The Active Expert Application Builder is a visual application development tool for building Windows based, TUXEDO clients. The Application Builder is designed to be used in conjunction with another client development tool like Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, or Visual C++.

This section explains how to use the Application Builder GUI with your favorite client development tool to develop and prepare your client application for production.

The following topics are covered:

• Logging On. You need to log on to view the services available for use in the Application Builder. Logging on gives you a read-only view of the objects in the Contract Repository that you can use as building blocks for the client applications you will create with the Active Expert Application Builder.

• Using the Repository Tree Objects. The Application Builder shows the contents of the repository in a convenient tree structure that shows the available modules, the interfaces contained in each module, and so on.

• Working with Local Objects. You can register the TUXEDO services in the Contract Repository to your local workstation view (in the form of modules, interfaces, operations, and parameters). In your local environment, you then create your own TUXEDO client application based on the repository objects you have copied in. You can view sample code on the workstation objects, and modify objects as needed by setting options. You control how sample code is generated-for example, synchronous or asynchronous; OLE automation servers or ActiveX custom controls; early or late binding, and so on.

• Using Synchronous and Asynchronous Modes. You can view Workstation objects (and associated sample code) in synchronous or asynchronous mode.

• Viewing or Changing Object Properties. Once you have registered objects on your local workstation you can view the properties on a module or interface object, and you can change an interface object to either OLE Automation server or ActiveX control.

• Setting OLE Automation Options. ActiveX controls let you link and embed other Windows applications or functional objects into your own applications and vice versa. ActiveX controls are particularly useful for achieving Web interoperability (enabling your client to run in a Web browser or embedding a Web browser in your application). With the Active Expert Application Builder, you can create OLE automation servers and ActiveX controls that function as TUXEDO clients.

• Working with Sample Code. The Application Builder automatically generates sample application code that shows you how to call the Active Expert API. The sample code is generated in the language of the client tool you specify as the default from the drop-down combo box on the main window tool bar. You can modify the style of the generated code by setting basic and advanced sample code options.

• Using Visual Basic Forms and Related Files. You can generate Visual Basic forms, project files, and .frx binary files based on the TUXEDO objects you are working with in the Application Builder. A Visual Basic form is a template for a window that you can use as a starting place, adding in your own features and functionality as you progress. The form provides a lot of built-in code and functionality to get you started. A Visual Basic project file contains file names and environment variable settings that make up a project (usually including several forms). A .frx file is a binary file with information about an ActiveX control.

• Working with Type Libraries. A type library is a collection of information about data types, OLE interfaces, member functions, object classes, properties, methods, and parameters. You can generate type libraries at the module level, as well as type library source (object definition language or ODL) for informational purposes.

• Working with Deployment Packages. Deployment packages automate a lot of the work involved in moving a client application from development to production. A deployment package contains all the application data needed by Active Expert at run-time (such as type libraries and registration information). This section explains how to create deployment packages and how to set up an end-user environment on which to deploy your client applications.

• Logging Off and Exiting. When you exit the last Application Builder window, the Active Expert logs off the Contract Repository (and the associated TUXEDO application).

• Accessing a Secure TUXEDO System. The Active Expert relies on the Contract Repository server for TUXEDO service interface definitions. If you are running the Active Expert in the context of a secure TUXEDO application, you must provide the required authentication passwords during development and run-time scenarios.