
related functions is the OrDBC (Object Relational Database Core)
by Appliware.
FlexAB has been developed in such a way that it is mainly related to
the Objects and the application of those objects in IT processes.
Therefore, it is a powerful tool when it comes to IT processes.
Appliware's FlexAB tool is software that allows you to develop your
own information system applications easily, quickly and securely
without programming. FlexAB has embedded functionalities for a
transparent file management.
FlexAB's primary object is
the development of
software applications that
meet corporate
requirements without need
to create customized
software and without
having to choose from an
array of off-the-shelf
software. The best solution
for any company is right in
the middle of these two
edges. We all know that
customized solutions are
generally expensive to
maintain, developer-
dependent and hard to
scale without having to
spend a lot of money. On
the other hand, off-the-
shelf solutions tend to
meet the general needs of
many companies, but not
particular or more specific
requirements. This is where
they fail and force
companies to make an
effort, or even to change
their regular procedures, to
accommodate to the
related software.
Customized or Off
The-Shelf Solutions?
FlexAB
FlexAB is a combination of both: it is
a tool that provides the framework
to develop a fully customized
application over a platform that
requires no programming, thus
standardizing the development of
future software, which means the
elimination of all customized
software restrictions since the
applications developed with FlexAB
do not depend on a programmer.
The application know-how remains
with the end user. All the
applications are open, flexible and
fully scalable without having to
incur into extra costs.
Data process
Solutions
by utilizing
Custom
Software
Data process
Solutions
by utilizing
Shelfware
Expensive
Difficult
to maintain
Programmer
dependent
Difficult to adjust
Rigid
Non-integrable
Process-oriented

Combines
both
world's
benefits
Disadvantages Disadvantages

Why is FlexAB leveraged by Software Developers?

For the development of applications it is necessary to have tools designed to address all
development needs with the lowest possible cost as far as human and technical resources concerns.
Every professional needs tools to develop his or her activities, and these tools are designed, from
their inception, to satisfy the needs of the end user. FlexAB is an environment that unifies
databases for the management of objects with the tools that make such objects functional, not
just storage items.
Reduced Development Times because there is a previous base work, a Standard Interface
ready to be used, and there is no need to start developing the database structure; it is object-
oriented.
Work Reuse: All applications have the same structure and are object-oriented. The classes
defined in a specific application may be copied and used in other applications, taking their
attribute definitions, methods, validations, etc. with them.
Fully Scalable Applications: Since the applications are object-oriented, in order to modify or
upgrade the application it is only necessary to define the new classes and configure their
interaction with the rest.
Standardized and Integrated Applications: The business rule is defined by the structure of
classes to be created and by the rules and validations applied to each object. This application
development method is not developer-dependent, as is the creation of codes. All applications
are "open," i.e., any trained person can directly understand an application created by another
person.
Document Standardization: The application generation, since it is standardized, generates the
system, the internal and the user documentation automatically.
Faster Staff Training: Staff training is faster and less expensive.
No programmer needed: It is not necessary to hire highly specialized personnel to manage
programming languages. All the applications can be generated by providing the current staff
with functional training.
Closer to test and error: There is no need to waste precious time changing codes. It is just a
redefinition of a class and the creation of the new necessary ones.
Purely Object-Oriented: All applications are purely object-oriented so that the move from real
life to class definition is much faster than breaking down real life into tables, passwords and
relations.
High System Building Speed: All these features speed up the creation of applications.
FlexAB Components
The approach for the creation of applications with FlexAB is totally different. The idea is that
everything should be object-oriented, not only programming and routines, i.e., to define which
objects are related to IT-enabled processes and how these objects will interact with their
environment (other objects). FlexAB enables the creation of objects and their easy management
without need to worry about how data are stored (in which tables and with which records). The
application developer only needs to focus his attention on the object function and on how objects
interact. Another important issue is that no programming is needed, i.e., there is no need to
generate any code to manage the objects. The question would be: If there is no code, how do I
generate the processes that extract information from data? The answer is: each object is able to
define how its data will interact, and how it will interact with the other objects. This functionality
translates into FQL functions, that is to say, SQL functions oriented to manage object information.
