The following terms are used throughout the Natural Business Services documentation set. Each term is listed with its meaning:
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| add-in | Wizard or utility that expands the functionality of an IDE (integrated development environment). |
| application library | Natural library containing the server application components of a client/server application. |
| assembly | Logical grouping of functionality in Visual Studio. Can be one or more executable or DLL files. |
| attach server | Middleware component that determines which dispatcher to use and whether other dispatchers are required. If other dispatchers are required, the attach server will start them. |
| business data types (BDTs) | Type validation on the client that applies business semantics to a field. Typically, BDTs are used to format field data specified by the user. For example, if an application has an input field to enter a phone number, you can associate a BDT with the field to reformat the number with hyphens. A user can enter “7053332112”. When the user moves to the next field or performs another action, the number is automatically reformatted as 705-333-2112. Natural Business Services supplies standard BDTs, which you can customize, or you can create your own. Default field BDTs are added to the keyword components of a field in Predict. |
| business service | Group of methods related to a common business entity, such as Customer, Order, or Department. |
| Business Service Administration subsystem | Server subsystem used to maintain and query tables
that define business services and security data. This subsystem is commonly
known as the Natural Business Services repository.
Use the Natural Business Services Natural plug-in to
modify the repository data.
Note: Note: |
| business service definition | Definition in the Natural Business Services repository that identifies the methods exposed by a subprogram. Use the Natural SPoD add-in to modify these settings. |
| business service explorer (BSE) | Displays business services on a server organized by Connection/Domain/Service Name. |
| BDT class | Collection of all BDT procedures. |
| BDT modifier | Additional logic users supply to modify the formatting or validation rules for a BDT. For example, BTD_NUMERIC ensures that only numeric values are entered in a field. You can also add a modifier to round numeric values. To increase flexibility, each BDT defines its own modifiers. |
| cache | See security cache. |
| cardinality | Number of dimensions of information. Information with the same number of dimensions has the same cardinality. |
| class | Object representation of a business service in Visual Basic, C#, or Java. |
| complex redefine | Redefinition of a data area containing multiple data types, multiple redefinitions of a data field, or multiple levels of redefined fields. |
| compression | Reduce the byte size required to transmit data to and from the client and server. Data is compressed when it is sent and then decompressed when it reaches its destination. This reduces the size of data transmissions and improves network performance. |
| consumer | Anything that uses a Natural business service. For example, the generated client proxy classes in Visual Studio or Java consume business services. Web services can also consume business services. |
| context menu | Task-based submenu that is displayed by right-clicking an item in the repository tree or pressing the context menu key on the keyboard, for example. |
| control record | Record that controls whether Natural Security is used. |
| database record | Logical view of database information. A database record can be comprised of one or more logically related database files or tables. Natural Business Services represents database information in parameter data areas (PDAs). |
| DBID | Acronym for database ID, which is the number identifying the server database containing application components. |
| deployment | Movement of an application from a source environment to a target environment (for example, moving an application from development to QA). |
| dialog | GUI form (window) running on the client. |
| Dispatch Client | Component that provides the Natural Business Services data exchange, which facilitates calls from a client to Natural subprograms running on a server. |
| dispatch server | Middleware component that encapsulates broker calls on the server, provides directory services, enforces security, and invokes back end Natural services. |
| domain | Entity that defines a collection of related business services (for example, Test, Admin, and Sales). |
| encapsulation | Technique in object-oriented programming in which the internal implementation details of an object are hidden from users of the object. Methods control how the object data is manipulated. Encapsulation allows internal implementations to change without affecting the way an object is used externally. |
| encryption | Encoding data so it is unusable for individuals without access to the decryption algorithms. Natural Business Services allows you to encrypt sensitive data, such as payroll information, during network transmission. Data is decrypted when it reaches its destination. |
| EntireX Broker service settings | Collection of Broker-related parameters, including Broker ID, server class, server name, and service. |
| EntireX Broker stub | Broker DLL on a Windows platform. |
| event | Action recognized by an object, such as pressing a key or clicking a mouse. You write code to respond to events. |
| event handler | Custom code that reacts to events raised within the Web Service Engine (WSE). |
| FNR | Acronym for the file number that identifies a specific server database file containing application components. |
| framework template | Set of templates supplied for applications. These customizable templates include header, footer, navigation bar, messages area, and constants. |
| generate | Process of producing code from specifications. |
| generated module | Generated component for either the client or server portion of an application. Generated server modules include Natural subprograms, subprogram proxies, and parameter data areas. Generated client modules include Visual Studio classes, XSL, HTML, etc. |
| group | Collection of users defined in the Business Service repository. |
| GUI control override | Use Predict keywords to force a GUI control derivation. See also keyword. |
| HTML template | HTML that may contain replacement tags, which are dynamically exchanged for content or nested HTML templates at runtime. |
| IIS | Internet Information Server development tool in Windows. |
| instantiation | Process of creating an instance of a class. The result is an object. |
| internationalization | Adapting an application to make it easy to localize. See also localization. |
| keyword | Predict metadata type that acts as a label, identifier, or specification for generation (such as BDTPhone or ALLOW-LOWER-CASE). |
| level 1 data block | Level 1 field or structure and its subfields in a Natural parameter data area (PDA). |
