Developing Application Forms

This section describes how to develop Application Forms for the IFS Enterprise Explorer, describing the process and the activities the developer will use.

Contents

• Introduction to Application Forms
  A short introduction to what Application Forms is and the history behind it.
• Application Forms Development Standards
  Standards describes how to properly name items, how to write the source code, how to write code comments, and how to layout your forms.
• Set Up Personal Development Environment for Application Forms
  Describes how to set up your environment in order to develop for Application Forms.
• Create Application Forms Development Project
  In order to develop Application Forms you need a Visual Studio project. A project in Visual Studio is a buildable unit with source code, resources, references and build instructions. When starting new development or customization a new Visual Studio project may be required.
• Development of Application Forms ranges from creation and modification of forms, table windows and dialog boxes to testing and debugging of the developed solution.

  The main development scenarios for Application Forms are:

   

  		Develop Single Record Form Windows   Describes how to develop a single record form window. A basic form where all the controls are bound to a single data source.
  		Develop Table Form Windows   Describes how to develop a table form window. A table layout of data records from one data source.
  		Develop Container Tab Form Windows   Describes how to develop a container tab form window. A container form that group a set of forms into a logic overview where each form functions independently from the others.
  		Develop Master Detail Form Windows   Describes how to develop a master detail form window. A master detail contains one master data source and one or more detail data sources. A typical example is master header with details in a child table.
  		Develop Master Detail Tab Form Windows   Describes how to develop a master detail tab form window. A master detail tab form window is the most complex form fitting all other techniques into one form. The upper part is a regular form, where the bottom part fits several other windows selectable by tabs. In contrast to the container tab form window the tabs in a master detail tab form window is connected to the master and update accordingly.
  		Develop Dialog Boxes   Describes how to develop a dialog box. A dialog box is typically a more detailed representation of a form contents, additional information providers for form activities and other situations where the application require a specific input from the user.
  		Develop Wizards Describes how to develop a wizard. A wizard dialog is a step by step guide for a user to perform a specific operation.

• Finalize Development There are a few activities that should be carried out on the APF project as a whole in order to finalize the development deliverables.
• Test Application As a developer you will run and verify the new functions. These descriptions helps you start your testing.
• Debug Application. As a developer you will inevitably run into problems with your application. These instructions help you start debugging.
• References. All parts of the activity descriptions are gathered here, grouped only by type and not forming a complete workflow.