The method dictionary describes all class methods that are visible for InstantView®. C++ code will be generated with the ClassiX® program CXDGEN C++. The description contains:

return value generalized data type
function name  
parameter 1 generalized data type
parameter2 generalized data type
. . .  
parameter n generalized data type

while there are the following (generalized) data types:

Type C++ Syntax Information Footnote
VOID void    
STRING char *    
MULTIPLE_STRING CXB_MULTIPLE_STRING * oder CXB_MULTIPLE_STRING &    
OBJECT CX_CLASS * oder CX_CLASS &    
VOLATILE_OBJECT CX_CLASS * oder CX_CLASS & only as return value   1.
VECTOR<OBJECT> CX_CLASS ** last element ZERO  
VECTOR<INTEGER> int * last element INT_MAX  
VECTOR<STRING> char ** last element ZERO  
COLLECTION os_collection * oder os_collection &    
MA CXS_VIEW_DESCRIPTOR * only as first parameter   2.
ANY void * only as return value   3.
  1. Whenever a function generates a transient object, it is possible to request, that the ClassiX® garbage collection deletes this object automatically as soon as it is not needed. This happens, when entering VOLATILE_OBJECT as the function return value. 
  2. for an Access Function; further 'normal' parameters can follow.
  3. Functions which return data of various types for different calls can be entered with the signature ANY. This function has to introduce the ClassiX® system to the return value type with CX_CLASS::SetTypeOfReturnValue(); tables for implicit enumeration transformation can let the function register with CX_CLASS::RegisterEnumTransTbl(). This feature is used for example for attributes (objects of CX_ATTRIBUTE-derived classes).

Example:

    MDI(CX_CONDITIONED_BAG)
        OBJECT Pick(VOID)
        OBJECT Pick(VOID) EXTERN(Evaluate) // similar to CX_FORMULA
        COLLECTION Query(VOID)
        COLLECTION FindAll(VOID)
        OBJECT Amount(VOID)
        VECTOR<STRING> ColVarNames(VOID)
        VECTOR<INTEGER> ColVarNumbers(VOID)
        VECTOR<INTEGER> ColVarTypes(VOID)
        INTEGER NColumnVars(VOID)
        VOID AddColVar(STRING)
        VOID RemoveColVar(STRING)
        VOID Delete(OBJECT)
        VECTOR<STRING> GetInputVarNames(OBJECT)