generating the.net business and data layers andrew novick visual basic pro user group october 2,...

Generating the .Net Business and Data Layers

Andrew Novick

Visual Basic Pro User Group

October 2, 2003

© Copyright 2003 Andrew Novick All rights reserved www.NovickSoftware.com October 2, 2003

Agenda

The n-Tier Model DeKlarit Paradigm

Building the Model Generating the Code Using The Code

Demo of DeKlarit


Novick Software

Consulting Company of Andrew Novick Project Management Business Applications Design Programming Coaching Training

Technologies: SQL Server, VB, VB.Net, ASP, ASP.Net, and XML

http://www.NovickSoftware.com


The n-Tier Model

Web Server Code (ASP, ASP.Net)

Windows Client (WinForms)Browser

Business Objects

Data Services Layer

Data Storage Layer (SQL Server)

UI

Business

Data

Client

AppServer

Database

LogicalLayer

PhysicalLayer

*

*One possible configuration


DeKlarit

Modeling and code generation tool for the business and data layer of an n-Tier application.

Current Version 2.2 Price: $899 Languages: C# & VB.Net Databases: SQL Server & Oracle Business Frameworks Add-ins Create Windows and Web Forms


Alternatives

Commercial Products Freeware Shareware Write Your Own


Commercial Products

DeKlarit ($899) Lockwood Tech’s ProcBlaster ($399) IronSpeed Designer ($495…$3,500) VBeXpress.Net ($450) RapTeir (Free…$299) AlachiSoft TierDeveloper ($495-$995) LLBLGenPro (Free…$195) ORM.Net ($495)


Free/OpenSource

LLBGEN (there is a paid pro version) Olymeyrs OJB.Net (Pre-Alpha Port of a Java tool)


Write Your Own

Writing Code To Write Your Data Services Layer Presented to VB Pro, December 2001 Based on VBPJ Article:

Automate Writing Stored Procedures June 2001

Available at http://www.NovickSoftware.com/Presentations

Implementing CRUD Operations Using Stored Procedures: Part 1on www.DatabaseJournal.com 10/7/03


DeKlarit Paradigm

ModelingCode

GenerationApplication

Coding


Concepts

Business Framework Business Components

Attributes Domains Rules Formulas Code Generation


The Business Framework

An information model of a business that represents it’s behavior and structure.

A Model Consisting of A database schema DataAdapters to encapsulate business logic DataSets that will be used by UI layer

programmers.


Business Component

Similar to an Object, Entity, or Structure May have repeating groups

(de-normalized)

Contains multiple attributes


Attributes

Main elements of the Business Component Structure

Primary Element identifies the Business Component

Secondary Elements have data for the Business Component


Primary Elements- Primary keys

Identify the Business Component instance

Must be unique

May not change

Must have a value from when the instance is created


Universal Relation Assumption (URA)

One thing (attribute) has the same name everywhere.

When an attribute appears in two Business Components they are assumed to be related.


URA – This won’t work

• Name used in both tables.

• Self-reference in UnitsDefinition (UnitsCD, DerivedFromUnitCD).


URA - Subtypes

URA doesn’t always work Multiple relationships to the same component Self-references

Subtypes allow you to circumvent this restriction.


Domains

Abstract data types that allow attributes to have consistent data types.

UI makes them hard to find.


Data Types Supported

Characters Char(length). Fixed length character string. VarChar(length). Variable length character string. Length is the

maximum length. Text.

Numeric(length [, decimals]) DateTime Date Blob Boolean GUID


Subtypes – Multiple Relationships The Problem


Subtypes – Multiple Relationships The Solution


Hierarchical Business Component

* Source DeKlarit 2.2 Help


DataProviders

Extract data from the Business Framework Read-only Attributes come from existing Business

Components

Essentially a Query or View


DataProvider – Example


DataProvider Features

Parameters Conditions Ordering Distinct


Business Rules

Rules are declarative. Written in DeKlarit’s own syntax:

<Action> [IF <Condition>];


Available Rules

Error Assign Default Static Method Call Add and Subtract Serial


Error Rule

error( ExceptionName [, <StringExpr>] )

if <Condition> ;


Error Rule Example

error( NoCashException, "Not enough available cash to buy the stock") if AccountAvailableCash < 0 and TradeBuySell = -1;

UI Would have this code: try accountDataAdapter1.Update(accountDataSet1) catch (NoCashException e) Label1.Text = e.Message

end try


Assign Rule

<Attribute> = <Expression>

[ if<Condition> ];


Assign Rule Example

TradeCommission = 9.99 if insert and TradeAmount < 10000;

TradeCommission = 7.99 if and TradeAmount < 100000;

TradeCommission = 5.99 if insert and TradeAmount >= 100000;


Issues with Assign Rules

They overlap with formulas and could be replaced by formulas.

