/*DataFlex 2026 is almost ready.*/

Key new features in DataFlex 2026

Package Manager

Libraries, without the manual work.

The new Package Manager streamlines how libraries and dependencies are installed, updated and shared. Add packages from the DataFlex package repository, Git repositories or local workspaces and manage them directly from the Studio or command line.

Packages can install the files your application needs, maintain script includes and resolve dependency order automatically. Versioning based on Semantic Versioning gives you control over which updates your application can use.

The result? Cleaner workspaces, easier collaboration and less time spent copying files or maintaining configuration by hand.

A step-by-step approach to adoption

The Package Manager introduces a new way of working with libraries and dependencies. To make this transition as smooth as possible, we have created a step-by-step migration plan.

We invite developers to test the approach, try it with their own projects, and share feedback in the forums. Your input helps us refine the process and make adoption easier for everyone. Read the step-by-step migration plan in the Online docs.

Web UI is now a package

Faster updates. Fewer browser caching headaches.

The DataFlex Web UI is now delivered through the Package Manager. The JavaScript engine, server-side WebApp Framework components, FlexTron components and themes are available as separate packages.

This makes it possible to deliver Web UI fixes and improvements more regularly. It also means you only need to include the themes and components your application actually uses, while the Package Manager takes care of dependencies and script order.

Create New dialog

A clearer way to start.

The redesigned Create New dialog makes it easier to find the right starting point for a project. Templates are categorized for Web and Windows development, automatically filtered by project type and supported by clearer descriptions.

A new search bar helps developers find what they need quickly, while direct links to the Learning Center provide extra guidance along the way.

 

 

Modal dialogs in drill-down applications

More natural navigation on larger screens.

Modal dialogs can now become part of the navigation stack in drill-down WebApps. Opened through the standard navigation APIs, they participate in application history and appear in the Navigation Designer.

This makes it easier to create prompt-style lookups and record-selection flows while maintaining consistent and predictable navigation.

Web Selection Form

A more flexible way to select data.

The new Web Selection Form provides a powerful alternative to the existing combo and parent combo controls. It supports multi-column suggestion lists, paged data loading and customizable buttons.

With an API comparable to the Web Tags Form, it gives developers more control over how users search for and select information.

 

 

Extended Dashboard Sample

More inspiration for data-driven applications.

The WebOrderMobile sample now includes an extended dashboard with charts, filters for individual tiles and easier access to configuration options.

It provides a practical example of how interactive dashboards can be built into modern DataFlex WebApps.

 

Dark mode and CSS variables

Make every theme your own.

DataFlex web themes now use CSS variables, making it much easier to customize colors and styling with your own CSS.

Built-in framework support lets applications follow the user’s browser preference or explicitly switch between light and dark mode. This gives users a modern interface that fits their system while giving developers more control over the application’s visual identity.

Hardened executables

Stronger protection, built into your applications.

DataFlex 2026 applications are compiled with additional Windows security protections, including Data Execution Prevention, Control Flow Guard and Address Space Layout Randomization.

These safeguards make it more difficult for memory-related vulnerabilities to be exploited, with negligible impact on runtime performance.

The additional checks may also reveal older 64-bit compatibility issues, such as external functions that still use an Integer where a Pointer is required. Testing your existing applications with the Release Candidate is therefore especially important.

Reproducible builds

Same source. Identical result.

Recompiling identical source code now produces a bit-for-bit identical binary. Embedded timestamps and inconsistent alignment data have been removed from generated EXE files.

Reproducible builds improve build verification, support compiler testing and can help reduce false positives from antivirus software.

Excel Import Wizard

From spreadsheet to database table in minutes.

The new Excel Import Wizard generates database tables directly from Excel worksheets. Import complete or partial sheets, create a separate table for each sheet and let DataFlex generate primary keys automatically.

The wizard is available from the Create New dialog, the database selector and the Table Explorer context menu.

 

 

Improved documentation

A fresh home for DataFlex knowledge.

The DataFlex documentation has moved to a completely new system. Content is now maintained in Markdown and stored in Git repositories, making it easier for contributors to improve, review, and extend the documentation.

The new online experience brings updated styling, improved code examples, and a smoother way to find the information you need. And with the new DataFlex AI Assistant built into the documentation, getting help is easier than ever. Ask questions about classes, methods, best practices, or code examples in your own language and explore DataFlex with AI-powered assistance.

Explore it at docs.dataflex.dev.

docs.dataflex.dev.

One final test. Tell us what you find.

The final DataFlex 2026 release is close, making this an important moment to test your applications, integrations and development workflows.

Download the Release Candidate, explore the new features and try it with your own projects. If you encounter something unexpected, please share it in the DataFlex 2026 Testing forum while there is still time to investigate it before the final release.

• Download the DataFlex 2026 Release Candidate.
• Watch the What’s New in DataFlex 2026 pre-release video course.
• Read the complete list of changes in the DataFlex 2026 documentation.
• Share your findings in the DataFlex 2026 Testing forum.