Code On Time: Application Builder

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Application Builder

Wednesday, March 7, 2018Print Subscribe

When users create a new project in the app generator using release 8.6.6.0 and later, the project type will now be App Factory.

App Factory projects will create an ASP.NET-hosted web site project, deployable to any server running Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS).

These projects contain both a REST API web server and stream HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to web browsers, to support user interaction through a publicly accessible web site. App Factory projects also function as a REST API server for native Mobile Apps.

Developers can also enable App Factory integration with DotNetNuke and SharePoint.

App Factory project folder directory root contains metadata files required by the app generator, as well as the Visual Studio solution file. An “app” folder contains the generated code required to run the server.

Note that projects created before release 8.7.0.0 will use the “WebSite” folder name instead.

The app folder contains a set of resources required for the application to function. The App_Code folder contains the application framework. Upon running the application, the code in that folder is automatically compiled and executed.

All styling is stored under ~/css folder. All client-side scripts are stored under ~/js folder. Standard styling and script files are read by the framework, joined together, and streamed to the client (native app or web browser). The “_ignore.txt” file located in the two directories enumerates which non-standard files and directories are included in the output.

App Factory (Advanced)

An additional checkbox is now present on the New Project screen – “Implement application framework as class library (for experienced users only).”

When this option is enabled, the application framework code is placed in a separate class library project, named after the project’s namespace.

The developer must have an instance of Visual Studio 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, or 2017 installed on the development computer in order for the application to run. At compile-time, the Microsoft Visual Studio compiler must compile and package the application source code stored in the namespace folder into a *.dll file under the app folder. Only then will hosting software (Microsoft IIS) will be able to run the application.

App Factory (Advanced) projects store standard CSS and JS files under the class library. Upon compilation, these files are saved as embedded resources and read from the class manifest.

Custom CSS files can be placed under a “css” folder under the “app” directory. Custom JS files can be placed under the “js” folder under the “app” directory. The framework will read any files in those directories and not excluded by the “_ignore.txt” file, and stream them with every page request.

Pros of App Factory (Advanced)

Application source code is stored in a re-usable class library.
Hosting provider or customer is unable to view or edit the application source code.
Developer can only modify code during debugging if solution platform is switched to x86.

Cons of App Factory (Advanced)

Microsoft Visual Studio is required.
Application takes longer to generate and compile.
Developer cannot modify code files while application is running.

Old Project Types

A number of project types have been deprecated or disabled:

Web Site Factory – renamed to App Factory.
Web App Factory – renamed to App Factory (Advanced).
Mobile Factory – a variant of Web Site Factory with Classic disabled. Deprecated. Use App Factory with User Interface set to “Touch UI” instead.
DotNetNuke Factory – a variant of Web App Factory designed to work as a DNN module in DNN 7 and below. Deprecated. Use App Factory with DotNetNuke Connector instead.
SharePoint Factory – a variant of Web App Factory designed to work as a SharePoint extension in SP 2010. Deprecated. Use App Factory with SharePoint Add-in instead.

Labels: Application Builder, Application Factory, ASP.NET, DotNetNuke, Features, Mobile, SharePoint, Tutorials, User Interface, Web App Generator

Friday, January 19, 2018Print Subscribe

Dark Theme and Client/Server Configuration

Code On Time release 8.6.12.0 introduces the new Theme Engine with support for custom themes. The new engine comes with new “Dark” theme. Now developers can choose from 70 color combinations provided by 2 themes and 35 accents.

We have also renamed Settings/ Web Server Configuration section Settings / Client & Server.

We have extended the client framework with the foundation for “inline editing” in grids/cards/list. Keep reading to find more.

Dark Theme

An example of Dark theme with Construction accent.

This is an app with Dark theme in Vantage accent.

Here is a bootstrap-based page in an app with Dark theme and Aquarium accent. We have implemented new “software breakpoints” for bootstrap content to enable correct rendering of bootstrap content in modal pages and the upcoming split screens. The menu is not displayed on the toolbar if every page with icon is referenced in the Tab Bar at the bottom of the screen.

Client & Server

Project configuration section in Settings previously called Web Server Configuration is now called Client & Server.

Client & Server section allows selecting the front end for your app. The default option is the Web Browser. This option is already familiar to developer using Code On Time. The app generator will start the default web browser of the operating system.

Two additional options Generic App and Custom App will start a native app either based on Chromium Embedded Framework (all versions of Windows with API compatible with Windows 7) or Universal Windows Platform (Windows 10 and above).

The native custom or generic app will install JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Fonts, and Images of your application on the device by downloading them from the server. IIS Express is the server that developers work with to test their applications.

Entire application framework is installed on the device in the native mode. Native app loads local pages in a platform-specific web view. Local pages will request data from the remote server (IIS Express in development mode). The main advantage of native apps is faster load time and ability to interact with the device.

We are launching a new product called Offline Sync Add-On that will enable native app to work in a completely disconnected or “offline” mode. It will perform preemptive downloading of data on the device. No changes to the server-side application will be requires. Any app created with Code On Time and deployed to a server will work in a completely offline mode with the help of the add-on.

