File Extension VAL

File Extension Name: VAL

File Extension Description: The VAL file extension is part of dBASE, a rapid application development toolset. The dBASE includes a modern object oriented programming language (dBL). This runs on 32 bit versions of Microsoft Windows. This program can be used to build various applications like Web applications, server based applications, client applications, and middleware applications. The wide database access support can access modern database engines (those accessible via ODBC) including Microsoft Access, MySQL, FireBird, Oracle, Pervasive SQL, and Informix. There is also support for access to levels 3 to 7 .dbf tables, Paradox tables, Visual FoxPro and FoxPro tables.

The .val-containing dBase Plus has an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) command window. There is a navigator to access files, a “Just-In-Time” compiler, a linker for creating dBase .exe applications, a virtual machine interpreter, a preprocessor and available runtime engine.

The two-way tools an suite back in forth between using a GUI (Graphical User Interface) design tool that generates code and the Source Code Editor allows encoding and editing manually. User can design visually using the mouse to select position and size for the objects by utilizing the available Report Designer, Menu Designer, Label Designer, Form Designer, and Data module Designer (dQuery Developer Edition).

The source code editor has a directory tree for easy navigation of functions, method, objects, and classes in a source file. For easier editing, there is syntax highlighting and auto-indent capability. The Project Manager makes building and deploying applications simple. Other tools include a SQL Query Designer, an integrated Debugger, and a Table Designer that supports creating or modifying database tables.

The dBL (dBASE Language) is a dynamic object oriented language that supports sub-classing. This is done by single inheritance, dynamic sub-classing where new properties are added to a class during runtime. User can also make use of automatic memory management, user-defined classic, dynamically typed variables and a full set of variable scopes (local, private, public, and static). This language also supports structured exception handling via Try...Catch...EndTry statements, standard flow control statements (If...Else...Endif, Do While...Enddo, Do Case...Case...Case...EndCase), efficient string manipulation and math support, powerful multi-dimensional arrays, support for function pointers and code blocks.

These capabilities of dBASE Plus is extendible to access external or third party programs or libraries via several methods including OLE and COM interfaces (via the OleAutoClient object), by including ActiveX components on dBASE Forms, or by directly calling functions contained in third party dynamic link libraries.

Author: dataBased Intelligence, Inc.

Author URL: http://www.dbase.com/

Associated Applications: dBASE Plus

Common Path: N/A