Web Application Generator

Commands provide a dictionary of SQL expressions matched to the field names of the parent data controller. The application framework uses the “from” section of the command to figure the name of the base table and joined tables, if applicable.

Here is an example of command1 from Employees data controller:

select
    "Employees"."EmployeeID" "EmployeeID"
    ,"Employees"."LastName" "LastName"
    ,"Employees"."FirstName" "FirstName"
    ,"Employees"."Title" "Title"
    ,"Employees"."TitleOfCourtesy" "TitleOfCourtesy"
    ,"Employees"."BirthDate" "BirthDate"
    ,"Employees"."HireDate" "HireDate"
    ,"Employees"."Address" "Address"
    ,"Employees"."City" "City"
    ,"Employees"."Region" "Region"
    ,"Employees"."PostalCode" "PostalCode"
    ,"Employees"."Country" "Country"
    ,"Employees"."HomePhone" "HomePhone"
    ,"Employees"."Extension" "Extension"
    ,"Employees"."Photo" "Photo"
    ,"Employees"."Notes" "Notes"
    ,"Employees"."ReportsTo" "ReportsTo"
    ,"ReportsTo"."LastName" "ReportsToLastName"
    ,"Employees"."PhotoPath" "PhotoPath"
from "dbo"."Employees" "Employees"
    left join "dbo"."Employees" "ReportsTo" on 
        "Employees"."ReportsTo" = "ReportsTo"."EmployeeID"

Creating a Command

New commands can be created by using the context menu option “New Command” on the Commands node. The New Command icon on the toolbar can also be used.

Moving Commands

Commands can be moved by dragging and dropping onto a controller, Commands node, or on another command. The context menu options Cut/Copy and Paste will also work.

When a command is removed from a controller, any references to the command will be cleared. The views will need to be reconfigured with a replacement command.

Deleting a Command

Commands can be deleted using the context menu “Delete” action. The Delete keyboard shortcut will serve the same purpose. Any views that refer to the command will have their CommandId property cleared.

Renaming a Command

Use the context menu “Rename” option to rename the command. Pressing F2 will also rename the command. Any views of the data controller will reference the new name.

Resetting a Command

Commands are recreated by the web application generator every time the baseline is refreshed. If the developer modifies the command, automatic recreation will no longer occur, and the developer must update the command by hand.

The “Reset to Baseline” context menu option will restore the command to baseline state.

The Controllers tab of the Project Explorer displays a list of all controllers in the project. Each controller contains commands, fields, views, actions, and business rules.

Creating a Controller

Controllers can be created by clicking on the New Controller icon on the Project Explorer toolbar.

The New Data Controller form will open in the Project Browser window. Enter a name and press OK to create the controller.

Controllers that have no command are displayed with a different icon.

Cloning a Controller

A clone of a controller can be made by using the context menu option “Clone”.

Confirm the operation, and the controller will be cloned. All commands, fields, views, actions, and business rules will be exactly the same. If the baseline of the original controller has changed, then the cloned controller will be affected as well. A cloned controller is a fork in the development lifecycle of the original. You can create as many clones as you want.

Deleting Controllers

Controllers can be deleted by using the context menu option “Delete”, or using the Delete keyboard shortcut. Deleting a controller will also delete all referencing data views.

Renaming Controllers

Controllers can be renamed using the context menu option “Rename”, or using the F2 keyboard shortcut. Renaming a controller will change corresponding references of the data views.

Pasting Controllers

When a controller is copied and pasted on a page, then a new data view from this controller will be added in a new container at the bottom of the page.

When a controller is pasted onto a container, a new data view will be added to the bottom of the target container.

Multiple data controllers can be copied onto pages and containers if necessary.