10.1.1 What is a Template?
Application templates are one of the most powerful features within LANSA. A template can be thought of as an RDML code generator. It is an interpretive program written using its own language using 10.2.2 Template Commands. When executed, a template prompts the developer with a series of questions and then generates the appropriate RDML code based on the answers.
Templates are used with the LANSA Editor and can be used to add code to any LANSA object that stores RDML code. For example, templates can add code to functions, forms, reusable parts, or WAMs.
Templates are extremely important as they ensure consistency in function design, operation and structure. They are an efficient means of generating commercial grade applications, and can produce a complete Visual LANSA component, RDML function or just a block of RDML code.
LANSA also ships more than 40 ready-to-use templates to help you with application development. Specific online help is available for each shipped template. Because templates are themselves a "program", they can be created and changed by developers.
It is also very important to note that templates are defined at the system level of LANSA. A template is available to all partitions. If it is changed, all partitions will have the new changed template. Hence, it is always advisable to make a copy of a template and to never change the original template.