Not recalculated as formulas are


Default Rule

Default( <Attribute>, <Expression>);

Default(TradeCommission, 9.99);


Default = Assignment

Attribute> = <Expression>

if insert and <Attribute>.IsNull();


Static Method Call Rule

<StaticMethodCall> if <Condition> ;

MyNamespace.MyClass.MyStaticMethod(…) if insert;


Add and Subtract Rule

add( <Attribute1>, <Attribute2> ); subtract( <Attribute1>, <Attribute2> );

Equivalent to assignment statements


Serial Rule

Numbers an attribute

serial( <AttributeToBeNumbered>, <AttributeWhichHasTheLastValue>, <Increment> );

serial(InvoiceLineNumber, InvoiceLastLineNumber, 1);


Formulas

Equation for calculating an attribute

Types Horizontal Vertical

Built-in Methods


Horizontal Formulas

Formula = f( Att1, …, Attn);

The function may reference attributes in the table and static methods, including CLR methods such as System.Datetime.Now()

Usuall arithmentic operators Conditionals


Horizontal Formula Example

TradeCurrentValue = TradeQty * StockLastPrice * TradeBuySell * -1;


Conditionals in Horizontal Formulas

TradeNetAmount = TradeAmount – TradeCommission

if TradeBuySell = 1; (TradeAmount + TradeCommission) * -1

Otherwise;


Vertical Formulas

Aggregates a value from another level

<VerticalFormula> ::= <VerticalFunction> [Where <Condition>];

AccountStockValue = SUM(TradeCurrentValue);


Vertical Functions

SUM( <SummedAttribute>) COUNT( <CountedAttribute>) MAX( <AttributeToMaximize>

[, <ReturnedAttribute> ]) MIN( <AttributeToMinimize>

[,<ReturnedAttribute> ]) FIND( <AttributeToFind> )


Max and Min

StockHighestTradedPriceAccount = MAX(TradePrice);

Optional parameter for retrieving an attributed associated with the Min or Max

StockHighestTradedPriceAccountID = MAX(TradePrice, AccountId);


DeKlarit Project

Business Components Data Providers Tables Domains


Database Changes

DeKlarit does more than other object generators:

In includes a database conversion tool


Code Generation

When built, generates a Business Framework project

DataSet for each componentDataAdapter for each component


The FreeDB Schema


Add-In: WinForms Application

Press a button and Deklarit generates a simple data entry application for the Windows environment.


Add-In: Web Forms Application

Press a button and DeKlarit generates a simple data entry application for ASP.Net


Using the Business Framework in ASP.Net

The framework can be used in any .Net environment including ASP.Net


Software Supported

Databases SQL Server Oracle

Visual Studio 2002 2003


Issues with DeKlarit

Nonstandard modeling approach Business Rules Universal Relation Assumption

Not really n-Tier Produces a combined Business/Data Tier

No really Object Oriented Produces a data centric application

Limited support (e-mail or newsgroup)


Minor Issues with DeKlarit

C# orientation (examples, help, etc) Mangled names in generated code Rough edges running Reverse engineering

Wizard and a few other UI features. Poor English in the help and in the error

messages.


Great things about DeKlarit

Limited knowledge required to start Help is integrated with Visual Studio Code generated for you. Database change scripts written and executed

for you!


Technical Support

E-Mail (Responded within 30 minutes)

Newsgroups and limited documents on their web site.

No phone support.


DeKlarit

Be the first!


Apress Curlingstone an Imprint of Wrox Download code from the book at

www.Curlingstone.com

Andrew Novick [email protected] 978-440-8126 www.NovickSoftware.com

Consulting - Project Management – Design - Programming - Training

SQL Server 2000 XML Distilled


T-SQL UDF of the Week

Free newsletter about SQL Server User-Defined Functions

A CREATE FUNCTION script in every issue Additional information on UDFs

Find it athttp://www.NovickSoftware.com/UDFofWeek/UDFofWeek.htm


T-SQL User-Defined Functions

The Book

Coming November 2003


Novick Software

Consulting Company of Andrew Novick Project Management Business Applications Design Programming Coaching Training

Technologies: SQL Server, VB, VB.Net, ASP, ASP.Net, and XML

http://www.NovickSoftware.com Home of the T-SQL User-Defined Function of the Week


Thanks for coming!

VB Pro Users Group

generating the.net business and data layers andrew novick visual basic pro user group october 2,...

Documents

rights reserved

business component slide

net business

code demo of deklarit

java tool slide

business component instance

web forms slide

possible configuration