Editing DataFlex

{{Infobox software
| screenshot             = DF Logo Compact RGB.png
| caption                = 
| developer              = Data Access Worldwide
| released               = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| discontinued           = 
| latest release version = 24.0.<ref name="latest release">{{cite web|title=DataFlex 2024/24.0  Release|url=https://support.dataaccess.com/Forums/showthread.php?70883-DataFlex-2024-Released-Download-now!|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2024|03|13}}<ref name="latest release"/>
| programming language   =
| operating system       = [[Microsoft Windows]]<ref name="PC Magazine">{{cite web |title=Definition of: DataFlex |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/40897/dataflex |publisher=PC Magazine |access-date=February 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Installing DataFlex|url=http://johanbroddfelt.se/installing_dataflex-30 |publisher=Johan Broddfeld comments on code|access-date=6 February 2020}}</ref> 
| platform               = 
| language               = 
| genre                  = [[Object-oriented programming|Object-oriented]], [[Integrated development environment]], [[programming language]], [[application framework]], [[Structured programming|structured]], [[Imperative programming|imperative]]
| license                = [[Commercial software|Commercial]] [[proprietary software]]<ref>[https://www.dataaccess.com/resources/licensing/dataflex-studio-license-978   “DataFlex License Info”]</ref>
| website                = {{URL|www.DataAccess.com/DataFlex }}   
}}

'''DataFlex''' is an [[object-oriented]] [[high-level programming language]] and a [[Fourth-generation programming language|fourth generation visual tool]] for developing Windows, web and mobile software applications on one framework-based platform. It was introduced and developed by ''Data Access Corporation'' beginning in 1982.<ref name="Krauskopf">[http://www.decompile.com/dataflex/index.htm   “DataFlex: An Introduction by Curtis Krauskopf”]</ref><ref name="PC Magazine"/><ref>{{cite journal | year =1982 | title =DataFlex for Creators  | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=MjAEAAAAMBAJ&q=in+which+languages+DataFlex+available&pg=PA40 | journal =InfoWorld  | volume =4  | issue =26 }}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yjAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=InfoWorld+dataflex&pg=PA71  “InfoWorld (June 1, 1987)”]</ref>

==History and overview==
DataFlex can be traced back to 1982 when the company called ''Data Access Corporation''<ref>{{cite journal |year =1984 |title = DataFlex: Programming Gymnastics |url =https://books.google.com/books?id=vQDibG12bVcC&pg=PA253 |journal = PC |volume =3  |issue =17 }}</ref> (founded in 1976) created and developed a language allowing application code to run on almost any system architecture, regardless of hardware.<ref name="PC Magazine"/><ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 8, 1982 |title=InfoNews/Software, CP/M, DataFlex |magazine=InfoWorld |publisher= IDG |issn=0199-6649 |volume=4 |number=9 |page=46}}</ref> It started as a relatively early example of a fully fledged and commercially used [[fourth-generation programming language]] (4GL). In its early forms, DataFlex was available for [[CP/M]], [[MS-DOS]], [[TurboDOS]], [[Novell NetWare]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Aarons |first=Richard N. |date= September 4, 1984 |title= DataFlex: Programming Gymnastics |magazine= PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |issn=0888-8507 |volume=3 |number=17 |pages= 253–255 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vQDibG12bVcC&pg=PA253 |access-date= March 8, 2017 }}</ref> [[OS/2]], [[Unix]], [[OpenVMS|VMS]] and [[IBM AIX]] [[operating system]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Duncan |first1=Judy |last2=Petreley |first2=Nicholas |last3=Chiu |first3=Peter |last4=Mathews |first4=Carla |date=November 18, 1991 |title=Product comparison, Database building blocks |magazine=InfoWorld |publisher= IDG |issn=0199-6649 |volume=13 |number=46 |page=92}}</ref> By 1985, DataFlex was applied in a variety of high-tech industries including automated inventory control systems and insurance fraud detection systems.<ref name="Krauskopf"/>

