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FileNet Open Client Architecture

The FileNet Open Client architecture employs the Model View Controller (MVC) design pattern of the VB.NET framework. MVC provides for the clear separation of application control logic and business data from the user interface. By specifying the data model, logic control, and viewable presentation in separate programmatic layers, developers can create extensible, reusable components.

Note: For an architectural overview of Process services and components used with the FileNet Open Client Web application within the context of the Microsoft ASP.NET™ platform technology, see Process Open Client Architecture.

Open Client Source Code

The Open Client source code is installed in the C:\Program Files\FileNet\IDM\Web\FnOpenClient directory or the directory specified during installation. For a complete description of the organization of this directory and the files contained within, see FileNet Open Client Components.

Model View Controller Pattern

In the VB.NET framework, the MVC design pattern is implemented across the following components:

Controller

ASPX Page

The ASPX page executes all application logic, communicates with data providers to obtain the business data, and specifies the layout for the user controls. The controller acts as an intermediary between the data providers and the user controls, by transforming the information received from the data providers into a format that can be understood by the user controls.

For detailed information on ASPX pages, see Developing ASPX Pages for Open Client.

Model

Data Provider

In the .NET environment, data providers are completely separated from the application logic, flow, and presentation. The data provider simply defines what business data to return to the ASPX page controller.

For detailed information, see Data Provider.

View

User Contols

The application view is composed of user controls that are created and defined in ASCX files, and grouped together in an ASPX page container. The Open Client supports the use of FileNet Foundation Class user interface controls, Control Factory controls, and .NET server controls. The user controls contained in the ASCX file are only responsible for rendering data passed from an ASPX page controller.

For detailed information, see User Interface Controls.

The following diagram shows how these components relate:

The event handling portion of the application logic is defined in an ASPX.VB file, and is referred to as the code-behind file. The FileNet Open Client toolit provides a built-in controller that includes an event dispatching engine and some default event processing.