👀 Seeing is Believing: Visual Previews Arrive in Uniface 10.4 DSP Documentation

Introduction

We've all been there. You are building a web application, scanning the documentation for the right component, and you see a list of abstract names like htmlinput, ux-TextField, or genericHTML. You know what they do technically, but you have to implement them and run the page just to see exactly how they render by default.

If you are working with Rocket Uniface, that workflow just got a significant Quality of Life update.

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What's New?

In the latest documentation update for Uniface 10.4 (Patch 10.4.03.028), Rocket Software has introduced visual previews to the Dynamic Server Page (DSP) Widget Reference.

Previously, the documentation listed the Physical Widget (the underlying HTML control) and the Logical Widget (the Uniface abstraction) with a text description. Now, a new column titled "Preview Image" has been added.

You can check it out here: Widget Reference: Dynamic Server Pages

Why This Matters for Developers

For long-time Uniface developers, this might seem like a small detail, but it bridges a gap between backend logic and frontend design:

• Instant Differentiation: It is now immediately obvious what the visual difference is between a standard CommandButton and the modern ux-Button (which uses the Fluent Design System).
• Faster Prototyping: When building a DSP, you can scroll through the list and visually pick the widget that fits your UI requirements without needing to compile/test first.
• Better Onboarding: For developers new to Uniface or migrating from desktop to web, seeing the mapping between htmlinput -> EditBox visually helps understand the web paradigm shift.

The "UX Widget" Highlight

This update is particularly helpful for the UX Widgets (based on Fluent Web Components). Since these widgets (ux-Switch, ux-DataGrid, etc.) are intended to provide a modern look-and-feel out of the box, having a visual reference in the docs ensures you are utilizing the correct component for your design system.

Summary

Documentation is often the unsung hero of development. Adding visuals to the reference guide is a great step towards better Developer Experience (DX) in the Uniface ecosystem.

Have you tried the new UX widgets in 10.4 yet? Let me know in the comments!

Reference What's New in the Documentation for this Patch (10.4.03.028)