可视化设计数据库： RADvolution Designer 8.3

This is a maintenance release and also contains the following new features: 
 
Drag & drop Outlook attachments
RADvolution document management has been extended to support direct processing of a dropped Outlook file attachment (so the user does not have to save this into a separate file location first).
 
Performance improvement in child grids
The performance of loading child grid data has been improved in DataGridForms having a parent grid with 1 or more child grids.
 

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This is a maintenance release and also contains the following new features:

Same menu item brings existing Form to front
Handy when many MDI Forms are opened, so the user can simply click again on a menu item to bring that Window to the front (instead of opening a new instance of that Form. Automatically refreshing the grid at the moment is also possible.
 
User queries in grid: + sort order + renaming
Users can simply save and load their own created queries by rightmouse clicking on any search control. This is extended with saving the sort order (also multiple levels deep) and with the option of renaming the query name.
 
Translations: + faster performance + skip SimpleComboBox
Performance has increased when using auto translations. It's now also possible to skip auto tranlsations for a SimpleComboBox.
 
Example of an auto translated window in Dutch:

 
SimpleComboBox: + AddChangeButton
Simply set this new property to a Button which will then automatically start a DataEntryForm:
- in Add mode when the SimpleComboBox has no selected value
or
- in Change mode when there already is a value.
 
SimpleComboBox: + new methods
New methods are available so you can easily use the followings methods in code: Add, Change, Remove, Copy, View, Select.
 
SimpleComboBox: + ShowDataEntryFormBelowControl 
You can specificy where to show the DataEntryForm when the user rightmouse clicks on a SimpleCombobox and selects an action like Add, Change, Copy or View.
 
Warning about incorrect decimal regional settings
At application start a check can be enabled to see if the Operating System regional settings for decimals are correct. The decimal separator needs to be the same for Numbers and Currency in the regional settings. This is also the case for the group separator. A warning is shown (you can customize/translate this text) when these settings are not correct, otherwise CDec(...) and System.Convert.ToDecimal(...) in your application code can fail.
  
Run SQL database script by file or text
A DbObject contains new methods to directly run a database script by file or text (= script content).
New methods:
DbObject.RunScriptByFile("filename")
DbObject.RunScriptByText(stringVariableWithScriptContent)
 
Also several overloaded methods are provided (handy for find & replacing texts in a script).
Examples:
DbObject.RunScriptByFile("filename", dbConnection, findTexts, replaceTexts)
DbObject.RunScriptByText(stringVariableWithScriptContent, dbConnection, findTexts, replaceTexts)
  
EmailManager: + ShowSucceededMessage + SendEmail()
The succeeded message after having send an email by using the EmailManager is now optional. The EmailManager makes life easier by making it possible to connect it directly to a button. However in some cases one would like to do this in code without making use of a button, so that's why there now is a SendEmail() method.
 
Lookup grid column widths are auto loaded/saved
When using a DataGridForm as a lookup now the layout of the grid and the size are auto loaded/saved as well. This means users can customize their own preferred layout for those controls as well (like a DataGridLookupComboBox). 
  
Easy to use Start and Stop WaitCursor methods
A RADvolution Form has 2 new methods available for easily showing a WaitCursor and setting it back to its previous value when ready:
- StartWaitCursor()
- StopWaitCursor()
This applies to a RADvolution Form and also all Forms which inherit from it, such as a DataGridForm and DataEntryForm.
 

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MySql databases
Besides SQLServer RADvolution now also supports MySQL databases
(using a native driver).
 

Visual Studio 2013
Besides Visual Studio 2012, 2010 and 2008, RADvolution now also can be used with Visual Studio 2013.

Is Form loaded
Handy in situations when you have code in ComboBox events or other evens which are already triggered before a Form is loaded. Simply set your code within "if IsFormLoaded()" and you avoid unpleasant errors.

Expand mode for lookups (left, rigth, below, above)
Several lookup controls have a new property named LookupExpandMode.
This can be set to BelowRight (default), BelowLeft, AboveRight or AboveLeft.
 
Sometimes there is not enough space to expand the lookup content below the lookup control and expanding to it's right. It can be more pleasant for the user to expand to a different direction than below/right. You can set the expandmode anyway you like.
 
