#!F-adobe-helvetica-medium-r-normal--18*
#!N 
#!CSlateBlue #!N  #!Rwritmod Writing a Simple Module 
#!N #!EC #!N #!N This chapter discusses the basics of writing 
a simple module for Data Explorer. Subsequent chapters cover some typical 
types of modules you might want to write. Although Data Explorer 
modules support a broad range of data and connections types, your 
module need support only those types it can be expected to 
encounter. Moreover, it is not necessary to manipulate all the components 
of a Data Explorer Field. The programming examples in later chapters 
illustrate modules that manipulate particular components (e.g., "data"). #!N #!N Before 
writing a module, you should have a general understanding of the 
Data Explorer data model and be familiar with the way data 
is carried in Fields, Groups, and components (see  #!Ldatam,dxall1022 h Data Explorer Data Model  #!EL  ). For 
a detailed treatment of the data model, see  #!Ldatmod,dxall197 h Understanding the Data Model  #!EL  in IBM 
Visualization Data Explorer User's Guide. In this manual,  #!Ldatachp,dxall1061 h Working with Data Model Objects  #!EL  , summarizes 
the routines that implement the model. #!N #!N Two other important 
topics are briefly reviewed in subsequent sections: #!N #!I0 #!N  #!F-adobe-times-medium-r-normal--18*   
#!N #!N #!I30 #!N 1. managing the memory allocated to and 
used by visual programs and their constituent modules (see  #!Lmemng,dxall1023 h Memory Management  #!EL  ) 
and #!N #!I30 #!N 2. the Data Explorer execution model (see 
 #!Lexecm,dxall1026 h Data Explorer Execution Model  #!EL  ). #!N #!I0 #!N #!EF #!N #!N #!N #!N  #!F-adobe-times-medium-i-normal--18*   
Next Topic #!EF #!N #!N  #!Lall989,dxall990 h Getting Started Writing a Module  #!EL  #!N  #!F-adobe-times-medium-i-normal--18*   #!N 
