Data file utility (DFU) beans

The DFU beans include a set of classes that extend the support of code to access one or more iSeries database files. The DFU beans allow manipulation of records within the database files.

Purpose

Bean name Description
com.ibm.etools.iseries.ui.FormManager Use this bean to associate a Swing GUI form with a database record format. This associates each JComponent in the form with a database field, so that you can access and manipulate database records.
com.ibm.etools.iseries.ui.ListManager Use this bean to associate a table, a list or a combo box with a database file, in order to access and manipulate records within the file. This is similar to an iSeries subfile.
com.ibm.etools.iseries.ui.RecordIOManager Used for record manipulation, such as retrieval of records from a database or the addition, updating, or deletion of records.

DFU beans can seamlessly map Swing components with data fields of iSeries databases. Thus, you can retrieve data and add, update, or delete records from sequential or keyed files from your GUI application. You also have commitment control. The retrieved data is automatically displayed in the Swing component fields, and any data changes in the Swing components are also reflected in the database. The Swing components can be a JFormattedTable, JFormattedTextField, JFormattedLabel, JFormattedComboBox, or any Swing JComponent.

Both the FormManager and ListManager beans have a property called recordIOManager, which is an instance of the RecordIOManager bean. RecordIOManager is responsible for all record-level access, such as addition, updating, deletion, and retrieval of records with or without filtering conditions and commitment controls. The retrieved records are passed to the FormManager or ListManager. Based on the displayContainer setting and field mappings, FormManager or ListManager populates the corresponding Swing components with the data retrieved from the database. FormManager and ListManager work with different components:

Note: DFU beans use the IBM Toolbox record-level access classes, which do not support logical join files and null key fields. In addition, record level access is allowed only in OS/400 V4R2 and later.
Related reference
FormManager bean
ListManager bean
RecordIOManager bean