| | | PXTools: intelligence and automatism |
| | (09/09/2008-14:27) |
| PuntoExe Consultores is a company working in the framework of the Platform Partners program. On this occasion, it introduces PXTools, a set of tools based on GXPatterns, compatible with GeneXus X and oriented toward both the development of the Web platform and the migration from the Win platform. |
Mario Bustamante, Business Manager of PuntoExe Consultores, talked with GeneXus News about the characteristics of PXTools, tools for web systems development, which are based on GXPatterns and are now also compatible with GeneXus X. He also gives us an idea of what his conference in the next GeneXus users meeting will be about.
What are the PXTools?
The PXTools is a suite of tools devised as an advanced development based on GeneXus Patterns technology, for the purpose of achieving the automatic generation of the Web interface of a GeneXus system, whether to be applied in a Win to Web migration process or directly to the development of a full Web system, however complex its design might be.
GeneXus X and PXTools
The GeneXus X version integrates the work with Patterns into the IDE itself, greatly facilitating the declarative programming work; but it also represents a drastic change in the infrastructure of its internal processes, leading to a significant re-engineering of our GeneXus code generator based on Patterns to create the "PXTools for X."
Is PXTools for X already released?
Originally developed to work with GeneXus 9.0, the 1.0 version was released at the end of 2006, and today we are releasing version 2.5, enriched by the functionalities requested by various customers in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, USA and recently in Panama, who adopted them as an instrument to simplify and accelerate their GeneXus developments. This version incorporates new functionalities into PXPatterns, specially the “Transactions Audit” (see chart).
At the request of some customers - who are changing to GeneXus X - and with Artech’s support, we are developing a new GeneXus objects generator by means of Patterns, supporting all declarative programming functionalities implemented in the 2.5 version of "PXTools for 9," but now fully functional in GeneXus X. We expect to formally release this new generator during the XVIII GeneXus International Meeting, as the 1.0 version of "PXTools for X," a new product for a new version.
Suite of Pattern-based tools
PXTools is a suite of Pattern-based tools for declaratively programming the behavior of a set of GeneXus objects related to each other under a predetermined model. In particular, the tools comprehensively resolve the Web interface of a GeneXus system – no matter how complex its design may be – and can be used both for migration from Win to Web and for new Web developments. In turn, they present a varied application area and can cover other sub-systems, such as "Transactions Audit" functionalities or the automatic generation of "Online Help."
How can I get PXTools?
PXTools is sold as a product or provided to the customer as a tool during the development of those projects we participate in under outsourcing mode. Without prejudice to the above, you may download a trial version from our web page, having previously registered.
Why should I use them?
There are several reasons for using these tools:
1. It is a new level of abstraction for the programmer.
2. Additionally, they enhance the productivity of a Web programmer by 300 percent.
3. No Web-expert GeneXus programmers are required.
4. They contribute to standardizing the graphic design and the generated code.
5. They are very efficient upon design or functional changes.
The reason for the benefits is that Patterns only needs the programmer declaratively for it to describe the mode and the way in which the information will be displayed on the screens. Then Patterns then works it out by generating – and maintaining – the GeneXus objects that, taking into account the specifics of the web platform, implement the functionalities (grid scrolls, filters, tabs, action buttons) selected for each type of screens in the application (work-with, transactions, queries, entry of parameters to call a report, etc.). This approach is perfectly in line with the constituent paradigm of GeneXus itself, according to which the programmer must essentially know the application “business” to create its knowledge base, as GeneXus will solve the rest of the issues related to data integrity, storage and language.
What benefits does the X version bring to Patterns?
• First, Patterns is fully integrated to the GeneXus development environment, so it is not necessary to close GeneXus to run or create objects, and it is a lot simpler and clearer for the user.
• Further, the X version offers many advantages in terms of the dynamism of “instances” – structures where the programmer makes his/her "declarations," for example, as to the aspect and functionalities of the screens to be generated – facilitating the selection of the different elements involved (attributes, etc.), providing an intelligent editor for when it comes to incorporating GeneXus code, etc.
• On the other hand, the GeneXus objects generated are simpler, as some of the new functionalities implemented per program in Patterns are now native to GeneXus X, which in these cases also enhances their execution time performance.
What are the benefits of updating these Patterns to the X?
For those who already use them in previous GeneXus versions, the "PXTools for X" include the resources required for "Importing" all instances programmed in 9.0 with the guarantee that all benefits will be maintained. This is an essential requisite for current customers to move to GeneXus X. For those who start developing in GeneXus X, it is possible to take advantage of all knowledge acquired in years of Web development, including manuals, support material, etc.
Lastly, the PXTools will be introduced at the XVIII GeneXus International Meeting…
And so, we are planning to give a couple of talks at the meeting: a technical talk, where we will show how efficient the new programming process may become in using Patterns in the X, and we will talk about the passage from a state of “intelligent programming” to another of "automatic and intelligent programming." It will also give us the chance to see what we are doing for the GeneXus community from our new role as Platform Partner. In the practical sense, we will be illustrating our conclusions by performing – from scratch and in front of the audience – an actual development of a GeneXus Web system throughout the presentation. On the other hand, we will give a business talk, where we expect to distribute among the attendants all the support material relevant to these tools, including trial versions and test models so that everybody can experience first-hand an actual development practice.
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Transactions Audit
The transactions audit functionality includes a new property implemented for the Pattern PXWorkWith in the 2.5 version, both at the level of the configuration file (to cover all application transactions) and at the node level of each transaction, to enable (or disable) the audit function. This property allows the programmer to declare that the application of APIs (Application Programming Interface supplied by the PXTools) required for performing this audit function in all or in some of the indicated transactions. Once the application is put into production, this subsystem automatically generates an audit log that registers all changes occurred in the relevant transactions, on account of Insert, Update or Delete, including the particulars of the logged-in user, the date and time of such changes, the previous and/or subsequent value of each attribute displayed on the screen, etc. It further provides the mechanisms to carry out this follow-up at the level of subordinated transactions. The sub-system also includes the instances that provide a set of queries which may be used directly by the programmer so that, in production, an administrator can visualize the information registered in the audit log. |
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