This document describes the objects available to build, maintain and control applications with Natural.
Note:
The Natural program, data area and map editor have been
disabled in your environment by default. For more information, see NaturalONE as the Default Development
Environment in the Editors
documentation.
The following table is an overview of Natural and non-Natural objects, their use, and the Natural editors or utilities provided to create and maintain them.
| Object Type | Use | Editor or Utility |
|---|---|---|
| Data Areas: | Variable and parameter definitions for other Natural objects | |
| Data Definition Module | Natural data definitions for database file access | |
| Programs and Subordinate Routines: | Main programs, invoked routines, and functions | |
| Helproutine | Help requests for applications | |
| Copycode | Source code for repeated use in other Natural objects | |
| Text | Documentation for Natural objects | |
| Class | Component-based applications | |
| Map | Character-based screen layouts | |
| Adapter and GUI Layout | Complex graphical user interfaces and rich GUI pages generated from external page layout | Natural for Ajax Developer (see the Natural for Ajax documentation) |
| Dialog | Event-driven applications |
n/a (storage and display only) |
| Resource | Non-Natural objects such as HTML files or bitmaps | n/a
(storage and display only) |
| Recording | Recorded sessions for testing and controlling | Recording Utility |
| Error Message | Natural system and user-defined messages | SYSERR Utility |
| Command Processor | Command-driven navigation | SYSNCP Utility |
| Editor Profile | Default settings for the program or data area editor | Program Editor or Data Area Editor |
| Map Profile and Device Profile | Default settings for the map editor | Map Editor |
| Parameter Profile | Default parameters settings for session start | SYSPARM Utility |
| Debug Environment | Control of program execution | Debugger |
| Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) | Natural APIs | SYSEXT Utility |
| APIs of Natural Add-On Products | SYSAPI Utility |
For detailed information on using Natural objects, see maintaining and executing Natural objects and object naming conventions in the Using Natural documentation.