The rollout of native apps will begin with Generic App for Windows 7 and Universal Windows Platform.

Custom apps for the same platform will become available in February of 2018. Offline Sync Add-On is expected to become available in the same time frame.

Generic and Custom apps for iOS will become available in March 2018, which will be followed by Android and MacOS.

Release Summary

The following features and enhancements are included in the release:

Theme engine has been extended to support multiple themes with accents. The new theme called Dark is introduced. It can be combined with any of the 35 accents.
Data fields with HyperlinkFormatString are displays as links in forms. TouchUI
SQL business rules use the connection string name specified in the data controller if any.
Bootstrap responsiveness is now based on "software" breakpoints calculated for each page in Touch UI.
Bootstrap responsiveness is fixed app-min-lg in Classic UI.
Method dataView.tagged() does not assign tag cache if there are no tags defined
Any view tagged as history-search-none will not retain values in filter, quick find, advanced search and will also forget selected view if different from the default.
The following configuration of ~touch-settings.json will disable the search history globally in the lookups.
```
{
  "history": {
    "lookup": {
      "search": false
    }
  }
}
```
Section on the project settings Web Server Configuration has been renamed to Client & Server. It allows configuring the front-end on the development that will be used to preview the app. Supported options “Browser”, “Generic”, and “Custom” apps.
Running an app created with Unlimited Edition in debug mode of Visual Studio will automatically link “debugging” versions of the JavaScript libraries.
Client library now includes uniqcode.js to allow better parsing of text with non-Latin characters.
Removed the code related to the legacy transaction management in the server-side framework. It will be replaced with the new code to support ODP (Offline Data Processor).
Menu strip is not displayed in the toolbar if all menu items have icons and the Tab Bar is visible. Touch UI
Menu strip is not displayed in the toolbar if all menu items have icons and the all icons are visible at the bottom of the sidebar. TouchUI
Touch devices with small form factor do not reduce density of summary views anymore.
Added "beforeusercontextshow.app" event to add user context menu items in sidebar, menu bar, user dropdown. Touch UI
Fixed issue with Web App Factory projects not finding "Template.xslt" file.
Password character is now rendered as "black circle" character. Touch UI
Tooltip for Boolean values in grids displays values as Yes and No. Touch UI
Added CSS minification to theme stylesheet generator. Touch UI
Removed the limits on the width of app name in the toolbar when sidebar is minimized. Touch UI
View Selector on action bar has the same color as actions and groups. Touch UI
Switching between Charts and [ViewStyle+Aggregates] correctly resets the page height. Touch UI
Method $app.touch.resetPageHeight will reset the height of the current page. Touch UI
Fixed security issue with anonymous access to controller XML in apps with HTML implementation.

Inline Editing

The most frequently requested feature that we hear about from customers is the ability to edit data inline. The direct insertion of inputs in grid/list/cards view styles is complicated by the fact that these styles are displaying data inside of “A” tag. Our internal discussions have led to a conclusion that inline input will be integrated in the future rewrite of these view styles, further delaying availability.

Luckily our independent effort on Universal Input and Surveys allowed us to architect the method of inline editing in Touch UI apps compatible both with touch devices and device with keyboard/mouse input. The foundational components are already in place and will work with the current “link-based” implementation of grid/list/cards.

The complete integration of Inline Editing in the Touch UI in expected in a couple of weeks!!!

Labels: Application Builder, Offline, Release Notes, Tips and Tricks, User Interface, Web 2.0, Web Form Builder

Wednesday, December 27, 2017Print Subscribe

Light and Dark

Long dark winter nights are calling for a different kind of GUI. Here comes the “Dark” theme.

Place the following in ~/touch-settings.json to lock-in the Dark theme with the Bitter Sweet accent. This configuration will also disable “Settings” option in the GUI.

{
  "ui": {
    "theme": {
      "name": "Dark",
      "accent": "BitterSweet"
    },
    "transitions": { "style": "slide" }
  },
  "settings": { "enabled": true }
}

This is the “Light” version of the same app. It works best if you use the device in the bright light.

Light and Dark theme are provided to give developers more options to express themselves and to allow upcoming native apps to have day and night time versions of the GUI, while still enabling rich customization with accents.

Accents do look more dramatic with the “Dark” theme. Try building your own theme accent now!

Dark theme with Construct accent in the app created with Code On Time.

Dark theme with Construct accent in the app created with Code On Time. The context menu is open.

Dark theme with Construct accent in the app created with Code On Time. The sidebar is hidden and the tab bar is displays icons for frequently used app pages.

Dark theme with Aquarium accent in the app created with Code On Time. The form is open and context menu of the form is also visible.

Dark theme with Aquarium accent in the app created with Code On Time. The form view is open and the "Data View" field is visible in the form.

Dark theme with Verdant accent in the app created with Code On Time. The sidebar is expanded.

Dark theme with Modern Rose accent in the app created with Code On Time. The app is displayed in a small form factor.

Dark theme with Modern Rose accent in the app created with Code On Time. The navigation menu is open.

If Settings option is enabled, then users can access the themes and accents at runtime.

Labels: Application Builder, User Interface, Web 2.0