Revolution 3.5 Mega Preview!

[user#606]

I had hoped the super-fast data grid and portable reusable code would be simple to use, but not so!
The data grid is not a new object it seems, but some rather obscure process to repeat other objects or groups, that has not been explained in a useable way. No mention of it in the manual. Why not have a proper object like the table for instance with obvious properties so relative beginers can use it?
The reuseable code is again a mystery, again, no mention of it in the manual. I thought the explanation of behaviours set out the principles, but not well enough for me to use. I miss the simple concept of a subroutine where the code segment can be called wherever needed, but only written once.

Perhaps someone can explain clearly how these things can be made to work.

[malte]

Dear user,

I wonder where you did see a working demo of the new data grid. AFAIK it is not released yet. So it is unlikely that you will be able to find anything about it in the manual, as all you mentioned are 3.5 features.

Cheers,

Malte

[user#606]

I have already downloaded the 3.5 pre-release and it is claimed the features are in there.
They quote "Read all about the new features, find out how you can get your hands on this hot pre-release, and get a head start on reworking your apps around these amazing new features!"

Well, I have got my hands on it (3.5) and tried to read up and get ahead on reworking, but .....

[trevordevore]

Note that the newsletter article was a public announcement of what the release of Revolution 3.5 will have. During the development process (pre-release builds) features and documentation are added in but are not necessarily complete.

If you look in the Revolution 3.5 folder you will see a file called ParentScriptNotes.txt that has lots of information about the behaviors. I don't think the actual documentation is updated until closer to release.

If you have questions about new functionality and you are an Enterprise user then I would recommend asking questions on the email list that Rev has created for Enterprise users. This is the opportune time to raise any questions you have in order to help Rev develop, document and explain new features properly.

[Quality]

The latest dp version 6 does not include the data grid, so you're criticizing it before you've seen it.

Although I posted to the Improve list that the "next" dp was going to have the feature, I was not referring to dp6. The preview article in revUp clearly talks about a beta in MARCH for people to "get their hands on it." It's not appropriate or in good taste for Improve list members to carry over discussions of pre-release software to this venue.

It is true that the data grid is implemented in Rev code, not at the engine level. Firstly, this is an amazing demonstration of the flexibility and high performance of well-written Rev code. Second, when you see how it works, it's a testament to what a "game-changer" the new parentScripts/Behaviors functionality really is.

The data grid is both easy-to-use and powerful. It's written by someone who's been working with us from the beginning on the object-oriented features in Rev 3.5 and fully understands their capabilities. The complexities of the underlying stucture are completely hidden, and it will behave as a neat, clean "object."

I have no concerns that beginners will be able to use and enjoy the new data grid when it makes it appearance in the beta and final versions of 3.5.

As for parentScripts themselves, Trevor's article in revUp just gives a taste of how they work. You put your shared script into a button and set the parentScript property of objects that use it. Trevor shows how this can be done with an individual field, a group of objects, and a substack. It can be very simple, or very sophisticated, depending on your needs and abilities. Nothing else changes about Rev, so if you want to stick with the old way of functions and handlers in card and stack scripts, no problem.

[Bernard]

>>
an amazing demonstration of the flexibility and high performance of well-written Rev code. Second, when you see how it works, it's a testament to what a "game-changer" the new parentScripts/Behaviors functionality really is.

The data grid is both easy-to-use and powerful. It's written by someone who's been working with us from the beginning on the object-oriented features in Rev 3.5 and fully understands their capabilities. The complexities of the underlying stucture are completely hidden, and it will behave as a neat, clean "object."
<<

This sounds really cool, and I'm very excited to be able to use this in the future. Thanks to runrev for implementing this. If it's as good as it sounds, then the fact that it's written in Transcript is also going to be inspiring.