All the application logic is achieved through FQLs. Besides, it is possible to define operations that
take data from the FQL results and operate them as indicated in the configuration of the classes.
On the other hand, part of the configuration enables the management of messages and the
execution of external programs that can interact with FlexAB objects through the COM functions.
How Does FlexAB Work?
MOBILE
WEB
WAP
WIN
Standard
User Interface - SUI
COM Functions
FS SRV2
FS SRV1
File System
Server
OrDBC
Objects
Transactions:
New, Delete, Link,
Method, etc. USER
DB SRV2
DB SRV3
DB SRV1
Relational
Data Base
User
Applications
Other Applications
AutoCAD
Other Applications
Excel - Word - Project
WIN
Packing Editor
UNIVERSE
Standard
Configuration
Interface - SCI
OrdBC: Object-Relationship DB Core
COM: Communication Module
OED: Object Editor
XRPv: X Report Viewer
HLPV: Help Viewer
WSKc: WinSock Client
LNG: Language Translator
MSS: Message Sent (SMTP client)
OPA: Object Packing Administrator (Upload & Download)
VER: Object Version Administrator
AUD: Object Audit Viewer
FS SRV: File System Server
WSKs: WinSock Server
SCI: Standard Configuration Interface (for MS Windows)
HTM: HTML Editor
HTB: HTML Builder
FQL: FQL Builder (SQL + XQL)
XRPb: X Report Builder
XRV: X Report Viewer
HLPM: Help Maker
PRJ: Project Management
WSKc: WinSock Client
LNG: Language translator
AUA: Object Audit Administrator
UCI: Universe Configuration Interface (for MS Windows)
SUI: Standard User Interface (for MS Windows)
FlexAB.DLL (Communication module)
WUI: WEB User Interface (for Any WEB Browser)
FlexAB.DLL (Communication module)
AUI: WAP User Interface (for Palms)
FlexAB.DLL (Communication module)
MUI: Mobile User Interface (for Mobile Telephone)
FlexAB.DLL (Communication module)
POE: Packing Object Editor (for MS Windows)
eMail: eMail Client
SMTP: SMTP Client
POP3: POP3 Client
FLEXIBLE APPLICATION BUILDER
As shown in the graphic, FlexAB
communicates with the database
engines through its low level
function set that makes OrDBC
calls thus enabling the access to
the database engine in a standard
way. At the same time, FlexAB
communicates with the standard
environments or interfaces that
compose it through its set of
business functions, also known as
"public" functions, which are
responsible for the operation of
the system objects. The interaction
of ALL Flex AB objects and
interfaces is achieved through the
XML, providing the chance to
freely manipulate their
representation in order to display
them in a Standard Interface
provided by Appliware (FlexAB
SUI), or in a fully customized
interface built in any system with
VBA support.
FlexAB Features
DataBase
Engine
FlexAB COM
XML
OrDBC
Any Application
with VBA
Word, Excel, Project
FlexAB
SUI
EGPCad
Running Over
AutoCad
Encapsulated
Interface
Dialogs
cFileClient
CLASS WinSock
Implementation
HTML
Event
CLASS
FlexAB SCI: Standard
Configuration Interface
Class Definitions
Object Interactions
Methods & Validations
Report, FQL and HTML
Edition
F R
A
M
E W
O R K C L A S S L O W L E V E L F U N C T I O
N
P
U
B
LIC
FRA
M
EW
ORKCLASSBUSSINESLEVEL
FU
N
C
T
IO
N
FlexAB
FS
FlexAB
HLP
FlexAB
XRP
SMTP Mail
Integrated segurity
& Audit Tools
FlexAB
LNG
FlexAB
FQL
XML formatted
Objects
Public Framework CLASS
Bussines Level Functions
Framework CLASS
Low Level Functions
File System
Documents
FlexAB manages any kind of data
file as an additional attribute of an
object managed in a private server
that communicates with the client
through Winsock interfaces. This
allows for a fully organized,
customized and secure file
management, as in any conventional
file system, thus allowing for the
configuration of their free access. In
order to define the nature and
behavior of the FlexAB objects, the
configuration tool (FlexAB SIC) is
provided. This tool allows for the
definition of all the necessary
standards, the object structure and
the way in which they relate and/or
interact with each other.
