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Creating a Simple WebObjects Application

This chapter introduces you to the basic concepts and procedures of developing WebObjects applications. You'll develop, in stages, a simple application for the World Wide Web. The application you'll write is called GuestBook.

When you've finished the steps in this chapter, your application will have a single web page containing a form that allows users to enter their names,
e-mail addresses, and comments. When the form is submitted, the application redraws the page with the user's information at the bottom.

In Chapter 2, "Enhancing Your Application", you will add features to the application, including a second page, a table that displays information from multiple users, and hyperlinks.

This application illustrates the basic techniques you use to create a WebObjects application. You'll use two primary tools, Project Builder and WebObjects Builder.

Project Builder is an integrated software-development application. It contains a project browser, a code editor, build and debugging support, and many other features needed to develop an application. In this tutorial, you'll learn to use Project Builder to:

• Create a new WebObjects application project.
• Write scripts or compiled code to provide behavior in your application.
• Build and launch your application.

• Create static content for your pages.
• Add dynamic elements to your pages.
• Bind the dynamic elements to variables and methods in your code.

Creating a WebObjects Application Project

Choosing the Programming Language

Examining Your Project

Launching WebObjects Builder

Creating the Page's Content

Entering Static Text

Using the Inspector

Creating Form-Based Dynamic HTML Elements

Resizing the Form Elements

Binding Elements

Creating Variables

Binding the Input Elements