Xbasic scripts used in mobile and web applications can be added to a workspace as Xbasic Function Libraries, Modules, or Class files.

[The Xbasic Programming Environment]

Xbasic has a simple method for defining native wrapper classes for .NET classes that can help you avoid writing registration code every time you use a class. Simply create a class in your project and make the body of your class the desired registration code. Then save the class file as <Namespace>.<Class> and reference it in your code as <Namespace>::<Class>. Note that the class filename includes a dot, while the class reference includes two colons.

While you can use your own namespace and class names, it makes life a whole lot simpler for you and anyone else who uses your class definition if you match the .NET class hierarchy. Also, do not bother to create a class file for a preloaded class.

The following example should make the methodology clear.

Learn how to create Xbasic classes in these articles that discuss everything from the basics of creating a class, inheritance, and testing classes.

If an Xbasic Module, Class, or Function Library contains scripts that need to be encrypted, you can use the *[xb:'ENCRYPT]* and *[xb:'PASSWORD]* comments to encrypt the file and optionally add password protection.

Top-level Xbasic classes found in the global namespace.

You should find the new Xbasic classes to have most of the capabilities of classes in C#, Java, and Visual Basic .NET without being too complex to understand. In general, object-oriented programming and classes attempt to make software more robust and reusable. They do this in a number of ways.

Objects and functions for manipulating various layouts in Desktop applications.

In general, it's good to test Xbasic code of any sort first in an Interactive window. When you find good sequences for testing, you can copy them into Xbasic scripts, along with notes about the expected output. Your Xbasic scripts can easily include code to set up and tear down test databases.

Using Xbasic you can control form and browse windows in much the same way that the user does when he or she makes selections from menus and presses toolbar buttons. For example, you might have opened a form called Customers. If you want to enter a new record in this form, you could press the New Record icon on the speed bar. To accomplish the same thing using an Xbasic method, you could type this in the Interactive window: