Getting Started-2-Tier

A Panther client can run either on UNIX or Windows; instructions are given for both. Illustrations in this tutorial show the Windows version.

In this lesson you learn how to:

• Start the client and specify which libraries automatically open.

• Open tutorial-specific libraries.

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Setting up on Windows

In order to start the Panther client on Windows, you must provide setup information in the client's initialization file. A tutorial-specific initialization file tutorstd.ini is in the Windows directory. Variables in this file must be set as follows:

Note: Before beginning any of the steps below, be certain that you have installed the Panther software according to the steps listed in the Installation Guide.

1. Set SMBASE to the full path name of your client's Panther installation on Windows. For example:

   Windows SMBASE=C:\prolifics\panther

2. The client initialization file specifies through the application variable SMFLIBS which libraries open automatically when Panther (or any of its editors) starts up.

   To run this tutorial as a web application, all screens that you design must be stored in a library located in the web application directory (refer to "General environment settings").

   In order to open the client library when the editor starts up, set SMFLIBS to its full path name:

   SMFLIBS=ApplicationDirectory\client.lib

   Note: If the web application directory is on a remote host, your client must have access to that host's file system.

3. Skip to step 9 in "Start up the Panther editor."

If you are setting up the client on UNIX, it is assumed that you are running under either the Korn or Bourne shell. Before setting up, you need to know the following:

• The location of your Panther installation. (The default location is /usr/prolifics.)

  Panther is installed at: ______________________

• The location of your license file. (The default location is /usr/prolifics/licenses/license.dat.)

  The license location is: ______________________

Create an application directory

This tutorial recommends that you create a local directory under your home directory and change to it. You copy all necessary files to the new directory and perform all tasks in it. The tutorial uses this directory as the Panther application directory; in practice, the application directory is located in a central location that is accessible to the development team.

Note: Before beginning any of the steps below, be certain that you have installed the Panther software according to the steps listed in the Installation Guide.

1. Log onto your UNIX machine.
2. Create an application directory. For the purposes of this tutorial, create the directory in your home directory and call it proltut. At the command line, type:

   mkdir proltut

3. Change to the proltut directory:

   cd proltut

4. Copy the file setup.sh from the Panther installation's config directory to the proltut directory. This file contains environment setup information that is required by Panther, such as path names and terminal information. Usually, a copy of this file resides in the application directory and in each developer's working directory.

   cp PantherInstallDir/config/setup.sh .

   where PantherInstallDir is the full path name to the Panther installation (/usr/prolifics by default).

You set the Panther environment on UNIX with the setup.sh file. Edit your copy of this file to include information needed by the Panther software such as location of the installation and license file.

5. Open up the setup.sh file using an editor. Make the following changes:

   • Note that SMBASE is set to /usr/prolifics by default. If Panther software is installed at another location, then set SMBASE to the full path name of the correct directory (as noted above).

   • Check the location of the license.dat file. If it is not in the default directory ($SMBASE/licenses/license.dat), set LM_LICENSE_FILE to the license file's full path name (as noted above).

   • Uncomment the SMTERM line and set it to the appropriate terminal type. This variable tells Panther what console type and model you are using. For example, if you are running under Motif, set SMTERM=X. If you are running under UNIX in character mode, refer to the Configuration for information on using video files, which tell Panther how to drive the terminal display.

   • Add SMFLIBS and export it:

     SMFLIBS=client.lib

     export SMFLIBS

6. Save and close the setup.sh file.
7. At the command line, type:

   . ./setup.sh

   This applies the settings in setup.sh.

8. Copy all files from the Panther tutorial directory to your application directory (proltut):

   cp $SMBASE/samples/proltut/* .

   This copies the libraries ( client.lib, tutorstd.lib ) and the sample database to the proltut directory.

Each time you log onto your UNIX machine, you must run setup.sh again before running the tutorial:

. ./setup.sh

After you provide the required setup information, you can start the Panther editor and begin building your application's components.

9. Depending on whether you invoke the Panther client from Windows or UNIX, use one of these procedures:

   • Windows—Choose Tutorial from the Start menu or choose the Tutorial icon.

   • UNIX – Type prodev & at the command line.

     The editor workspace opens:

     

     Many commonly used commands and tasks can be executed by choosing the appropriate toolbar item. This tutorial acquaints you with most of the File menu commands that are associated with these toolbar buttons:

     

More About Toolbars

The editor's toolbar:

• Simplifies use of the editor and facilitates screen design.

• Includes tool tips so you can quickly learn what the buttons do.

You can also use the Panther menu bar to create menus and toolbars to attach to individual screens or to the application as a whole.

A tutorial library is provided with the Panther installation and is stored locally on your workstation or PC.

10. Choose ViewLibrary TOC.

    The Library Table of Contents opens:

    

11. Under Libraries, choose the Open button to gain access to libraries stored on your system.

    The Open Library dialog box opens:

    

12. Select tutorstd.lib and choose Open (or OK on Motif).

    The Library Table of Contents dialog is updated, and tutorstd.lib is added to the list of open libraries.

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In this lesson, you performed these tasks:

• On Windows, edited the Panther initialization file tutorstd.ini. On UNIX, you applied the settings in the setup.sh file. In practice, you edit all of the initialization files provided with your installation. You also started the editor and opened a library.

What did you learn?

You learned:

• When a Panther application starts up it uses an initialization file (Windows) or setup and resource files (Motif) to determine values for a variety of attributes affecting application behavior. These attributes include which libraries to open on startup.

• During development, you save screens to local libraries. However, to make them available to the web application server, you must save them to the appropriate server library.