COM Express generates N-tier applications quickly with support for COM+, XML, SQL, MS SOAP 2, stored procedures, and unlimited hierarchies. It uses seven popular DataGrids to create GUI apps seamlessly.
COM Express offers two types of templates - Object Templates and UI Templates. Object Templates include a 3-tier template (physical 2-tier and logical 3-tier) and an N-tier template (physical 3-tier and logical N-tier). UI Templates, on the other hand, allow for GUI application building based on a variety of grid components, including MSHFlexgrid, True DBGrid 6, True DBGrid 7, Janus GridEx, XpressQuantumGrid, VSFlexGrid, and UltraGrid. There is also a UI template for creating ASP applications.
Code generation is 100% customizable with VBScript-powered templates that utilize scripting syntax identical to ASP. Additionally, COM Express provides a template editor that enables you to build and edit your own templates. The software also supports relational hierarchies to n-level (add as many children/grandchildren as you wish) for both business objects generated by COM Express and GUI applications.
Furthermore, COM Express ensures hierarchical data transfer in one round trip for COM+ components. Form controls (Edit, Combo, EditMask, DTPicker) are created dynamically and aligned and captioned properly. This also applies to Grid editing, with all controls correctly aligned and captioned based on your settings. Master/Child forms are created gracefully, even if a master has more than one child.
GUI implementation can be achieved via code-driven method or databinding collection/IOLEDBSimpleProvider method to bind VB Form controls/Grid controls to business objects. The software also offers the option to implement a class called "BrokenRules" to enforce data validation. Additionally, you can implement a "Loadby" and "Deleteby" method for each of your database fields. You also have the ability to add lookup fields from other tables to your current object (based on a database table).
Overall, if you're searching for a software platform with versatile templates, customizable code generation, support for complex relational hierarchies, and robust GUI capabilities, COM Express is definitely a platform worth considering.
Version 1.3: N/A