Objective Views is a comprehensive set of Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) C++ classes for creating symbols that you can manipulate on a diagram. Objective Views provides a drawing surface abstraction, also known as the canvas, onto which you can draw and manipulate symbols and graphics. Objects on the canvas encapsulate graphical elements that the user or application can move, scale, rotate, connect, or animate.

In addition to extending the functionality of Microsoft Foundation Classes, Objective Views also acts as a layer of abstraction for the Windows GDI. This layer shields you from low-level GDI details so you can concentrate on creating an application design. Because the Objective Views classes extend MFC classes, you can seamlessly integrate an existing application into Objective Views. However, this does not prevent you from customizing the behavior of any of the Objective Views classes.

Objective Views classes enhance the MFC classes that thinly encapsulate the Windows GDI API by supporting interactive graphics that support high-level drawing actions such as rotation, copying, or grouping objects.

Using Objective Views, you can quickly and effectively develop any application that includes a drawing surface and interaction with graphical objects. Here are some of the possibilities:

• CASE software, applications that show the relationship among concepts using symbols as notation, such as a modeling tool.

• Hierarchy Diagrams that show hierarchical relationships, such as a corporate organization chart that connects the symbols for executives, managers, developers, and other staff.

• Control Flow Applications that describe a process graphically using symbols to represent decision points that link to different sections of the diagram. An example would be a diagram showing the control flow of a voice mail system.

• A variety of other applications, such as classic flowcharts, computer network diagrams, family trees, and office layouts.