Class
Attribute
Object
Explorer
Aside from this object management
based on an object-oriented
relational database plus the COM
functions to access the objects (what
we call OrDBC), the FlexAB suite
provides a Standard Interface so as
to create applications as fast as
possible. The configurator may use
this interface or not, depending on
how the interaction with the user
will be. We understand that 90% of
the applications can be resolved
with this interface, which reduces
development terms and costs.
The objects display the information to the user through
applications such as MSWord, MSExcel, MSProject,
MSOutlook, AutoCAD, besides offering the possibility
to generate online reports (displayed on screen). The
information to be extracted from the object database is
obtained through an FQL. Then, the related data are
formatted by means of templates and, finally, that
information is sent to the above applications so that
the user can manipulate it freely (distribute, print, send,
etc.) as if the information had been generated in such
applications.
Object visualization in market applications
All files are managed by the FlexAB File System, which
only enables to work with them locally, meaning that
there is no access, by default, to the server File System. To
that end, it has functionalities in the FlexAB DLL which,
using WinSock, stores them in the server and transfers
them to the local equipment (client location) so that it
may be manipulated by the user. All file transfer tasks
between client and server are managed by the FlexAB
File System automatically and following the rules confi-
gured for the FileLink's of the specific class.
File Management
D
CLASE
TEMPLATES
(Formatos / Diseos)
CLASES
(Objetos)
VISUALIZACION
(Aplicaciones)
ALMACENAMIENTO
(Inaccesible al usuario)
C
CLASE
B
CLASE
A
CLASE
METODO
SQL+XQL
METODO
SQL+XQL
METODO
SQL+XQL
File Copy of Server
New Edit View
FlexAB
Data Base
FlexAB
File System
Server
FlexAB CLIENT
(user workspace)
SERVER
(Only Admin)
FlexAB DLL
File Link
OBJECT
FlexAB
File System
Client
Object and Its
structural
relationship
Object
Attributes
Bar of tools
The following diagram depicts the application network structure with FlexAB. This structure is flexible and the diagram
shows the complete application.
Design Architecture
FlexAB
FS Server
FlexAB
DB Server
FlexAB
WEB/WAP/Mobile
Server
Domain Controler
YOUR LARGE APPLICATIONS SMALL APPLICATIONS SAN
Web Browser
Client+Com+STD Interface
Client+Com+STD Interface Client+Com+STD Interface
FlexAB FS Server
FlexAB DB Server
Optional=WWM Server
TCP/IP
TCP/IP
TCP/IP
VPN
HTTP/SSL
PALM MOBILE
TCP/IP
TCP/IP
1
2
9
S
E
C
U
R
I
T
Y
A
D
M
I
N
I
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

O
F

T
H
E

O
P
E
R
A
T
I
O
N
INTERFACES OF SERVICES OF USERS
USERS
C
O
M
M
U
N
I
C
A
T
I
O
N
FlexAB Standard
Configuration
Interface
FlexAB
Standard
User Interface
FlexAB
Object
Packing Editor
FlexAB Universe
Configuration
Interface
User
Applications
FlexAB
Web/Wap/Mobile
User Interface
FILELINK
Operation
Components
XML
Operation
Components
Translation
Components
Object
Method
Components
Logical Component
for Data Access
Logical Components
for File Access
with Winsock Client
3
7 8
4 5 6
Data Source File System
with Winsock SRV
The following picture
shows the FlexAB
Application three
layer model which is
the base for any
application created
with FlexAB.
FlexAB
Three layer
Model
Since all the Applications developed
with FlexAB are executed over the
same base or platform and with the
same data structure, ALL the objects to
be created can be used with any
Application. FlexAB has full scalability
and integration capacity. You can
create independent applications and
then make them interact easily
without interface programs. Moreover,
all the applications developed with
FlexAB become part of a family of
applications that may be used so as to
improve your own developments and
to achieve complete solutions with less
development effort.
Thus, a company using FlexAB may
send an invoice (Object) by mail to
another company using another
FlexAB tool, and the latter may use
the Object without having to reenter
all the data: FULL INTEGRATION.