Example
The lookup is shown above the ComboBox (LookupExpandMode = AboveRight)

Website link in grid
When you make use of a DataGridViewLinkColumn in a grid you needed to code starting the website link in a web browser. This is not necessary anymore.
 
RADvolution auto detects if a link column is present and when the user clicks on the link then immediately the default web browser is started with the website.
 
Example
A user clicks on a website cell which auto starts the default internet browser which auto shows the website.
 

 

Email popup by cell click in grid
Simply allows the user to click on an email cell in the grid which starts a new email dialog with the To field already been filled in (other email fields can also be set, such as the subject and email body). The EmailPopupButton en EmailManager have been extended with the new property To_ColumnName_AutoStartPopupAtCellClick. It is advised to set the DefaultCellStyle of this column to underlined (by setting the Font property). That way it is more intuitive for users that they can click on that cell to send an email to that person.
 
Example
A user clicks on an email cell which auto starts Outlook which auto shows a new email message window.So 1 cell click and you can start typing your email.

New SimpleComboBox AutoComplete modes
The SearchMode property of the SimpleComboBox has been extended with new modes:
- AutoCompleteSuggestAppend, 
- AutoCompleteSuggest,
- AutoCompleteAppend. 
 
You will have more user friendly options to choose from.
You can also change this search mode for all SimpleComboBoxes at once in your complete application, just by setting the SimpleComboBoxSearchMode property in your MainForm or DataApplicationManager.

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Visual Studio 2012
RADvolution can be used in Visual Studio 2012.
Visual Studio 2008 and 2010 are still supported as well. 

Easy report handling (integrated with free Crystal Reports for Visual Studio)
Crystal Reports provides a free version of their professional reporting tool.
We made it easy for the developer to start a report without needing to code.
Simply set properties to use report parameters, sub reports and grouping.

                          click here for report demos
 
Example                                                    all done without coding!

 
Report connected to grid
Simply create a report using a wizard, add a Print button and set 2 properties.
That's all for showing a report connected to a grid!
 
Example of grid report properties 
 

Examples of a grid with a report are shown below in the next features.
 
Reports auto use custom user queries / selected rows in a grid
Automatically an intuitive choice is made by what the user expects:

• if multiple rows are selected in a grid only those rows are shown in the report
• if a search query or filtered subselection by the user is shown in a grid only those rows are shown in the report
• if one of the above is not the case all rows are shown in the report

Also the sort order in the grid is auto used by the report.
A user can simply change the sort to one or more columns.
 
Example of a filtered result                             all done without coding!
The user entered 'united' to see all countries containing this text:

 
Example of a multi row selection result             all done without coding!
The user selected 3 multiple rows:

 
You can also select a prefined mode other than Auto:


More power in combination with open/save custom user queries
Especially the result of a filtered subselection in a grid gives it enormous potential for all kinds of flexible results. With the advantage now that this subset can be shown automatically in the report as well. 
 
Together with RADvolution's ability to open/save custom user queries the user can simply:

• rightmouse click on the search TextBox above the grid
• select a custom query
  (which the user has saved in the past (also by a simple rightmouse click))
• the result is immediately shown in the grid and by using 'print' is shown in the report as well.

Export to a file (like PDF / Word / Excel / XML / Text / ...)
The free version of Crystal Reports for Visual Studio contains nice functionality to export the report to all kinds of formats (like PDF / Word / Excel / XML / Text).
 
In RADvolution you only have to set a property to export a report to a file.
Also helper functions are present if you prefer coding an export to a file yourself (with /without showing the file).
 
Example (clicking on 'Print' auto opens PDF)       all done without coding!

 
Example (export to Excel)                                    all done without coding!

 
Example (export to Word)                                    all done without coding!

Auto start a report from a menu item
It is also possible to start a report from a menu item without coding.
We provide a menu item with extra report properties.
 
Example                             all done without coding!

Query report button
A button which starts a report by providing a query. You can use this button from anywhere in your application.

Report button
A button which stats a report. This button can manage all the above (grid data, query or DataEntryForm).

Report Preview template
A template is present for quickly creating a Report Preview window.
 
