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DataFlex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DataFlex
Developer(s)Data Access Worldwide
Stable release
24.0.[1] / March 13, 2024;5 months ago(2024-03-13)[1]
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows[2][3]
TypeObject-oriented,Integrated development environment,programming language,application framework,structured,imperative
LicenseCommercialproprietary software[4]
Websitewww.dataaccess/DataFlex

DataFlexis anobject-orientedhigh-level programming languageand afourth generation visual toolfor developing Windows, web and mobile software applications on one framework-based platform. It was introduced and developed byData Access Corporationbeginning in 1982.[5][2][6][7]

History and overview

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DataFlex can be traced back to 1982 when the company calledData Access Corporation[8](founded in 1976) created and developed a language allowing application code to run on almost any system architecture, regardless of hardware.[2][9]It started as a relatively early example of a fully fledged and commercially usedfourth-generation programming language(4GL). In its early forms, DataFlex was available forCP/M,MS-DOS,TurboDOS,Novell NetWare,[10]OS/2,Unix,VMSandIBM AIXoperating systems.[11]By 1985, DataFlex was applied in a variety of high-tech industries including automated inventory control systems and insurance fraud detection systems.[5]

DataFlex has lasted many years as a niche application development environment. The DataFlex product supports manyrelational databaseenvironments:Oracle database,Microsoft SQL Server,IBM Db2,MySQL,PostgreSQLand anyODBCdatabase. DataFlex applications are used by around 3 million users. In 1991, the 3.0 version with a modernized interface was released.[12]In 2014, Data Access released 2014/18.0 version.[13]The release of DataFlex 2023/23.0 introduced FlexTron technology that allows the usage of web controls within Windows desktop applications.

DataFlex is developed and provided byData Access Worldwide,a software company with main offices inMiami,Florida,Hengelo,Netherlands,andSão Paulo,Brazil.[1][14]

Features

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The DataFlex language supports:

  • Supports many database environments:Oracle database,Microsoft SQL Server,IBM Db2,MySQL,PostgreSQLas well as anyODBCdatabase.
  • Easily switch between database backends, no code change needed.
  • Variables are loosely typed. The virtual machine takes care of conversions.
  • Flexibility; the language is object oriented, so developers can create subclasses and libraries.
  • Code compiles to an intermediatebyte-codewhich makes the programs easily portable between operating systems.
  • Nothreadsormultitasking
  • Methods can - for ease of coding - be defined or redefined inside the object definition. Technically the compiler simply sub-classes the superclass and adds the methods to the class.
  • Automatic delegation of messages in theobject-oriented programmingenvironment
  • Embedded Database access isISAM-based. It can be used royalty-free.

Language Extension

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  • Functions defined in Dynamic Link Libraries can be used.
  • Classes, methods and properties defined in a COM module can be used. COM automation, controls and embedding is supported.

Development environments

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The DataFlex programming language is used in the following development environments:

DataFlexStudio
This is the flagship visual development environment from Data Access Worldwide. DataFlex is available forMicrosoft Windowsonly. DataFlex is aGUIdevelopment language in a style comparable withVisual Basic,DelphiandC++.From version 4 (1996) up until version 17.1 (2015), the product was labeled Visual DataFlex.
DataFlex WebApp Server
Available forMicrosoft IISonly, the DataFlex WebApp Server can be used to develop thin client applications such as browser-based applications (both full class browsers such asGoogle Chrome,Internet Explorer,Mozilla FirefoxandOpera,as well asWAPbrowsers). Developers can also createWeb Serviceclient and server applications. The server has built-in load balancing capabilities which also assist with High Availability, this does, however, require an SPLF license.
Web Framework
DataFlex includes a web framework for writing web and mobile applications.
Character mode DataFlex
The latest iteration of the original character mode application (3.2) is available as aConsole Modeapplication forMS-DOS,Microsoft WindowsandUnixvariants (notablyLinux).

References

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  1. ^abc"DataFlex 2024/24.0 Release".RetrievedMarch 13,2024.
  2. ^abc"Definition of: DataFlex".PC Magazine.RetrievedFebruary 6,2020.
  3. ^"Installing DataFlex".Johan Broddfeld comments on code.Retrieved6 February2020.
  4. ^“DataFlex License Info”
  5. ^ab“DataFlex: An Introduction by Curtis Krauskopf”
  6. ^"DataFlex for Creators".InfoWorld.4(26). 1982.
  7. ^“InfoWorld (June 1, 1987)”
  8. ^"DataFlex: Programming Gymnastics".PC.3(17). 1984.
  9. ^"InfoNews/Software, CP/M, DataFlex".InfoWorld.Vol. 4, no. 9. IDG. March 8, 1982. p. 46.ISSN0199-6649.
  10. ^Aarons, Richard N. (September 4, 1984)."DataFlex: Programming Gymnastics".PC Magazine.Vol. 3, no. 17. Ziff Davis. pp. 253–255.ISSN0888-8507.RetrievedMarch 8,2017.
  11. ^Duncan, Judy; Petreley, Nicholas; Chiu, Peter; Mathews, Carla (November 18, 1991). "Product comparison, Database building blocks".InfoWorld.Vol. 13, no. 46. IDG. p. 92.ISSN0199-6649.
  12. ^InfoWorld,August 12, 1991
  13. ^Benzinga:"DataFlex 2014/18.0 Released by Data Access Worldwide"
  14. ^dataaccess:“DataFlex - Overview” ]
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