Uniface (programming Language) - Uniface Versions

Uniface Versions

Uniface Version 3 (1986): Uniface 3 was the first public release. It featured support for multiple databases (RMS, Oracle, C_ISAM, Ingres, and RDB); virtual machine interpretation; the Structure Editor, the Uniface text and command editor.

Uniface Version 4 (1988): Uniface 4 improved the text editor (now form editor), improved printing and display support, introduced support for MS-DOS, and added a CASE tool interface.

Uniface Version 5 (1990): Uniface 5 enabled client/server deployment with the introduction of remote database access through Polyserver. It introduced graphical user interface via the Universal Presentation Interface (UPI). Database support was extended to a total of 13 databases and file systems, and it was now available on DOS, VMS, OS/2, Stratus VOS and UNIX. Japanese character support was also introduced.

Uniface Six (1994): Uniface Six completed the move to fully graphical development environments. It included the graphical form painter and application model editor; improved deployment through Dynamic Object Libraries; added support for Microsoft Object Linking and Embedding (OLE); included support for Apple Macintosh; added permissions control; integrated version control; added Personal Series reporting tools (although these were later removed when the 3rd party decided not to enhance its product); wider platform support.

Uniface Seven (1997): Uniface Seven focused on component integration for both Uniface and external components through the introduction of the Uniface Request Broker (URB) architecture. The URB supports bi-directional and synchronous or asynchronous communication between components. As well as remote data access, it added partitioned Application Servers and messaging. Uniface Seven also delivered the first Uniface web development and deployment tools with Web Application Server and Uniface Request Dispatcher.

Other enhancements included new component types (Services, Server Pages, Reports); Signature Editor and Assembly Workbench; subsystems; operations; non-modal forms; component instances; improved editors and navigation; enhanced editor plug-in; new debugger; integrated online help; component templates; Web Application Server; improved validation; Uniface Name Server and graphical partitioning manager.

Uniface Seven also saw the introduction of several other tools:

• A tool for the modeling, integration and management of business processes. This functionality became Optimal Flow under Uniface 8, then Uniface Flow under Uniface 9.
• A business integration portal, initially called Optimal View, and later Uniface View
• Uniface—a server-based, thin-client solution for delivering web-enabled applications over the Internet or Intranet, providing high-performance in low-bandwidth connections.

Uniface 8 (2001): Uniface 8 brought about major changes in the area of process integration. The Uniface Router and Uniface Server provided scalable, balanced deployment. The Web Request Dispatcher (WRD) replaced the URD, improving performance. Support for web services, with SOAP and XML, was introduced. Connectivity and interoperability were improved and a method for implementing a 3-tier application architecture was introduced. Connectors for SOAP, COM, CORBA and MQSeries were added; window and file management was improved; a new deployment utility) was introduced, improving application distribution; component subtypes for 3-tier architecture were added; handles were added for component instances, and automatic garbage collection was added.

Uniface 9 (2006): The Uniface 9 release focused on GUI and usability improvements, thin deployment, and integration. Support for Windows Mobile was added, and configuration and deployment was simplified using zipped archives. Support for Unicode improved what was an already impressive multilingual capability, and improvements in web development and XML handling brought Uniface further into line with industry standards. Dynamic field movement in form components removed some old barriers to flexibility.

Other features included improved color handling, dynamic menus, an XML API, a diagram editor for the Application Model; cross-referencing functionality to support refactoring and deployment, and enhanced web services functionality.

Uniface 9.4 (2010): Despite being a point release, Uniface 9.4 introduced enough major new functionality to be considered a major release. The major focus was on rich internet application (RIA) functionality, making it possible to develop Web 2.0 applications with the rich functionality of client/server applications using the same tools and methodologies used to develop classic client/server applications. Language and locale support was substantially improved, as was support for HTML email, and security and encryption.

Uniface 9.5 (2011): The release of Uniface 9.5 has improved the product’s integration with the World Wide Web. The introduction of a JavaScript API, together with other improvements, means that client-side processing can bring benefits in the areas of performance, integration, functionality and user-friendliness. The session management capability has been extended to offer improved security. And the processing of Web Services now fully supports complex datatypes for both SOAP and RESTful services. There have also been improvements for those customers who have business-critical client/server applications, particularly in the area of the grid widget.