                       WELCOME TO APPEXPERT
                       --------------------

TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------

1. What is AppExpert?
   - Object Experts
   - Object Tools
   - Object Catalog
2. What is an Object Control?
   - Description
   - Object Controls vs. ClipObjects
   - Samples
3. AppExpert's Object Catalog
   - Description
   - How do I create an Object Catalog?
   - Format of an Object Catalog
4. Joining the Developer Assistance Program
5. Ordering AppExpert


1. WHAT IS APPEXPERT?
--------------------
Thank you for your interest in AppExpert, a powerful new
productivity tool for end-users and developers of Paradox for
Windows.  AppExpert is an integrated toolbar of enhanced objects,
Experts, and design tools that lets users add powerful
functionality with virtually no coding

AppExpert's rich set of design features includes Object Experts,
Object Tools, and the Object Catalog.  As well, AppExpert is
extensible so that you or third-party developers can add your own
code and extend its power.

Object Experts
==============
Object Experts simplify the development of ObjectPAL applications
by walking you through the process of creating objects and writing
ObjectPAL code for you that performs advanced functions.  The
following list of Object Experts appear when you draw an object by
selecting from the AppExpert toolbar.

*   Text Expert - Creates a text object when you select from a
    variety of styles and special effects. Text objects can have
    the following special effects: auto-centering, flashing,
    shadowing, and rotating marquee effects.

*   Field Expert - Creates an enhanced field object by choosing
    from a list of styles and ObjectPAL functionality.  For
    example, you can automatically create an enhanced memo field
    with word-processor hot keys or a data entry field with
    incremental lookup and fill.

*   List Expert and Dropdown List Expert - Creates enhanced
    listboxes and dropdown fields.  You specify the list source,
    any pre-sorting of data, and an optional label for each list.
    The Expert also adds new custom methods to the object so that
    you can add, remove, move, and sort items in the list.

*   Button Expert - Creates buttons with built-in ObjectPAL
    commands to perform Paradox actions such as inserting a record
    or documenting a form. You create buttons using one of four
    different styles, determining the shape, label, and an optional
    bitmap on the button.

*   Checkbox Expert - Simplifies the creation of checkbox fields.
    The Checkbox Expert lets you specify the checked and unchecked
    values, a field label, and a default state for the checkbox.

*   Radio button Expert - Simplifies the creation of radio button
    groups.  When you use the Radio Button Expert, you can enter a
    list of values, specify a group box label, and also specify a
    default value for the radio button.

*   Toggle button Expert - Lets you create Windows word-processor
    style toggle buttons, such as the text alignment buttons on
    their toolbars. You enter a list of values, specify a group box
    label, and also specify a default value for the toggle button.

Object Tools
============
AppExpert is installed with a collection of productivity tools you
can access from the toolbar.  A customizing facility lets you
augment or replace these tools with your own.

*   Menu Expert - The Menu Expert walks you through the process of
    creating menus and lets you add them to a form and/or save them
    for reuse.  Advanced menus can be created visually using a
    "live test" mode using the Menu Tree.  The Menu Expert writes
    the required ObjectPAL code, including handling of menu actions
    and keyboard shortcut keys.

*   Centering tool - The centering tool automatically centers an
    object within its container.  This, for example, lets you
    select an object, such as a title, and center it on a page or
    within another container automatically.

*   Style dropper - The style dropper lets you copy styles from
    one object and propagate the style to other like objects.

*   Group box tool - A group box tool automates the creation of
    Windows style group boxes.  Using this tool, you can select
    several fields and automatically place a labeled group box
    around them.

*   User definable buttons - AppExpert lets you install your own
    forms into its toolbar.  You can define a form, bitmap, and
    status message for up to eight toolbar buttons. When AppExpert
    runs your form, it passes you a handle to the current form and
    any selected objects so that you can build powerful utilities
    that operate on your form.

Object Catalog
==============
AppExpert's reusable Object Catalog lets you store and retrieve
your own objects, code and all, with the click of a mouse.  Instead
of recreating a commonly used object each time you need it, you can
create it once and retrieve it when needed.

AppExpert comes packaged with a large collection of Visual
Basic-like object controls that you can build right into your form.
Each object control has fully-documented ObjectPAL code and
contains custom methods that you can use to access its functions
and properties.  This collection includes controls such as:
progress meters, clocks, thermometers, and visual design elements.

*   Storing objects - A powerful and intuitive Object Catalog
    facility lets you store an object by selecting it with the
    mouse and clicking the Store Object button.  The dialog that
    appears lets you store the object along with a description and
    note field that you enter.  A preview area lets you view the
    appearance of the object before storing it into the Object
    Catalog.

*   Retrieving objects - When you need to recall an object, click
    the Retrieve Object button.  A dialog displays listing all the
    objects in the Catalog, organized by category.  Use this dialog
    to preview the object and its properties.

