Module 1: introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the basic concepts and architecture of Tools for Visual Basic.

Lessons

• Understand the prerequisites and goals for the course.
• Understand The Benefits of using Microsoft Dynamics SL Tools for Visual Basic.
• Understand what programs are running when using Microsoft Dynamics SL.
• Understand the roles of the Microsoft Dynamics SL Parent and the data entry, maintenance, and process windows.
• Have a basic introduction to the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel.
• Have a model for setting up the development environment.

Module 2: Starting a Tools for Visual Basic Project

This chapter discusses the importance of planning prior to an installation. Topics covered include what to do in pre-planning and references technical bulletins. Implementation plans are discussed as well as a look at the hardware and software requirements for Microsoft Dynamics SL.

Lessons

• How to start a new Tools for Visual Basic project.
• Understand the use of the Visual Basic Project Template.

Lab : Create and New Tools for Visual Basic Project

• Using the template provided, create a Visual Basic project that is ready for Tools for Visual Basic.

Module 3: Creating a Program with One 'Normal' Level

This chapter covers the creation of a program that performs simple maintenance (insert, update and delete) and navigation on rows in a database table, one row at a time.

Lessons

• How to add a "Normal Level" to a Tools for Visual Basic Program.
• Understand the concept of levels.
• Learn how a 'Normal Level" is implemented.
• Learn the Microsoft Dynamics SL API calls needed to register your program with the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel.
• Explore data navigation provided by the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel.

Lab : Create a Program with a Normal Level

• Implement a normal level to navigate and maintain a table in the Microsoft Dynamics SL database one row at a time.

Module 4: Adding a New Table

This chapter covers the database objects that must be created to fully implement a new table in the Microsoft Dynamics SL database.

Lessons

• How to add a new table to the Microsoft Dynamics SL database.
• Learn the Required Database Objects for adding a new table.
• Understand Naming Requirements for Tables and Indexes.
• Learn the Structure for Stored Procedures used by the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel.

Lab : Adding a New Table

• Using the tools provided, create and implement a new table in the Microsoft Dynamics SL database.

Module 5: Adding a Detail Level

This chapter covers the setup and implementation if a spreadsheet in a Tools for Visual Basic program that maintains an entire result set form the database.

Lessons

• Learn what a (detail( level is and how it works.
• Implement a (detail( level, using the SAFGrid control.

Lab : Adding a Detail Level

• Implement the table created in Chapter 4 in a spreadsheet as a child of the Customer table.

Module 6: Adding a Possible Values Lookup

This chapter focuses on the importance of giving the user an easy to use interface for look-ups. A complete Possible Values window will be implemented.

Lessons

• Learn the properties required for a possible values (F3) lookup.
• How to format the Possible Values window.
• How to Use the Possible Values Import program.

Lab : Add a Possible Values Look-up

• Learn the properties required for a possible values (F3) lookup.
• How to format the Possible Values window.
• How to Use the Possible Values Import program.

Module 7: Adding a Second Table to a Detail Level

This chapter gives you information about how to add an additional table to the detail level created in Chapter 6. The addition of the table facilitates an the ability to join additional information into the spreadsheet.

Lessons

• How to add a secondary table to a detail level.
• Creating an SQL Statement that Joins the tables in a query.
• How to populate the secondary buffer when a value changes.

Lab : Adding a Second Table to a Detail Level

• Join an additional table into the spreadsheet.
• Add controls to display data from the joined table.

Module 8: Starting a New Project

This chapter is a review of the concepts presented in Chapter 2. A new Tools for Visual Basic project will be created for use in subsequent chapters.

Lessons

• How to start a new Tools for Visual Basic project .
• Understand the use of the Visual Basic Project Template.

Lab : Create and New Tools for Visual Basic Project

• Using the template provided, create a Visual Basic project that is ready for Tools for Visual Basic.

Module 9: Adding a Detail Level

This chapter presents many of the same functions covered in Chapter 5. The main difference is in this implementation the detail level is the first level in the program.

Lessons

• Add a detail level to a Tools for Visual Basic project when it is the first level (LEVEL0).
• Implement an indexed spreadsheet.

Lab : Adding Files to the Project and Code to the Form_Load Event

• Add the necessary files to the project to set the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel framework.
• Add program code to the form_load event and set properties to describe the program to the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel.

Lab : Finishing the Detail Level

• Add controls to the form.
• Set control properties to facilitate database navigation and updates.
• Implement properties to identify the (key( field in the spreadsheet.

Module 10: Adding an Unbound Non-String Control

This chapter focuses on adding controls that are used to store user selections and additional information that will be used by the processing portion of a program. The control is not bound to a field in the database. The focus is on the programming steps to implement the control on the form when it is not in a spreadsheet.

Lessons

• Learn how the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel links controls to buffer variables.
• Learn how to add a Microsoft Dynamics SL custom data control that is not attached to a field from any tables in the database.
• Learn to use the Microsoft Dynamics SL Code Inspector utility.

Lab : Adding an Unbound Non-String Control

• Add a control to the project form the Visual Basic Toolbar.
• Add program code to implement the control.

Module 11: Adding an Unbound String Control

This chapter focuses on the steps needed to implement an unbound control in a spreadsheet that uses the Microsoft Dynamics SL SAFGrid control. Additionally, the exercise points out basic differences in programming for non-string controls and string controls.