Do FlexAB Applications Allow For Integration?
EGP II
Application
PIM
Application
EGP
Application
UNIVERSE 1 UNIVERSE 2
RCM
Application
ORIGINAL
OBJECT
LINKED
OBJECT
DUPLICATED
OBJECT
FLEXIBLE APPLICATION BUILDER
FlexAB has the capacity to show its Objects in a graphic environment, such as a CAD application
(AutoCAD InteliCAD, etc). Therefore, once the Objects and their Attributes have been defined,
they can be inserted into the diagrams as blocks, keeping a synchronism and integrity with the
database objects. This type of functionality is highly useful for the development of Engineering,
Architecture, GIS, etc. applications requiring that their objects may be viewed both in administrati-
ve and graphic environments.
GRAPHICS
As it may be seen in the FlexAB working
scheme diagram above, FlexAB allows
for the management of all the software
application needs of any company distri-
buted in different Universes (different
database and file servers). On the other
hand, several Systems (Invoice and
Other) can be defined in each Universe,
within the Model or Definitions
Environment, with the definition of
Classes and Areas they may contain. The
diagram shows that three working Areas
have been defined in the Model
Environment: Bill, for billing data mana-
gement (Objects), Cities, for city data,
and Other, for any additional informa-
tion. In each of these Areas, the Classes
that may be entered and operated by
the Users have been defined. Each Class
defines the information to be managed.
For example, Class H, defining customer
data, will have a specific type of
Attributes such as Name, Customer
Number, Description, etc.
Please note that Classes are generally
defined and are shared between the dif-
ferent Systems.
On the other hand, within the same
Universe, there is the Real Working
Environment that comprises the System
instances in Applications and Class ins-
tances in Objects. This working environ-
ment enables a system User to load the
data of one of the Classes defined in the
Model Environment. For example, when
Objects belonging to Class H defined
above are created in the system, all data
must be completed for the specific custo-
mer, for example, Carl, Ben, Kim, etc. In
this environment, the Users have restric-
ted data access according to their autho-
rizations by User Group, as shown in the
two groups: North and South.
The graphic also shows that only the
Manager type Users have access to these
two working areas: Model and Real, and
the Users belonging to the North and
South Groups can only access the
Instance or Object environment. For the
final users, all this information and tech-
nical issues are transparent, since they
only see forms enabling them to enter
and manage data (grouped into types of
objects such as Customers, Cities, Bills,
etc.)
How FlexAB Works: Technical Summary
OBJECT
VERSION 1
OrDBC
OBJECT
OBJECT
VERSION 0
FlexAB SUI
Edit: XML + HTML
FS
SERVER
COM
H
T
M
L
X
M
L
C
A
D
CAD XML
SPA POR ITA FRE GER ENG
H
T
M
L
X
M
L
C
A
D
Attributes (data +files)
Relations (ST +Func +Inc)
HTML
Methods (for Events)
Reports
Helps
Icons
Automatic ID's
SPA POR ITA FRE GER ENG
Creating a DOOR
Class Object
PROPERTIES
If you still have doubts about
FlexAB power, let us show you
how FlexAB works in a real case, a
case that you may have planned
but not developed yet. Appliware
will create it for you in FlexAB for
free, without compromise, and in
half the time you expect. Please,
contact our sales department to
schedule a meeting. You will not
waste your time; you will get a
real demo and compare the
results directly.
FlexAB is a Powerful
Tool. Would you like
to get a demo?
AW
AppliWare
SOLUTION
PROVIDER
How to Become an Appliware's Partner
Appliware is not an application developer. We believe that applications should
be developed by those who have the specific knowledge on a solution and
contribute that value-added to the tool they choose for the development. For
that reason, Appliware encourages the creation of alliances with development
companies or business consultants willing to use FlexAB as the tool for their
solutions.
Advantages of being a FlexAB Solution Integrator (SI)
The advantages of being one of the official FlexAB integrators are:
Access to discussion forums
Regular product updates
Promotion of the Solutions developed in Appliware's Website.
Access to joint promotion in showrooms and events.
Please, send us an email at
sales@appliware.biz