Release Notes

Code On Time has released update 6.0.0.17 that includes several enhancements and bug fixes described below.

• Search in Quick Find or Automatic Search Bar will clear the selected record and hide any related details link to previously selected master. Applying a filter will also reset the selected record.
   
• Date and numeric “fuzzy” values are now accepted in automatic search bar and filter filters. For example, users can now enter "Thu" in the search field of DateTime type or enter a date as 12162011 (for 12/16/2011).
   
• Virtual method HandleException can be implemented to perform global exception processing for all exceptions raised when actions are executed.
   
• Data access objects and BLOB processing code of the application framework now uses class ControllerUtilities to determine the "standard" views that must be used to execute SELECT / UPDATE / INSERT / DELETE operations.
   
  All operations with the exception of INSERT are using "editForm1". INSERT is using "createForm1". The utility class allows overriding the decision making process, which allows a non-generic view name to be returned for certain data controller when executing specific actions.
   
• Calls to UpdateFieldValue in the business rule method execute in response to Command Name = "Custom" and Command Argument = "abc.." will refresh updated fields.
  This can be used as an alternative to "Calculated" fields to update values in the record in response to user-initiated action.
   
• BLOB processing will allow caching if IE 6,7,8 is downloading the binary object over SSL. Otherwise it is impossible to see the downloaded file on the client.
   
• Time dropdown is displayed for fields with Data Format String of "{0:g} or "{0:G}". The dropdown now correctly handles am/pm values.
   
• User-defined filter "'Field' Does Not Equal 'Empty'" will now work correctly.
   
• Prevents an exception raised when an empty area of Project Explorer is clicked and selected node is not available.
   
• Fixed the bug with processing of "_display" argument that can specified in the URL along with data controller URL parameters.
   
• Preview and Generate actions executed from within Project Designer will not raise and exception if IIS Express is not installed on the computer. The code generator will try to use the local web development server that comes standard with Visual Studio.
   
• Code generator validates presence of resources referenced in the "*.*proj" files of generated projects. If the resource (file) does not exist then the reference is excluded.
  The major side effect is the ability to change the theme in the projects other than Web Site Factory without breaking the generated web app. Developers can try all available themes in all types of projects without issues.
   
• Various cosmetic changes to the code generator UI.
  

Examples of ControllerUtilities class and sample implementation of HandleException are presented below.

The first class instructs the application framework to use myCreateForm when application data access objects are trying to insert records through MyController data controller.

The second class shows how to display a custom message instead of a generic error reported by SQL Server when DELETE statement fails due to foreign key constraints.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;

namespace MyCompany.Data
{

    public partial class ControllerUtilities
    {
        public override string GetActionView(string controller, string view, string action)
        {
            if (controller == "MyController" && action == "Insert")
                return "myCreateForm";
            return base.GetActionView(controller, view, action);
        }
    }
}

namespace MyCompany.Data
{

    public partial class Controller
    {
        protected override void HandleException(Exception ex, ActionArgs args, ActionResult result)
        {
            if (ex.Message.Contains("DELETE"))
                result.Errors.Add("Can't delete a record");
            else
                base.HandleException(ex, args, result);
        }
    }
}

Code On Time has released update 6.0.0.16. The new updates includes a collection of new features and bug fixes described below: 

• Live Inspection is now available.
   
• Integrated EASE Auditing is now available in Unlimited edition.
   
• New Modern and Dark Knight themes.
  
• Reduced metadata footprint with all databases. Previous version would have enumerated all table columns even if the tables are not selected in the project.
   
• Custom project references (for example, external assemblies) are not lost when Visual Basic projects are re-generated.
   
• Mr. Adalberto Hernandez Vega has contributed Spanish localization for es-HN culture. Thank you!
   
• Client Library now supports new data controller URL parameter, which allows indicating, which URL filter fields shall remain visible. The default behavior is to hide the data fields specified in the URL.
   
  A comma-separated list of fields can be specified as follows: _display=Field1,Field2,Field3. The client library will also populate field values from the values in the URL when _commandName is New. Read more about data controller URL parameters at /blog/2011/01/data-controller-url-parameters.html. 
   
• Left Shift + Click on the project name will re-generate the project.
  
• If the HyperlinkFormatString property of a field starts with “mailto:” then the links is formatted correctly.
   
• The header text of the action group with scope "Action Column" is displayed in the header of the action column. If the text is blank then "Actions" is displayed instead.
   
• Various cosmetic improvements to Project Designer.
   
• Project Explorer tracks and updates multiple visible nodes linked to the same data controller on all tabs.
   
• Client library detects HTML tags and does not perform HTML formatting in menus and "filter details" area of views if HTML is detected.
   
• Automatic expansion of collapsed nodes in Project Explorer upon refresh of a node by monitor. 
   
• Code generator will not try to delete project folders under control of Subversion.
   
• Multi-field filter fields (up to five) are now available to allow multi-level master detail configuration with multi-column primary keys.
   
• Client library now supports [Master.FieldName] expressions in When Client Script of actions and in new Visible When property of data views.
  Multiple-value filter fields are now working correctly.
   
• Visual style of buttons in "Action Column" scope has changed.
   
• Data Field Visibility is now a property of a Data Field instead of a list of Visibility expressions.
   
• Shortcuts to Value/Text Items and Validators are displayed in fields and data fields.
   
• Fixed the bug that was preventing deletion of visibility expressions on data fields in grid views.
   
• Core.css has been changed to use the new Outer CSS class for icons. Existing apps will require modification to support custom action icons.
  For example: .NewIcon .Outer, .FlatGroupIcon.NewIcon
   
• Fix the problem with disappearing “Reports|*”  nodes due to wrong schemas deduced from "_" in the names of tables.
   
• Preview window is maximized if the Designer window is maximized.
   
• Data controller URL parameters now support _commandName2 and _commandArgument2. The second command is executed as a follow up to the first set of _commandName and _commandArgument. Use the first set to select a record and the second command to execute a custom action on the activated record when needed.
   
• CloudApp project file in Azure Factory applications is now compatible with Azure SDK 1.6.4
   
• Action groups and actions feature Id property. It is used as as a CSS style on all user interface elements representing actions.
   
• App Preview shows precisely on top of the Designer window. 
   
• Utility Css classes are assigned to UI elements representing actions to support Designer inspection.
   
• Icon column in grid views now renders a span to allow better formatting.
   
• Menu options now feature Inner, Outer, and Self CSS classes to allow sophisticated styling.
  
• Restored ability to go back from Controller Summary page in Project Wizard.