Post on 05-Jan-2016
INNOV-14: A Look Inside the OpenEdge® UI Research Lab
Bruce Gruenbaumbgruenba@progress.com
Principal Software Engineer
Shelley Chaseschase@progress.com
Architect
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation2INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Purpose of this Talk
UI is a critical component of a successful business application
• Provides sizzle for functionality• Differentiator during a sale
Recent focus has been SOA components
Expanding our focus on UI• Share our research efforts with you• Get your feedback (today, e-mail, PSDN)• You can influence future UI direction!
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation3INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
D I S C L A I M E R
Under Development
This talk includes information about potential future products and/or product enhancements.
What we are going to say reflects our current thinking, but the information contained herein is preliminary and subject to change. Any future products we ultimately deliver may be materially different from what is described here.
D I S C L A I M E R
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation4INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Agenda
What’s available today in OpenEdge
Future UI Industry Trends
A look inside the OpenEdge Research Lab
Next steps - discussion
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation5INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge GUI Options Today
OpenEdge GUI Comparison
Products Benefits Limitations Future
OpenEdge GUI
WebClient™
Built-in widgets plus ActiveX
controls
Supported by OpenEdge
frameworks
Rich client requires ActiveX
for modern UI
Built-in controls tied to Win32 API
ActiveX has limited
lifecycle
Vista doesn’t use Win32
API
WebSpeed®Zero footprint –
no install
Runs anywhere
Browser security limitations
Moving towards rich
client (AJAX)
Open Client
Supports de-facto standard
Leverages host environment
Requires expertise
in .NET™ / Java™
Requires expertise
in .NET / Java
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation6INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge UI Product Landscape
Support for thin to rich clients
Rich UI
ThinUI
WebSpeed OpenEdge GUIOpen Client
WebClient
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation7INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Modern UI “Today” – Outlook Look and Feel
Microsoft Office 2003 – de-facto standard
Listbar control
Toolbar control
Main panel
Dockable Panels
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation8INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge UI - In Summary
OpenEdge developers can build state-of-the-art UI today using….
• Third party controls (ActiveX) – Built-in GUI widgets are limited– Frameworks (ADM2, Progress Dynamics®) are
based on built-in widgets
• Open Client (Java, .NET)– Need to use Java / .NET development
environment for client
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation9INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge UI - In Summary
OpenEdge developers can build state-of-the-art UI today using….
• Third party controls (ActiveX) – Built-in GUI widgets are limited– Frameworks (ADM2, Dynamics) are based on
built-in widgets
• Open Client (Java, .NET)– Need to use Java / .NET development
environment for client
MOVE–5: Improving the Look and Feel of Your Application
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation10INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Agenda
What’s available today in OpenEdge
Future UI Industry Trends
A look inside the OpenEdge Research Lab
Next steps - discussion
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation11INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Industry UI Landscape
Exciting UI work within the industry
• Support for full range from thin to rich
Rich UI
ThinUI
WebSpeed AJAXWebClientFlex/Flash
OpenEdge GUIOpen Client
MS .NET / VistaJava / SWT
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation12INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Industry UI Landscape
Exciting UI work within the industry
• Support for full range from thin to rich
Rich UI
ThinUI
WebSpeed AJAXWebClientFlex/Flash
OpenEdge GUIOpen Client
MS .NET / VistaJava / SWT
INNOV–16: Rich User Interface for the Web? AJAX to the Rescue
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation13INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
VISTA (formerly “Longhorn”)• New operating system with extended graphics
capabilities
• Supports WinFX programming model– Replacement for Win32 APIs– Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
formerly “Avalon”– Windows Communication Foundation (WCF)
formerly “Indigo”
• Promotes Vista User Experience Guidelines (UX)
Future Microsoft Technologies
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation14INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
WPF and XAML• WPF: Framework classes and engine
– Will ship for XP as well as Vista
• XAML: Declarative language for UI layout– Separates UI design from UI logic code– UI roles: designer and developer
Future Microsoft UI Technologies
Aero• Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, Open• New user experience
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation15INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Windows Vista – Sample Explorer Window
INNOV–8: Demystifying Windows Vista
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation16INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Office 2007 – Enhance Productivity• Controls used to simplify common use cases
– Ribbons, Quick Launch Toolbar– Not based on WPF, uses some Aero concepts
Shorter Term - Microsoft Office 2007
Microsoft Office continues as the de-facto standard
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation17INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Future UI Trends - In Summary
The industry is investing heavily in rich client user interfaces
• Microsoft is the leader– Short term: Office 2007 look and feel– Long term: Vista, WPF, XAML, Aero
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation18INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Agenda
What’s available today in OpenEdge
Future UI Industry Trends
A look inside the OpenEdge Research Lab
Next steps - discussion
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation19INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Back in Bedford…
After looking at the industry…
Focus on Microsoft’s UI direction
• Look and feel of Office 2007 is our first target
• Vista / WPF is longer term strategy
– Analysts say: Vista’s UI impact is not an immediate driver for business applications
Combine MS and OpenEdge technologies• Full .NET UI support (Future: Vista support)
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation20INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Build UI applications fully in ABL and OpenEdge tools
• Extend ABL to support modern UI natively–Development done using ABL exclusively
• UI Design done using OpenEdge Architect–Integrate with T4BL, Catalog, DB NAV, etc.