DataFlex has lasted many years as a niche application development environment. The DataFlex product supports many [[Relational database#RDBMS|relational database]] environments: [[Oracle database]], [[Microsoft SQL Server]], [[IBM Db2]], [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]] and any [[ODBC]] database. DataFlex applications are used by around 3 million users. In 1991, the 3.0 version with a modernized interface was released.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lFAEAAAAMBAJ&dq=InfoWorld+dataflex&pg=PA13 InfoWorld], August 12, 1991</ref> In 2014, Data Access released 2014/18.0 version.<ref>[https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/14/09/p4832355/dataflex-201418-0-released-by-data-access-worldwide  Benzinga]: "DataFlex 2014/18.0 Released by Data Access Worldwide"</ref> The release of DataFlex 2023/23.0 introduced FlexTron technology that allows the usage of web controls within Windows desktop applications.

DataFlex is developed and provided by ''Data Access Worldwide'', a software company with main offices in [[Miami]], [[Florida]], [[Hengelo]], [[Netherlands]], and [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]].<ref name="latest release"/><ref>[https://www.dataaccess.com/products/dataflex/overview-206 dataaccess.com]: “DataFlex - Overview”]</ref>

==Features==
The DataFlex language supports: 
*Supports many database environments: [[Oracle database]], [[Microsoft SQL Server]], [[IBM Db2]], [[MySQL]], [[PostgreSQL]] as well as any [[ODBC]] database.
*Easily switch between database backends, no code change needed.
*Variables are loosely typed. The virtual machine takes care of conversions.
*Flexibility; the language is object oriented, so developers can create subclasses and libraries.
*Code compiles to an intermediate [[bytecode|byte-code]] which makes the programs easily portable between operating systems.
*No [[Thread (computer science)|threads]] or [[computer multitasking|multitasking]]
*Methods can - for ease of coding - be defined or redefined inside the object definition. Technically the compiler simply sub-classes the superclass and adds the methods to the class.
*Automatic delegation of messages in the [[object-oriented programming]] environment
*Embedded Database access is [[ISAM]]-based. It can be used royalty-free.

==Language Extension==
*Functions defined in Dynamic Link Libraries can be used.
*Classes, methods and properties defined in a COM module can be used. COM automation, controls and embedding is supported.

==Development environments==
The DataFlex programming language is used in the following development environments:

;[[Visual DataFlex|DataFlex]] Studio: This is the flagship visual development environment from Data Access Worldwide. DataFlex is available for [[Microsoft Windows]] only. DataFlex is a [[GUI]] development language in a style comparable with [[Visual Basic]], [[Delphi (programming language)|Delphi]] and [[C++]]. From version 4 (1996) up until version 17.1 (2015), the product was labeled Visual DataFlex.
;DataFlex WebApp Server: Available for [[Microsoft IIS]] only, the DataFlex WebApp Server can be used to develop thin client applications such as browser-based applications (both full class browsers such as [[Google Chrome]], [[Internet Explorer]], [[Mozilla Firefox]] and [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]], as well as [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] browsers). Developers can also create [[Web Service]] client and server applications. The server has built-in load balancing capabilities which also assist with High Availability, this does, however, require an SPLF license.  
;[[Web Framework]]: DataFlex includes a web framework for writing web and mobile applications.
;Character mode DataFlex: The latest iteration of the original character mode application (3.2) is available as a ''Console Mode'' application for [[MS-DOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Unix]] variants (notably [[Linux]]).

== References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.dataaccess.com/ Data Access Worldwide] website
*[https://learning.dataaccess.com  DataFlex Learning database]  (online resource for learning about building applications with DataFlex)
*[https://www.vdf-guidance.com/ VDF-GUIdance] (independent resource for users of the DataFlex programming language)

{{Major programming languages}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:DataFlex}}
[[Category:Fourth-generation programming languages]]
[[Category:Object-oriented programming]]
[[Category:Programming languages]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Web frameworks]]
[[Category:Object-oriented programming languages]]
[[Category:High-level programming languages]]