Lessons

• Learn how to add a Microsoft Dynamics SL custom data control that displays a string value that is not attached to any fields from tables in the database.
• Learn how to implement an unbound control in a spreadsheet.
• Learn why a user defined type (UDT) is required when the unbound control holds a string value.

Lab : Adding an Unbound String Control

• Add a control to the project from the Visual Basic toolbar.
• Add program code to implement the unbound control.
• Create an new User Defined Type (UDT).

Module 12: Manipulating Toolbar Buttons

This chapter covers a Microsoft Dynamics SL API function call that allows a straight forward way for a programmer to manipulate program behavior by turning toolbar buttons on and off.

Lessons

• Add a control to the project from the Visual Basic toolbar.
• Add program code to implement the unbound control.
• Create an new User Defined Type (UDT).

Lab : Manipulating Toolbar Buttons

• Turn off buttons to save, delete and insert rows.

Module 13: Working With Memory Arrays

This chapter explores how to access, navigate, and update the memory array from a Tools for Visual Basic program.

Lessons

• Learn how memory arrays are accessed in the program.
• Learn how memory arrays are created.
• Learn Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel API calls to navigate memory arrays.
• Learn how to manipulate and update data in memory arrays.

Lab : Working with Memory Arrays

• Add a command button from the Visual Basic toolbar.
• Add processing code to Navigate and update the memory array.
• Add code to refresh the memory array to show the changed data.

Module 14: Updating Rows in the Database

The chapter explores the interaction of the Tools for Visual Basic program and database engine. The Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel has a comprehensive set of API calls to create result sets, retrieve rows from the result set, update rows in the database, delete rows from the database, and insert rows into the database.

Lessons

• Learn how to retrieve and update rows in the database, using Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel API calls.
• Explore the Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel API calls for performing floating point math.
• Learn Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel API calls for database manipulation.
• Learn Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel API calls Start and End a database transaction.

Lab : Updating Rows in the Database

• Add code to start and end a database transaction.
• Add code to fetch rows from the database.
• Add code to update rows in the database.
• Add code to calculate using Microsoft Dynamics SL API functions for floating point math.

Module 15: Using the Process Status Form

This chapter explores methods for keeping the user informed of events that are happening when a process is running and gives feedback on the progress of the process. The Microsoft Dynamics SL Kernel provides an easy to implement API call to facilitate this communication to the user. The same API call is used to communicate information to an event log.

Lessons

• Learn how display a status window while a process is running.
• Learn to log events and errors during a process.

Lab : Using the Process Status Form

• Add code to open the Status Form.
• Add code to communicate progress and activity to the user.
• Add code to close the Status Form.

Module 16: Giving Users Access

This chapter explores proper naming of programs, creation of the executable file, adding a program to the Microsoft Dynamics SL Menu, and integrating new windows into Microsoft Dynamics SL Security.

Lessons

• Learn how to properly name a Tools for Visual Basic program.
• Learn how to make the executable program.
• Learn how to add programs and reports to the Classic Microsoft Dynamics SL menu.
• Learn how to add program and reports to the new Microsoft Dynamics SL Menu dashboard.
• Learn How to implement security in a Tools for Visual Basic program.

Lab : Naming Programs and Creating Executable Files

• Add a properly formatted form caption to programs.
• Create properly named executable files from a Tools for Visual Basic program.
• Add windows and reports to the window table to enable security administration.

Lab : Adding Windows and Reports to the Microsoft Dynamics SL Classic Menu

• Add a module to the Classic menu modules list.
• Add windows to the Classic menu.
• Add reports to the Classic menu.

Lab : Adding Windows and Reports to the Microsoft Dynamics SL Dashboard Menu

• Add modules, using Modules Maintenance.
• Add Windows and Reports, using Window Maintenance.
• Create a custom menu, using Window Category Maintenance.

Module 17: Printing Reports

This chapter explores the facility provided by Microsoft Dynamics SL to make the task of printing reports an easy exercise for both the user and programmer.

Lessons

• Learn how reports are printed in Microsoft Dynamics SL.
• Learn How to add a new report Microsoft Dynamics SL's report control table.
• Explore the processing logic of the Report Options Interpreter program (ROI.EXE).
• Learn how to print a report from within a Tools for Visual Basic program.

Lab : Adding and Printing Reports

• Add a new report to the RptControl table.
• Run a report from the ROI.EXE user interface.
• Add a command button from the Visual Basic toolbar.
• Add code to print a report from a Tools for Visual Basic Program.

Module 18: Working with the Microsoft Dynamics SL Object Model

This chapter has a brief introduction to the Microsoft Dynamics SL Object Model. Microsoft Dynamics SL is equipped with a Common Object Model (COM). The Common Object Model provides programmers The ability to manipulate Tools for Visual Basic programs from any program or application that is COM capable.

Lessons

• Learn how to instantiate and use the Microsoft Dynamics SL Common Object Model (COM).
• Learn how to add "drill down" capability from a Tools for Visual Basic Tools program to another Tools for Visual Basic program.
• Explore manipulation of controls in the instantiated program.

Lab : Instantiate a Microsoft Dynamics SL Program

• Add a command button to the window.
• Declare a Microsoft Dynamics SL object variable (SIVApplication).
• Add code to instantiate the Microsoft Dynamics SL Customer Maintenance program.

Lab : Manipulate the Instantiated Object Variable

• Add code to retrieve a row from the customer table.

Lab : Give Control to the User

• Add code to release the connection to the instantiated object, and allow the user to control the object.