• Leverage work in industry, use standards
Goals of a New UI
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation21INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge
New UI Runtime Architecture
OpenEdge and .NET CLR communicate through a bridge
ABL Programw = NEW Form( ).WAIT-FOR CLOSE OF w.
EventHdlr1( ) …EventHdlr2( ) …
Window
OpenEdge Runtime
Microsoft
CLR
OpenEdge UI (Controller)
.NET UI (View)Bridge
1
2
6
3
4
57
Bridge
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation22INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Closer Look at Possible ABL – Create Form
DEFINE VAR w AS System.Windows.Forms.Form.DEFINE VAR b AS System.Windows.Forms.Button.DEFINE VAR e AS System.Windows.Forms.Edit.
w = NEW System.Windows.Forms.Form( ).b = NEW System.Windows.Forms.Button( ).e = NEW System.Windows.Forms.Edit( )....
/* Add controls to form */w:Controls:Add(b).w:Controls:Add(e).
Leverage Object-oriented extensions in OpenEdge 10.1A
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation23INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Closer Look at Possible ABL - Events
/*Subscribe handler to event */SUBSCRIBE THIS-OBJECT:BtnClick
TO CLASS-EVENT b:Click. .../* WAIT for form to be closed */WAIT-FOR w:Show().
/* Handler to run when event published */METHOD PUBLIC VOID BtnClick(Object o, Object arg):
b:Text = “I’ve been clicked”.END.
Leverage Object-oriented extensions in OpenEdge 10.1A
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation24INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge Architect – Prototype support
Eclipse (foundation platform)
Tools for Business
Logic
Meta CatalogDB
NavigatorDebuggerABL Editor
Future:
New Plug-ins
OpenEdge Runtime
Data Administration
OpenEdge StudioAppBuilder
Pro*Tools, ProxyGen
WebSpeed Workshop
OpenEdge Database
OpenEdge Development ServerApplication Server
WebSpeed Transaction Server
Client Networking
OpenEdge Runtime / Microsoft CLROpenEdge Runtime / Microsoft CLR
New Visual
Designer
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation25INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
New UI Demos
Demo 1• OpenEdge ABL
– Modern UI Look and Feel
Demo 2• Build using OpenEdge
Architect– Reduce hand coding
required for Demo 1
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation26INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
OpenEdge New UI Goals – In Summary
OpenEdge developers need to build a state-of-the-art UI where:• ABL natively supports state-of-the-art GUI
• Built using OpenEdge Architect
• Customization available at design time and runtime
Developers can focus on building business applications
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation27INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Agenda
What’s available today in OpenEdge
Future UI Industry Trends
A look inside the OpenEdge Research Lab
Next steps - discussion
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation28INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Frequently Asked Questions
I love it, when can I have it?• No specified release / commitment
I hate it, are you open to changing direction?• Let us know your needs/requirements. Contact
Salvador Vinals at svi@progress.com
Will .NET forms and existing GUI windows be allowed in a single application?• Of course
What should I do now?• Move to OpenEdge 10, learn OO, follow MVC model
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation29INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Questions for You?
What do you think of this direction?
Did we miss something?
Was this sharing of information useful?
Open Q & A
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation30INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
In Summary
OpenEdge development is researching a UI solution that is:• Build entirely in the ABL
using OpenEdge tools
• State-of-the-art
• Positioned for the future
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation31INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab
Thank you foryour time
© 2006 Progress Software Corporation32INNOV-14: A Look in the OpenEdge UI Research Lab