I have created the web project. Now I click on the menu to the business object mapper, solution preferences, etc. and nothing happens. Please help.



Charles

Charles R Kelsoe

Charles,

Glad to see you're getting started.  The first thing that you need to do is create a business object.  To create a new business object, do the following:

1.) Right-click the project and click "Add new Item..."
2.) When the tempaltes are displayed, select "StrataFrame Business Object"
3.) Name the business object (usually the name of a table)
4.) Click OK
5.) This will create the business object itself, now let's strong type the business object
6.) Click on StrataFrame -> Business Object Mapper
7.) This will open the BO Mapper.  You will first need to create a BO Mapper project that is associated with your VS project
8.) Click the "Configure Project" link on the right panel after selecting the VS project from the treeview on the left.
9.) To create a new project, click the "New" button
10.) Enter a description name, description, etc.  And if you are going to pull a schema from an SQL server, enter a valid connection string to the server that contains the schema you want to use.  If you are going to use the Database Deployment Toolkit, enter any value on the connection string.

Example Connection String: server=10.10.0.1;Integrated Security=SSPI;

11.) Save the project.  BO Mapper project is now associated with the VS project.
12.) Select the new business object from the treeview on the left.
13.) Click "Configure Business Object" on the panel on the right
14.) Select Database Deployment Toolkit, or SQL server (whichever you plan to use) and click the button to choose a table.
15.) Select the table the business object will represent.
16.) Click OK, then click OK again to save the business object settings
17.) Now click the "Rebuild All" button from the toolstrip. 
18.) You have just strong typed your business object and it is ready for use.

To help you get going I will create you a sample web app.  What language are you using and I will create you a sample web application using the sample database that is installed with the framework.  This way you can see the framework in action and then begin to take it apart to see how things work.

On a web project, you'll probably want to store your business objects in a class library rather than in the App_Code folder as a .NET web project does not really support components very nicely (issues with nested files, no designer files, etc...). You may get the business objects to work in the website project, but you'll have a better time creating a new class library project and adding it to your Visual Studio solution.

My problem is that when I get to the step of clicking on StrataFrame, Business Object Mapper nothing happens.

Charles R Kelsoe

Since I can not edit my own post, my problem occurs at step 6

Charles R Kelsoe

This could be one of two things.  First, check your database connection to make sure that it can connect to the StrataFrame database.  To do this:

1.) Through Visual Studio, click on StrataFrame -> Database Connection...
2.) This will bring up a database connections window.  You should already have an existing connection, if not this is definitly your problem.  If one exists, select it and click "Edit", if not, click "Add.."
3.) This will allow you to modify the connection to your SQL server.  This should be the same server that you provided when deploying the StrataFrame database during the installation process.  Click "Next >" and then "Finish" once the connection has been checked.
4.)  Now try to go back into the Business Object Mapper

If this doesn't help, try to open Business Object Mapper through the sample VB application.  The Business Object Mapper should appear, if so, then we know that there is something within your current solution that is causing the problem.  Let me know if this works.

I know that you are working on a web application.  Where are your business objects located?  Are they in the website or do you have them in a class library DLL?  Just FYI, you will have problems housing business object within a website project itself.  This is due to the nature of ASP.NET and how objects are reflected.  By housing the business objects in a separate DLL you will just need to add a reference to the web project and add an "assembly" reference on the web.config file.  This is the recommended approach for any ASP.NET application.  If you are creating custom controls, it would be a good idea to keep them in a separate solution as well.

So would I be better off building a Winform (SmartClient) app, then using the BO from that for the web front end?

Charles R Kelsoe

No, you could most certainly start off by creating a web project, you'll just want to place your business objects in a class library that is referenced by the web project. Add a new "Business Object Library" project to the solution containing your website and add your business objects there. If you cannot open the Business Object Mapper with the class library in the same solution as your website (let me know if you can't and I'll look into it), create a different solution to house your class library containing your business objects.

Even though they both would / could share the same bo's?

Charles R Kelsoe

Aye, if you put your business objects in a class library, you can use them in both a web application and a winforms application. We have a MicroFour CRM class library containing the business objects for our internal CRM system... The website uses them to save off customer information through the trial sign-up and the online store and the internal WinForms CRM application uses them as well.