What is BW*Wizard for 

VisualAge Generator?

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator is a template driven code generator which builds industrial-strength business applications for IBM's VisualAge Generator.

Unlike other code generators, you have control over the type and style of code generated. BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator templates are fully customizable VisualAge Generator applications. Site coding standards can be incorporated, existing routines can be invoked, etc.

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator is a 'project-based' tool. Applications are defined within a project.

What does it do?

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator automates the process of building new programs from good examples of code (templates), a technique developers have been using since programming began. But BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator goes far beyond automating a manual process.

A Template and Primary Table are selected for each application.

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator is supplied with a comprehensive set of Text User Interface (TUI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) templates.

TUI templates include Menu, Scrolling List, Scrolling Update, Table Maintenance, Parent-Child (combination of Table Maintenance and Scrolling List / Update).

GUI templates include Menu, Scrolling List, Scrolling Update, Table Maintenance (window or notebook) in window or Embeddable Part formats.

How does BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator build applications?

Using templates, its repository, string substitutions and preferences BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator builds Text User Interface (TUI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) clients, and fully functioning SQL I/O servers. One server can support both TUI and GUI clients.

Sophisticated VisualAge Generator applications can be built in a matter of minutes by new and experienced developers alike. New developers will find the built applications a valuable learning aid. Experienced developers will be able to quickly modify the supplied templates or develop their own templates for use with BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator. Services to tailor templates and/or develop site customized templates are available.

Columns to be used by the application are selected.

Item Extension can then be specified.

Minimum and Maximum values, the type of GUI part to be used, etc. Item Extensions are extensible, allowing developers to add new extensions as required. The code associated with a Column's Item Extension is added to every application that references the column. Data Integrity benefits greatly from Item Extensions as all applications ensure that the entered data is correct. After the application is built in BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator it is then imported into VisualAge Generator and business logic added as required.

Will it help to develop systems faster?

Our users are reporting tremendous productivity gains. Some users are reporting 40 - 50 times increased productivity in developing applications. Applications that would normally take 5 - 10 days to write by hand, can be built by BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator in minutes - without any coding errors.

The Group Box below was completely built by BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator.

Using Item Extensions developers can specify different types of GUI parts to use for each item e.g. Text, Combo Box, Radio Button, Multi-line Edit, Toggle Button, etc. An IPF Help file is also built and all necessary connections made for GUI applications.

The TUI below was also completely built by BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator.

GUI and TUI clients can be built simultaneously or separately.

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator also generates a complete I/O server to support either or both GUI and TUI clients. VisualAge Generator's multi-platform capabilities means that code can be generated to support multiple targets. This eliminates the problem of rewriting virtually the same server in different languages.

Will it help to develop better systems?

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator does more than just reduce the development phase of a project, it can positively benefit all phases of a project's life cycle. Data and Process Modeling provide an essential foundation for building today's complex systems. But often the information gathering gets "bogged down" in the very details essential to understanding the system. Users find it difficult to understand complex Data and Process models and often 'sign off' on designs hoping the system will be OK. Weeks, even months may elapse before the users see any part of a working system. It is usually at this point the users and developers begin to discover how far apart their understanding of the new systems is!

Part of the structure of a BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator built I/O Server appears below.

Because the same VisualAge Generator code can be used on multiple platforms, it is possible to phase in GUI support. For example a project could originally be 100% TUI, but over time GUI equivalents could be brought on-line. The GUI clients could replace the TUI clients or just be an alternative. This allows the most appropriate client to be delivered to each user.

RAD

Rapid Application Development (RAD) allows users to participate in the design and development of their system.

The theory is that prototypes are written during the requirements gathering and refined as new information becomes available. Misunderstandings can be spotted early and minor course changes be made to ensure that the system stays on track. RAD for the most part has remained a theory, because it just takes too long to hand write good prototype applications.

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator puts the 'Rapid' in RAD by generating applications in minutes. Using VisualAge Generator's Iteractive Test Facility (ITF) applications with fully functioning I/O can be tested to ensure that both users and developers understand the system. This approach can dramatically reduce the information gathering elapsed time and greatly increase the quality of the system. The generated code which on average accounts for 80% of the application is not "throw-away", but forms the structure to which the business logic can be added.

As shown below, by adding 3 BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator built embeddable parts (2 Lists and a Group Box) to a window, making a few simple connections, a completely customized GUI is ready for testing.

Our systems are unique, templates wouldn't work, would they?

While your systems may be unique, they will almost certainly contain common code for navigation, User Interface presentation, error handling, etc. BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator builds this common code, allowing developers to concentrate on the unique code of each application.

Testing

Testing is greatly reduced because a large percentage of the application was automatically built from pre-tested templates. The quality of testing increases as users and developers concentrate on the business logic of the system.

The complete process from defining the applications in BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator to testing in VisualAge Generator took less than 30 minutes! The window in the foreground - 'Class Maintenance' is the working GUI application being tested using VisualAge Generator's interactive test facility (ITF).

Users could now test the application using ITF, or the Client and Server(s) could be generated for the target platform.

Business Logic can be added incrementally.

But will the code be maintainable?

The built code looks like the very best hand written code, incorporating all site standards. The built code does not contain any run-time routines and may be treated as any other VisualAge Generator code. Maintenance is also reduced as all the applications have the same 'look and feel' both externally to the users and internally to the developers.

The above minimum and maximum validation code will be built into every application referencing the column CLASS-COST. The indentation, style of comments, spacing, etc. are all customizable to meet an installation's requirements. The error processing, cursor/ mouse pointer positioning, field highlighting/focus is handled in the same way by every application. The task of enforcing 'coding' standards is largely performed after applications are written. This has a negative impact on productivity as code often has to be re-written. With BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator, a pro-active approach is possible. By incorporating a site's standards in the templates the built code is assured of meeting standards.

What are some of the major features/functions?

• Multi-User update checking (pseudo-conversational processing) using time stamps, counters or all columns is generated to ensure that one user's updates do not overwrite changes made by another user.

• Application code to enforce Relational Integrity is optionally generated. This ensures that foreign key columns entered incorrectly, result in user-friendly error messages.

• Allowed value, date and range validation code is generated automatically from values in the BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator repository.

• "Hooks" are built into every template, to allow developers to add business logic to applications. If the application is rebuilt by BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator, the developer added business logic remains intact.

• An open interface allows population of BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator repository from external sources e.g.: CASE tools or other repositories.

What are some of the benefits of using BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator?

BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator will build complete functioning I/O applications in a matter of minutes. This can represent as much as 100% of the required code for table maintenance applications, and the BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator built code will typically account for 80% of the code required in an average business application. Developers are able to concentrate on the business requirements (the other 20%) of the system.

The templates are completely customizable allowing an site's standards to be incorporated in the templates.

All the programs have the same "look and feel", they only differ in what business function they are performing. This can greatly ease the maintenance effort, which can represent a large saving in support costs.

Because BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator builds complete functioning I/O programs in minutes, it is ideal for prototyping and Rapid Application Development (RAD).

Summary

By automating the large repetitive portion of application development, BW*Wizard for VisualAge Generator frees developers from the task of "coding processing logic" and allows them to concentrate on supporting the business requirements of a system.

Tasks that took days and were very error prone are completed in minutes without error.

Built code can be run on any platform supported by VisualAge Generator, e.g. MVS, CICS, AIX, OS/2, Windows, etc.

'Time to Market' is significantly reduced.

Development times are slashed.

For more information contact us.