ZIM and the Zim Developers' Library

This release of the Zim Developers Library (July, 2011) is created in support of the Zim 8 release.

The Zim Developers' Library contains a comprehensive set of topics designed to meet your needs while developing in and working with Zim and its various components. It contains the following topics:

• Getting Started with Zim: Provides an overview about the Zim product;

• Conventions: Presents the conventions used throughout this documentation;

• Zim 8.00 Release Notes: Provides a general overview of the features introduced in Zim 8.00;

• Zim 8.10 Release Notes: Presents an overview of the features introduced in Zim 8.10, plus installation instructions and how to run Zim 8.10;

• Zim 8.11 Release Notes: Presents an overview of the features introduced in Zim 8.11;

• Zim 8.20 Release Notes: Presents an overview of the features introduced in Zim 8.20;

• Migration from Previous Versions of Zim: Describes how to migrate Zim database applications from previous versions and other compatibility issues;

• Zim Configuration: this section describes all configuration files and corresponding options valid for Zim 8;

• Zim Object Dictionary: A complete description of all entity sets and fields that make up Zim Object Dictionary (Data Dictionary);

• Zim Programming: an extensive description on how to build Zim programs, Zim statements, etc.;

• Zim Reports: describes how to program a Zim report;

• Zim Language Reference: provides a list of all Zim functions, Zim commands and Zim constants listed alphabetically and by type;

• Zim and Automatic Sequence Numbers: describes how to implement sequence numbers in Zim Entity Sets;

• Zim and ActiveX: explains what is the ActiveX technology and how to use it in Zim programs;

• Compiling Zim Programs: describes how the compiler and the parser work, how to compile programs and how to deploy compiled programs;

• Zim and DDE: gives a brief explanation of DDE services and how to use them in Zim programs;

• Zim Development Center (DC): documents DC in its whole functionality;

• Zim Object Manager (ZOM) Guide: Provides the functionality of ZOM, commands, options, etc.;

• Zim for Windows Screen Painter: describes how to paint Forms, Windows, Menus and Displays using the Windows Screen Painter;

• Zim for UNIX Screen Painter: describes how to paint Forms, Windows, Menus and Displays using the Unix Screen Painter;

• Zim Server Connectivity: details how to connect two or more Zim databases;

• SQL Connectivity: details all aspects of the connection between a Zim application and any SQL-based servers;

• ODBC Driver Connectivity: discusses how to access Zim databases from third-party softwares;

• Performance Tuning: presents all aspects of performance tuning regarding the client side when running a Zim application and the server aspects when configuring zimserver;

• File Management and Distribution: shows how Zim files, directories, configuration files and Zim databases are physically placed in order to run Zim applications;

• Database Backup and Restoration: explains how and when to use the on-line backup and restoration mechanism available in Zim 8.20;

• ZimWeb: discusses how to implement the Web facilities using Zim 8.20;

• Security and Data Protection: shows how to protect data in Zim;

• Registry on Windows: details Windows Registry information used by Zim 8.20;

• Troubleshooting a Zim Application: discusses general guidelines on how to debug a troubleshoot a Zim application;

• Migrating from Graphical to Text-Based Systems: shows how to migrate back graphical to text applications.