*   Organizing objects by category - Object controls are stored by
    categories to let you organize the contents of the Object
    Catalog.  When you store an object, you can select an existing
    category or create a new one by entering its name into the
    category field.  Later, you can edit or delete the category
    using a dialog.

*   Ready-built object controls - The Object Catalog contains a
    collection of pre-built object controls you can use immediately
    in your own forms.  These object controls contain full source
    code so that you can modify them to meet your needs.

*   Installation of third-party objects - The Object Catalog
    contains a command to add third-party objects into the Object
    Catalog.  These objects can be contained in catalogs created by
    you or others.


2.  WHAT IS AN OBJECT CONTROL?
------------------------------

DESCRIPTION
===========
An object control is an object that you have created for your own
use or that of others.  You use an object control just as you would
any other object.  An object control can be an object that you use
often, such as a button that closes a form, or a group of objects
that perform some useful function.  An object control can also be a
visual design element, such as a 3D panel, or the entire page of a
form (including the data model!).

OBJECT CONTROLS VS. CLIPOBJECTS
===============================
A clip object refers to any object you copy to the clipboard for
reuse in a Paradox form or report.  Object controls extend upon the
concept of clip objects by formalizing the public interface to
these types of objects.  Each object control contains a series of
custom methods which are provided to end-users to work with it.
Any internal 'helper' functions are stored as procedures so that
they can not be accessed from other objects.  Object controls also
contain fully documented, ObjectPAL source code so that developers
can customize them.

SAMPLES
=======
The form, CONTROLS.FSL, contains a small collection of the object
controls which are shipped with AppExpert.  You can run this form
to see what object controls are all about.  

AppExpert ships with a wide collection of controls, including:
3D chiseled steel design elements, data entry and navigation 
toolpads, progress meters, thermometers, animated buttons, tracer 
toolpads, neat widgets and gadgets, sliders, clocks, stopwatches, 
light switches, odometers.  All come with full source code.


3.  APPEXPERT'S OBJECT CATALOG
------------------------------

DESCRIPTION
===========
AppExpert's Object Catalog is a management system for storing
and retrieving object controls.  You can take any object,
categorize it, and store it into the Object Catalog.  A
thumbnail screen image, along with descriptions and notes
about its use are also stored with the object.

Since AppExpert is always available during form design mode, you
can gain instant access to any object control from the toolbar.

AppExpert also has an "Install Catalog" function which lets users
easily install object catalogs from third party vendors.  If you
are a vendor or developer who has created a series of useful object
controls, you can broaden your audience by providing them in object
catalogs.  Since AppExpert customers are continually looking for
additional controls to use, this can significantly increase your
market share.

HOW DO I CREATE AN OBJECT CATALOG?
==================================
Creating an object catalog is easy.  Simply make a copy of the
OBJCAT.DB table (in this archive), then add your object controls
into it.  Each object control is stored in its own record.  You can
use the Binary data type methods to transfer your objects into the
table.  To distribute your catalog, simply copy the OBJCAT.DB table
along with its associated files.


FORMAT OF AN OBJECT CATALOG
===========================

Field name              Type
----------------------------
Category                A40*
Name                    A40*
UIObject description    F50
UIObject notes          F50
UIObject data           B
Image of UIObject       G

Field descriptions
==================
Category - the name of the category to store the object control in.
This may be an existing category which is already in CATALOG.DB or
a new category name. When the user installs your Object Catalog,
AppExpert scans your table for new category names and adds them
into the user's Object Catalog, CATALOG.DB.

Name - the name of the object control. This name should be unique
to the category.

UIObject description - a memo field which contains a description of
the object control

UIObject notes - a memo field which contains detailed instructions
on the use of the object control.

UIObject data - the binary representation of the control object.
This is data which is stored in the Windows clipboard when you copy
it.  You can use the Binary data type methods to transfer an object
to this field.

Image of UIObject - a "thumbnail" screen image of the object
control which is displayed when the user is viewing or retrieving
the object.


4.  JOINING THE DEVELOPER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
--------------------------------------------

If you are a vendor, shareware author, or developer who is
interested in distributing your existing object controls using
AppExpert, you may qualify for our Developer Assistance
Program (DAP).  Membership in this program is free, and
includes a reduced price for AppExpert and help on building
add-ins for AppExpert.

To find more about this program, please send us the following:

*   Your name, company, address, and phone.
*   A description of the tools your company provides.
*   A description of your existing object controls.
*   A disk containing samples of your object controls with usage
    instructions.

The mailing address to ship to is:

Farpoint Systems Corporation
409 Washington Street, Suite 275
Hoboken, New Jersey  07030

Phone   : 201-656-6561
FAX     : 201-656-0030
CIS     : 71121,2331


5.  ORDERING APPEXPERT
----------------------

If you would like to order AppExpert or obtain an information kit
with a demo, please call The Burgiss Group at (800)262-8069 or
(201)795-5144.

Call today to learn about what Mitch Koulouris, publisher of The
Paradox Informant, calls "one of the best add-in products for
Paradox for Windows I've ever seen!"