| library image file (LIF) | File that contains Natural PDA definitions used by the Dispatch Client. |
| localization | Process of translating and adapting a software product for use in a different language or country. |
| lookups | Return descriptive information when a user requests a browse window or enters a value in a foreign key field in a maintenance window. For example, assume Warehouse Number is a foreign key field in the Order window and Warehouse Name is a descriptive field attached to the foreign key value. When a user enters a valid warehouse number, the lookup returns the name of the warehouse to display. |
| metadata | Information about data. Metadata describes how physical data is formatted and interrelated. It includes descriptions of data elements, data files, and relationships between data entities. Typically, metadata is maintained in a repository known as a data dictionary, such as Predict. |
| method | Procedure that operates on an object and is implemented internally by the object. For example, the Update method updates a Customer Order object after changes to the order information. |
| model | Template used to generate modules. Each model contains one or more specification panels. Using these panels, you can specify parameters for a desired module and then generate the corresponding code. Natural Construct provides numerous models, including the Object-Maint-Subp and Object-Browse-Subp models. |
| module | Single application component, such as a hand-coded Natural program, subprogram, or data area or a Natural Construct-generated program, subprogram, or data area. |
| multi-level security | Security you can define at a high level or at a detailed level affecting many objects. For example, you can apply multi-level security at a domain, business service, or method level. |
| Natural Business Services (NBS) | Services stored on the server (similar to a subprogram proxy). |
| Natural Construct nucleus | Sophisticated driver program that invokes the model subprograms at the appropriate time in the generation process and performs functions common to all models, such as opening windows and performing PF-key functions. The nucleus communicates with the model subprograms through standard parameter data areas (PDAs). These PDAs contain fields assigned by Natural Construct, as well as fields required by a model. |
| Natural Debugging utility | Utility available in a Natural environment to help you locate and analyze logic errors. This utility is not available in the client environment, but you can access it on the server with client input by invoking the Invoke Proxy function in the Business Service Administration subsystem. The subprogram proxy sets up an online environment that simulates the client/server environment and allows you to use all the features of the Natural Debugging utility. |
| node |
|
| nucleus | See Natural Construct nucleus. |
| object | Any application component, such as a form or record. |
| ping | Request sent to a service to determine whether the service is running. |
| platform | Piece of equipment that, together with its operating system, serves as a base on which you can build other systems. For example, a Unix box can serve as a platform for an accounting system. |
| regular expression | String-searching criteria to scan for a specified text string and, optionally, substitute another string. For example, a regular expression can search for “Natural Business Services” and replace each occurrence with “Business Services” alone. |
| remote call | Communication with an object residing in a different location. |
| resource | Text or binary value that can be localized. See also localization. |
| security cache | File used to store recently-accessed security data. |
| security server | Component of the Business Service Administration subsystem that controls access to application libraries, objects, and methods. |
| server | Computer that provides services to another computer (called a client) and responds to requests for services. On multitasking machines, a process that provides services to another process is called a server. |
| server application | Application that runs on a server machine. |
| Server Manager | Client tool supplied with Natural Business Services that allows you to specify which servers the client uses to communicate with the server. |
| server settings | Collection of parameters used to configure a server. |
| service proxy | See subprogram proxy. |
| shutdown | Command sent to terminate a server. |
| Simple object access protocol (SOAP) | XML-based standard communication protocol to interact with Web services. |
| SPoD | Natural for Windows Single Point of Development product. |
| steplib chain | Hierarchy of Natural libraries that determines the location from which modules are executed. |
| subprogram proxy | Provides the link between a specific subprogram and the Natural Business Services dispatch server. |
| template parser | Class used to parse HTML or other templates. |
| token (Natural Business Services security) | Unique, system-generated, identification number used in place of a user ID and password for multiple calls. Users can logon with their user ID and password and then request a token to use for later calls. |
| trace options | Options that specify how to trace messages sent between the client and server. |
| verification rule | Predict-defined business rules that are
implemented in the object maintenance subprogram on the server. They also
provide default values for derived fields represented by GUI controls, such as
check boxes, option buttons, or drop-down combo boxes.
You can use verification rules to force users to make a selection based on one or more choices. For example, if an application has an input field for the state name, you can attach a verification rule to the field in Predict so that only valid state names are accepted. |
| web application | Application created using the Natural Business Services wizards and add-ins. It allows users to access business services and data from a web browser. |
| web framework | Group of Visual Basic modules and classes that collaborate to dynamically generate web pages. |
| Web service | Service to expose data or functionality to the intra/internet. |
| Web Service Engine (WSE) | Core DLL supplied with Natural Business Services that handles Web service requests (*.sws requests) from IIS (Internet Information Server). |
| Web service root | Main/root directory (folder) for Web services. By
default, the name of the Web services root directory is NBS/WebServices. For
example:
http://localhost/NBS/WebServices C:\inetpub\wwwroot\NBS\WebServices Note: |
| WSDL (Web Service Definition Language) | XML document used to describe a Web service. |
| XML (Extensible Markup Language) | Industry-accepted standard language used to transmit data. |
| XML extract | Extract information from Predict and other sources, which is stored on the client as metadata in XML format. This includes information about business services, as well as the formatting used by wizards to build application components. See also metadata. |
