After a Beta Test process of several months and more than 400 Beta subscribed testers we are in the release stage of GeneXus version 7.0.
This version 7.0 is a landmark in GeneXus history as well as the versions that Windows generators included were a strong change. In this one we have included many features regarding the development of applications for the Internet.
Besides, we have completed Java generator by including the transactions in this environment, so it has become another GeneXus generator with all the power that the Java environment provides.
We now detail, the main features included in this version:
Web panels Editor
We have licensed a Microsoft control for editing webpanels. With this, the development of objects for the Internet has achieved a great power and it is easy to use. It is an excellent combination of the editing power in HTML with the power for managing the knowledge that GeneXus has. Besides, it enables the integration with graphic components easily (page design performed with tools with that specific aim, flash movies, etc.), a very important factor when you are developing for the Internet. Some of the first examples of developments that are now into production with this version are www.tenfieldigital.com and www.paullieronline.com.
New functionalities for web panels
Apart from the new editor we have developed a set of new features focused on the development of applications for the Internet. Many of them are based on the users' experiences with previous GeneXus versions and on the experiences that come up during this version's beta test process. As an example I will mention:
- Specific features of the Internet environment – cookies management, identification of the browser that is being used, etc
- Support for multiple subfiles in the webobjects.
- 'free-style subfiles' support. 'Repetitive' information that is not shown in a 'tabulated' way but in the way that the user determines.
- Nested subfiles. Being able to have a subfile subordinated to another one.
SSPs (smart static panels) generation
Since this version, it is possible to manage a dynamic site that the users see as a static one easily, getting the power and constant updating of the former one and the excellent performance of the HTML pages. Some examples of this technology's application are ARTech's site (www.genexus.com), the new edition of the catalogue of knowledge bases (http://www.genexus.com/Catalogo2000) and the version 7.0 CD's 'browser'.
WebProcs
Having a procedure that returns an HTML code is usually useful on the Internet. In this version, we include a property (call protocol) with which you can return the type of value to be returned by the procedure called.
These procedures possibilities are very high. Some of the use cases can be: banners servers, information servers (xml), etc.
Generation of webpanels as webclasses in VB
The webpanels could be generated is C or in VB as EXEs in order to execute in CGI or they could be generated as in Java as Servlets. Since this version, it is also possible to generate them as webclasses in VB (ASP).
To be continued ...