XE Files Features
Repository based
The X/E Files is a repository based application. This means that a lot of features and characteristics of the application are stored in the database, which includes the widgets, fields, queries, events, security etc.
Integrated Screen Builder
With the screen builder available, many programs can be built in minutes, this includes the fields, buttons, labels, browsers and even the queries and navigation.
Event driven
The X/E Files is an event driven application, where on every move or action, a piece of code is triggered. Normally, this is the progress code in the 4GL style, but it can also be any other program which is started by a progress procedure.
Multiple frontends
In X/E Files, the Logic and the GUI are completely separated. This makes it possible to replace one frontend with another without changing the logic.
Currently there are four frontends available.
- Progress Classic
- Internet Classic HTML
- XAML/.NET
- XBAP/XAML Browser application
XAML/.NET 4 Frontend
An absolutely unique feature of X/E Files is that it supports XAML, the latest interface of Microsofts .NET framework. With the .Net framework 4 installed on the client machine, X/E Files supports this frontend on the client with a normal progress backend. Only a small .Net client runs on the client computer.
XBAP/Internet applications
The latest technology of Microsoft is XBAP, which stands for Xaml Browser APplication. The X/E files XAML client is also an XBAP application, and therefore, it can be started without any installation, from any computer in the world where the .NET framework 3.5 or higher is running on. A huge advantage is to roll out applications and to maintain it.
Multilanguage screens, labels AND data
X/E Files supports multiple languages at a time, where one user can login and view the application in English while another can login with French. Besides the multi-language screens, there could be multiple translations for the data in the database. This can be done for any field, but is particularly useful for descriptions in different languages.
Replication to other databases
A building feature of the X/E files is the possibility to replicate fields or records to another database. This replication can have different targets for different tables and fields in the database, and it is a multi-source, multi target synchronization.
Auditing on record and field level.
In X/E Files, we can simply audit the changes to a record or field by storing the old and new value. The replication can be switched on or off for any field or table, just with one mouse click.
Integrated appserver support
Any commit in the database or any event which runs on the client can be run on an appserver. The developer / application administrator has control over the event running on each appserver. An appserver can be in your own network or maybe in your wide area network, the choice is yours. Additional appservers can be used at a later stage, without the need of changing the code.
Import/Export of data in ASCII or XML
The X/E file comes with an extended feature, to import and export data out of the database. This can be only the changed data on a certain data or, in a certain period, all data, only reserved data etc. To have ultimate flexibility the user can even change the query for export of the data if the predefined options of the XE files are not suitable enough for exceptional situations.
Integrated workflow
The Status fields and workflows are integrated in the XE files, and can be used to get ultimate control over workflows and processes.
Integrated batch/postponed jobs
The X/E files has an integrated batch system to run reports and processes on a particular day or time. With this feature, X/E Files controls the number of times a program is running in the background (everyday at 7pm for example). It can also be used to run reports directly in the background, to prevent network traffic or a heavy load from computer CPUs of various users.
Integrated Company levels
Another very powerful feature is the complete integration of company and department levels. This gives you complete control over the number of administrations you want to run in one database, with the same programs. Of course it is possible to share one or more tables on a central level. For example, 5 companies can share the same items, but have different customers and stock, which is all setup and arranged by the X/E files.
Integrated Security up until field level
As you might expect from the XE files, there are a lot of security options. You can add users, groups, roles in the database. Each menu item, program, tab folder, button and field can be secured. Even actions per record and per field can be secured depending on the user, group, role and even the value of the data.
Default lookups
On every index field, there is a default lookup available without any effort what so ever. This is created dynamically on the fly, but can be customized with a small effort.
Default Search
A default search on the index fields is automatically available. The search will find the first record (or optional the next) which meets the requests.
Default Filtering
The X/E Files creates a default filtering mechanism for the data, based on the indexes of a table. This filter can also be adjusted according to your own needs.