Omnis Studio 3.0.1 README.TXT Date:January 2001 Contents: 1. Welcome to Omnis Studio! 2. What's on this CD? 3. What's New for Omnis Studio 3.0? 4. Changes in the 3.0.1 Release 1. Welcome to Omnis Studio! =========================== Welcome to Omnis(R) Studio(tm), one of the most powerful and flexible rapid application development (RAD) tools available today. Omnis Studio allows the independent or team-based developer to create business and mission-critical applications for enterprises or companies of any size. Omnis Studio lets you develop and deploy applications under Windows, Linux, and MacOS for such diverse markets as e-business, multi-media publishing, advertising, human resources, healthcare, education, government, and more. Using Omnis Studio, you can create web-based, multi-tier applications that access all leading server databases, including Oracle, Sybase, DB2, and Informix, as well as all ODBC-compliant databases, such as MS SQL Server and MySQL. Using Omnis Studio you can create any type of application and deploy it to the internet or your intranet using our unique, patent-pending Omnis Web Client(tm) technology. The Omnis Web Client lets you embed your application into a standard web page, and allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to access your data and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What makes this even more incredible, is that the forms you build are created entirely using Omnis Studio's own 4GL, web components and wizards, no java and no complex html is required: it really is that simple! 1.1. If you are new to Omnis Studio... -------------------------------------- If you are new to Omnis Studio you should read the booklet that came with your Omnis Studio CD; the same booklet is available as NewUsers.pdf on this CD. The booklet describes the Welcome application, the Omnis Application Builder, and contains a short tutorial to help you get started in Omnis. To start using Omnis, you should install the Development version of Omnis Studio using the New Users installation option. When Omnis starts up for the first time you need to provide a serial number. Alternatively, if you are evaluating Omnis you can leave the Name, Company name, and Serial number fields blank and click OK. If you are unsure of any aspects of the serialization process, please see the INSTALL.TXT file at the top level of this CD. When you open Omnis Studio the Welcome application will appear. This contains a short tutorial, many example Omnis applications, and technical tips to help you learn about Omnis. The Welcome application also contains the Application Builder that lets you build complete Omnis applications from start to finish in a wizard-like environment. For the latest information and news about Omnis, please go to our web site: www.omnis.net. 2. What's on this CD? ===================== 2.1. The CD contains the following folders: ------------------------------------------- Win95-98:- This folder contains the Setup program for the Windows 95 and Windows 98 versions of Omnis Studio. If you are new to Omnis you should click on the NEW USERS option in Setup to install the Development version of Omnis Studio. The EXPERIENCED USER option lets you install either the Development or Runtime version of Omnis Studio. WinNT-2000:- This folder contains the Setup program for the Windows NT and Windows 2000 versions of Omnis Studio. If you are new to Omnis you should click on the NEW USERS option in Setup to install the Development version of Omnis Studio. The EXPERIENCED USER option lets you install either the Development, Runtime, or Server version of Omnis Studio. Linux:- This folder contains the Setup program that installs the Linux version of Omnis Studio onto your computer. If you are new to Omnis you should select the NEW USERS option in Setup to install the Development version of Omnis Studio. The EXPERIENCED USER option lets you install either the Development, Runtime, or Server version of Omnis Studio. PMac:- This folder contains the Installer called NewUserInstall that lets you install the PowerMacintosh version of Omnis Studio onto your computer. If you are new to Omnis you should choose the default settings in the installer program to install the Development version of Omnis Studio. The PMac folder also contains an installer for the Omnis Web Client which you must install before developing web applications in Omnis Studio. Experienced users can install the Development or Runtime version of Studio using the installers contained in the INSTALL folder without using the New User Installer. Plug-ins:- The Plug-ins folder contains any additional products that accompany Omnis Studio. You need an additional serial plug-in serial number to enable each plug-in. Please contact your local sales representative for further details. Manuals:- This folder contains the Omnis Studio online documentation in Adobe Acrobat format. The docs set includes a Using Omnis Studio manual, Developing Web Applications in Omnis, an Omnis Reference, and a Getting Started manual written specially for new users. In addition, there's a Whatsnew.pdf manual that describes the new features and enhancements in Omnis Studio 3.0. The MANUALS folder also has a folder called ACROREAD (called Acrobat Reader on the Mac) containing the installers for the Acrobat Reader for all currently supported platforms. Note the Manuals folder contains an Acrobat index file called index.pdx which you can load in your Acrobat Reader and use to search the entire Studio docs set. 2.2. What is the Development, Runtime, or Server version of Omnis? ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Omnis Studio CD contains the Development and Runtime versions for all supported platforms, and the Server version for WinNT/2000 and Linux. To develop applications in Omnis you must install the Development version of Studio. The NEW USERS option in the Setup programs installs the Development version of Omnis Studio for you automatically. To deploy your application to the desktop you need to install the Runtime version of Studio, or for deploying to the web, you need to install and set up the Server version of Omnis Studio. When you are ready to deploy your application, either to the desktop or web, you must purchase the appropriate serial number from your local sales office or via the Omnis Store at www.omnis.net. 2.3. What do the INSTALL folders contain? ----------------------------------------- Inside each of the Windows, Linux, and PMac folders on the CD there is an INSTALL folder containing the Development, Runtime, and Server versions of Omnis Studio for that platform. Experienced users can install the Development, Runtime, or Server version of Studio using the installers contained in this folder without using the top level Setup program (note the Server version is not available on Pmac or Win95/98). In addition, the Omnis Web Client installers are provided in the platform-specific folders. The remainder of this README describes the new features in Omnis Studio 3.0. 