GetData()
Besides input for reports (see above) it can be handy to do something yourself with a result set containing selected rows or filtered rows of a grid.
Simply use myGrid.GetData(GridRowSelection.Auto) to accomplish this.
  
GetData(GridRowSelection) returns a DataView from a grid with:
- All rows          (GridRowSelection.All)
- Filtered rows   (GridRowSelection.Filtered)
- Selected rows (GridRowSelection.Selected)
- Auto              (GridRowSelection.Auto)
 
Reports folder
Simply set generic folder names where your report definition files (.rpt) and exported files are located.
 

 

User login window template
A new template is present for creating a user login window.
A fully functional ready to use window is ready within a few seconds!

User change password window template
A new template is present for creating a change password window (so the current user can change his/her password). A fully functional ready to use window is ready within a few seconds!

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- Extra user right actions
- SimpleComboBox RefreshData() method
- DataRowLookupComboBox (and Button) on all RADvolution Forms
- Lookup control wizards give a reminder message to the developer
- Get a DataSet just by passing a query
  

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Currency helper (real-time exhange rates)

• easily convert a value to another currency
• get real-time exchange rates
• supports 150 different currencies
• auto fills currency ComboBox with 150 currencies
   
  Example of a Form which was created within a few minutes:

  

New UI themes/styles
A few new themes/styles are added (like GreenWorld, BlueSky2, Business2).

Application wizard extended
With default UI theme/style and auto layout guidance (+ new layout demo).
 

More flexibility in using UI themes/styles
To finetune UI themes/styles behavior 2 new variables are added in the application project settings ( click here for more info).

Directly overrule UI property settings
In Forms you can overrule the default UI theme/style settings by changing control/Form properties directly without having to activate 'skip auto style process' first.

StartDataEntryForm property guidance
A message is shown when you forgot to set a property.
 
New quick learning auto layout demo
click here to see the demo 

- SimpleComboBox multi character search
- Real-time VAT number validation (for EU countries)
- Wizard auto adds stored procedure parameters
- Extended error info

Images (drag & drop, auto load/save in database)
No coding is required. Image management is done for you.
 
Example 1: Users can simply d rag & drop images

Example 2: A list of images in a grid 

  
Example 3: Shows a picture of the current selected row
   

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Document management (any file type)
Enables your users to drag & drop documents into your application.
Any file type is supported (like Word, PDF, Excel, a construction design, ...).
 
Files are auto loaded & saved in the database and can be auto started.
Checking in files, checking out files and exclusive locks are also possible.
 
Easily create a view of invoices, designs, a photo album, a document management system, etcetera ... (no coding necessary)

Example 1: 
  double click on a row to edit/view a document
  (when closing the file it is auto saved in the database (checked in))

Example 2:
  a file can simply be dropped on a control (a button in this example)
  and is auto saved into the database
 

Example 3:
  start editing a document by clicking on a button
  (auto locking is possbile preventing other users opening the same document)

When the user closes the file it's content is auto saved in the database (and the tmp file which was initially created is auto deleted).

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Business classes   (easy maintenance)

• easily set defaults, validations and actions/formulas (VB / C#)
• all these are auto used by the user interface (DataEntryForm & edit in place)
• simply create a business class by making use of a template

Advantages:

• easy maintenance at 1 place
• no need to generate a business class for all tables in your database.
  (basic Table mapping with required entry validations
   are always present without needing to generate anything)

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Business class - Defaults   (auto used by UI)
Easily set a default value for any column by using the Default() method.
  
Example:

VB
Default("Price", 10.0)
Default("ProductGroupID", 2) 

C#
Default("Price", 10.0);
Default("ProductGroupID", 2);
 
Result when using Data Entry Form

  
Result when using edit in place in grid
 
 

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Business class - Validations   (auto used by UI)
Easily set any validation in a business class.
 
Example:

VB
If Me("ProductGroupID") = 3 And Me("Price") < = 20.0 Then
    Me.ValidationFails("Price", "Price needs to be greater than 20")
End If
 
C#
if (this["ProductGroupID"] == 3 && this["Price"] <= 20.0)
    this.ValidationFails("Price", "Price needs to be greater than 20");

Result when using Data Entry Form  (when OK is pressed)

 
Result when using edit in place in grid
    
 

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Business class - Actions / Formulas   (auto used by UI)
Simply add a formula or any action in a business class.
 
