8 Application Window

Functions, variables, and applications are declared in the application window. These declarations define the interface to the programmed application functionality. Structure and operation of the application window generally follow the generic rules for the edit windows.

The following objects are defined in the application window:

• Application Functions
• Callback Functions
• Canvas Functions
• Format Functions
• Content Functions
• Variables
• Applications

Function declarations in the dialog are the interface to the application functions. For the program call, they are declared with a name and their parameters, if necessary. Since functions are used in various ways, and various mechanisms are used for the call, functions are distinguished depending on their call. A more detailled description of the function classes follows in the chapters below.

Known variables from classical programming languages are also used in the Dialog Manager Rule Language. They have to be declared in the application window before they are used. However, only global variables are declared in the application window.

Applications as objects are used in distributed application programs. An application object represents an application module whose functions are fulfilled by a separate external program. For administration, all functions of a program are put into one application.