Greetings,

My Company is just getting into StrataFrame and I have a couple of questions. 

First, according to other posts in this forum, if we want to present data to the user in an editable grid, we must use a grid component from DevExpress.  DevExpress offers a couple of different grid controls.  Which ones are supported?  Do we buy these controls directly from DevExpress? And is there a "Strataframe" version of the controls or do we just buy the standard versions? 

Secondly, many of our applications are meant to work with Microsoft's Great Plains ERP system.  Great Plains allows you to create "add ins" to provide custom functionality.  These must be implemented as .NET DLLs.  Is it possible to create DLLs that contain StrataFrame Maintenance forms?  If so, is there any documentation/sample code for this?

Thanks for your help.

Fran Parker

MaxQ Technologies, Inc.

If you are running through a DLL you still have to initialize the environment.  The problem you are having is because the SetDataSources method in Appmain is never called.  For example:

Option 1 - Replace the SetDataSources Method
ConnectionManager.ApplicationKey = "MyApplication"
ConnectionManager.ApplicationDefaultTitle = "MyApplication Connection"
ConnectionManager.ApplicationDefaultDescription = "This application connection is used by MyApplication"

'-- Set the required data source information so that the ConnectionManager can gather it
'      SQL Connection
ConnectionManager.AddRequiredDataSourceItem("", "SQL Connection", DataSourceTypeOptions.SqlServer, "MyDatabase", "This connection is used by MyApp.")
       
'-- Allow the database connection wizard to manage the connection
ConnectionManager.SetConnections()

Option 2 - Manually Specify the Connection Strings
MicroFour.StrataFrame.Data.Databasics.DataSources.Add(New SqlDataSourceItem("","MyConnectionString"))

If you are going to be using localization, you need to set this information up as well.  This is called in the InitApplication method of AppMain.vb or program.cs.  The last thing has to do with security.  You will need to look in this two methods mentioned in this post and pull out any security settings as well (only seen when the security templates were used to create an application).

Just out of curiosity....how are you planning on calling this DLL if not through an EXE?  You have to have an entry point someplace.  Are you using COM or something?

Thanks for your help.  I'll give that a try.

Much of our work revolves around Microsoft's Great Plains ERP system.  Great Plains allows developers to create "add-ins" to provide custom functionality.  These have to be implemented as .NET DLLs.  One of the Great Plain's EXEs (which is beyond our control) will call into the add-in DLL to tell it that the user wants it to perform its function.  We are hoping to build our add-ins using StrataFrame.

Thanks again.

Fran Parker

MaxQ Technologies, Inc.

The interface you use to implement the add-in should have a method called OnStart() or OnConnect(), or something to that effect... you'll want to find the method that Great Plains calls to initialize your add-in and put your code to set the data sources there.