Example:
Any action starts a method which you create and which is auto invoked when some column value changes.
  
Vb
Action(AddressOf CalculateTotal, "Price")
Action(AddressOf CalculateTotal, "VatPercentage")
 
Private Sub CalculateTotal()

    If Not IsDBNull(Me("Price")) And Not IsDBNull(Me("VatPercentage")) Then
        Me("Total") = Me("Price") * (1 + (Me("VatPercentage") / 100))
    End If
 
End Sub
  
C#
Action(CalculateTotal, "Price");
Action(CalculateTotal, "VatPercentage");
 
private void CalculateTotal()
{
    if (this["Price"] != System.DbNull.Value && this["VatPercentage"] != System.DbNull.Value)
        this["Total"] = this["Price"] * (1 + (this["VatPercentage] / 100));
}
 
Result when using Data Entry Form

(when Price or VAT % is changed the Total is automatically calculated)

Result when using edit in place in grid 

(when Price or VAT % is changed the Total is automatically calculated)
 

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Extra wizard power
The general wizard for creating grids and Data Entry Forms has been extended with extra features to make things even easier and faster to create:

• edit in place
• search button
• show in grid and/or  show in entry
• SimpleComboBox lookup definitions
• aggregates (sum, avg, min, max, count, count distinct)
• auto adds image settings when an Image column is present
  (with drag & drop functionality already included)

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New controls

• 

   Search button
•  Move up  
•  Move down
• SimpleDataRowLookupButton (...)
  A lookup button (...) to select a value from another Table/View.
  (with support for selecting a null value simply by rightmouse clicking)
  
  Example:

  

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Wizards for all data lookups and SimpleComboBox controls
Simply define what a data lookup button or ComboBox has todo.
This wizard can always be used when adding or changing a lookup button or SimpleComboBox.
 
Example:
  

(the new "Edit selected item" is explained below)
 

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Directly edit lookup data on a LookupButton or SimpleComboBox
Shows a context menu to the user when he/she rightmouse clicks on a lookup control.
 
This context menu can consist of the following items:
(you can finetune any item (skip a menu item or change the text)

• Add          (directly add a new lookup item)
• Change     (directly change the selected lookup item)
• Remove     (directly delete the selected lookup item)
• Copy         (directly copy the selected lookup item)
• View         (directly view the selected lookup item)       
• Select       (start showing the lookup list)
• Clear selection (sets the selected item to null/nothing) 

 
Pressing change allows the user to directly change the lookup Product data:

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Lookup mode for large data
In the DataRowLookupCombobox and (Simple)DataRowLookupButton the grid data can show all data (the default) or only a first initial subset in case the data contains a very large number of rows.
 

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New grid methods
The following methods can now be used directly:
(without needing a DataGridViewManager)

• RefreshData()
• SetToLookupMode()
• IsInLookupMode

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Start DataEntryForms directly (without needing a grid)
DataEntryForms can be started directly in any update mode (Add/Change/Remove/Copy/View).
This can be done by making use of:

• UpdateManager.StartDataEntryFormInAutoMode(...) in code
• a menu item (simply select the DataEntryForm and UpdateMode)
   

  

  
  
   The bold properties below have been set for the above result:
  
      

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New DbObject (database object) methods

• Insert()
• Update()
• IsReadOnly(ColumnName)
• ReadOnlyColumns
• IsRequired(ColumnName)
• RequiredOnlyColumns

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Multi lingual applications (+ auto default translations)
Easily translate your application within minutes!
A Translation table is auto filled by Google Translator to give you a headstart.
You can always override any translated text (including tooltips & lookups).
 
The RADvolution layout engine can be enabled at runtime to auto adjust layouts when necessary. No resource files are needed. Each text has a context (contexts are auto added for you into the TranslationContext table).
 
A user preferred application language can also be used.
  
Example

The original application in English:
(see the 2d image for the translated application)
 

The translated application in Dutch:

As you can see everything is translated, even the countries (yes, lookup table content can be auto translated too!).