The coding language that SmartWare uses is it own.  It is called the SmartWare Programming Language or SPL. With the release of Visual, the code editor has been upgraded.  New to the SPL Editor is a new set of debugging tools.  Those features have their own feature section.  The SPL Editor has a new look and some new tools. 

The new SPL Editor has added a toolbar called Insert. The Insert toolbar shows a list of all the fields on the form, the events of the controls and the functions available to coding environment. 

The SPL Editor has a Watch Window which will allow the developer to interrogate variables for their values. The Watch Window is a quick and useful tools to see if code is valid. 

One other new feature is the Property Sheet which will show the summary information of the form or project file that is currently loaded in the SPL Editor.

If the developer is modifying a form the SPL Editor can be accessed from the menu of the Form Editor. The Form Editor is the first editor you will see when modifying a form.  From the Form Editor menu chose EDIT and from the dropdown list chose VIEW-CODE.  This will open the coding environment for the form that is loaded for modification.  To access the new insert toolbar, watch window and property sheets please select from the menu EDIT -- TOOLBARS.  Each of these features will have a show or hide option.

The default SPL Editor can be set from the Main Menu of SmartWare. The Main Menu is the first menu you see when SmartWare is started. Select TOOLS -- PREFERENCES -- GLOBAL and this will open a preference sheet.  On the preference sheet chose the third page and answer the question concerning the default editor for project files (yes/no).

The Property Sheet window is a critical component to using the Form Editor.  Each control will have its own Property Sheet.  When a control is select, the control's property sheet is displayed.  The form itself has a property sheet.  All available properties of a control are display in the property sheet.  Properties of a control may be changed in code also.  The Property Sheet window can be accessed form the Form Editor with the EDIT TOOLBARS commands. A toggle to show or hide is presented.

The Insert toolbar shows a list of all the fields on the form, the events of the controls and the functions available to coding environment.  A developer can select from the dropdowns and that code template is insert at the position of the cursor. This help prevent typo and syntax errors. 

The Watch Window is used to take a portion of code and investigate it.  The Watch Window displays the values of the current field, variables and the results of code.  Type in a field name, press enter and the value is returned.  the Watch Window is also used during Step Into debugging.  Values can be set in the Watch Window and be reflected in the current project. The Watch Window can be accessed form the Form Editor with the EDIT TOOLBARS commands.

The new editor does support automatic code coloring.  When a word is typed into the editor it will turn blue if it is part of the Command Reference, green if it is a comment and remain black if neither.

Once code is completed, the code can be saved and compiled or abandoned. To compile code press the F10 key or select from the FILE menu, FINISH.  The other options include CLOSE and QUIT.  Both will prompt the developer to decide if they wish to abandon the changes or to continue.