3. What's New for Omnis Studio 3.0? =================================== Omnis Studio 3.0 has all the existing features of Omnis Studio 2 and more, including many enhancements to the Omnis Web Client, the Omnis Web Client Server, the client/server data access modules, support for Windows 2000, and so on. This document describes the new features in Omnis Studio 3. More information about all the new features is available in the Whatsnew.pdf. 3.1 Omnis Web Client ------------------------ The Omnis web client and Omnis server have many new and improved features that make it an essential tool for developing thin client and multi-tier web-based applications. Many improvements have been made, including: -the Omnis Server is multi-threaded allowing web client requests to be processed and shared simultaneously. -new multi-threaded Data Access Modules handle multiple database requests on the Omnis server. -client scripting allows you to you execute methods on the client, rather than the server, optimizing and enhancing the client interface. -many new web components have been added, including tree list, slider, progress bar, roll button, icon array, marquee, animated gif, and more; Studio now has over 30 web components for remote forms. -plus you can open and switch between multiple forms within a single web client connection. 3.1.1 Multi-threading The new multi-threaded server (MTS) maintains multiple method stacks that can process web client requests simultaneously. This allows smoother allocation of available processor time, improving the user experience on the client. The pooling mechanism allows a balance to be struck between performance and server resources: the number of method stacks in the pool is configurable as the $root.$prefs.$serverstacks property, and in the Server Configuration in the Omnis Server. Database sessions:- There are new multi-threaded DAMs available. These new DAMs are non-visual components that are instantiated in object variables to become the equivalent of sessions. Tables and schemas:- The table class has been revised to support the new DAMs. Tables that use earlier DAMs will function in Studio 3.0 but not in a client method running on the MTS. Current DAMs:- The earlier DAMs and commands (including such concepts as the current session) are supported in v3.0 for backward compatibility. However, the old DAMs are not safe in a multi-threaded environment so the SQL commands cannot be used in a client method running on the MTS. Omnis SQL:- Note that there is no multi-threaded DAM for Omnis SQL. This means that Omnis SQL cannot be used with MTS. 3.1.2 Load sharing This allows a pool of multi-threaded server processes (running on one or more machines) to serve clients. 3.1.3 Client method execution You can specify that a remote form method is to run on the client rather than the server. Right-click on the remote form's method name and select the Execute On Web Client pop-up menu option. Client method execution optimizes your application and client interface, avoids the overhead of sending events between the client and server, and reduces the workload on the server. Many types of method can be executed on the client including simple calculations, changes to the client interface, and simple looping. 3.1.4 Multiple forms You can now open more than one form within a single Web Client connection. At any one time, only one of these multiple instances is visible, and the forms must be from the same library. 3.1.5 Other web client enhancements -Automated installers download and install the web client on the user's machine; for Windows only -Remote form properties providing Enter and Cancel key functionality -An ActiveX/Plug-in property that speeds up secure connections by identifying the secure URL of the OmnisAPI/CGI -An enhanced $showurl() method allowing you to display a browser window using javascript-like parameters -A mechanism to update the web client engine automatically; also the web client downloads all new and out-of-date web components -Ability to print reports to screen and printer on Windows and PowerMac clients, plus ability to print to screen on Linux. -A component providing access to serial and parallel client ports on the client 3.2 IDE improvements ------------------------ 3.2.1 Method editor The method editor now lets you hide or show the class/object method droplists/popup menus, and a versatile tree-style method list is added. Should the method list be hidden, the current method of selection via the toolbar droplists/popup menus will be available. 3.2.2 Other IDE modifications -The automatic notation helper provides descriptive tooltips and multiple choices for the current notation string -A find-and-replace class notation method, to support automated translation tools -The Component Store defaults to an industry-standard label-free palette at the base of the Omnis design window -The Icon Editor supports true color 3.3. Miscellaneous new features ---------------------------------- -Windows 2000 support -A timeout field lets users specify how many seconds Omnis should wait when writing to or reading from a port -Mac USB support for serial devices -A modified Port Parameters Structure (PRIportparms) and Port Destination Structure (PRIdestParmStruct) for all platforms -Clipboard support for external objects -Report display enhancements 4. Changes in the 3.0.1 Release =============================== ST/*A/010 - Memory leak when completing a Prepare against the new DAMS ST/EC/541 - Custom cursor in spreadsheet grid control doesn't work correctly on Mac ST/EC/612 - Problem when sending an item reference to an External Component ST/IN/114 - O$ crashes because of lost third parties registry entries ST/NT/364 - Unable to Notationally add all events to objects on remote forms. ST/NT/367 - $search does not appear to be optimised. ST/NT/369 - Unable to notationally define a list using row variables (that have been defined from a SQL Class) as column names. ST/RC/690 - Change in functionality of calculations dependant upon the property 'NoLineIfEmpty' ST/RC/691 - Calculations on Report calculated fields can be completed twice. ST/WT/371 - When using Linux as a webclient server, the machine locks-up when a client connects and Omnis Studio is not running. ST/WT/390 - sys(203) not returned as true when running as a service on Windows2000 ST/WT/391 - A remote form label object with a user defined style which has the font colour fixed, can be re-assigned in code. ST/WT/392 - A remote form generated with code will not local test correctly until it has been opened in design mode. ST/WT/395 - Unable to assign Notationally the Tabbar text on a Remote form ST/WT/397 - It is not possible to consistently assign events to a Remote Form Object notationally ST/WT/400 - A remote form has a label object if a user-defined Style is applied notationally it is not completed successfully. ST/WT/418 - Web combobox: when a list selection is made using the keyboard, the selection is not displayed. ST/WT/424 - Web dropdownlist: When the list is dropped down with a mouse click a selection cannot be made with the arrow keys. [END of FILE]