Tornado Designer - Ag

Introduction

 

 

Ag Designer is a code generator for Tornado. This utility serves as as instant learning tool to get acquainted with the very powerful Tornado library. Using simple point and click, user can connect to MS-SQL, Access, Excel and Csv datasources and create a complete display, filter and edit Web database application. Due to the rich content nature of the Tornado library, it is only possible to cover the every basic features in the Designer. The intention is for user to expand the skeleton code to further enhance the application.

The Linked Label e? provides an instant example in using the features. It'll sets up all the required connections.

Check out the Code Gallery for more variety of advanced examples.

 

Preference Panel

This panel is the setup panel. the two mandatory entries are 'Vir Install Path' and 'Phy Install Path'. Due to the fact the Designer is mixing local and Web paths, the easiest way is to install Tornado directory under the localhost which is setup as default. Enter your MS-SQL DSN for quick access. You do not need to enter the password as it'll be prompted if missing. Click the e? linked label for an example.

Connect Panel

Connect panel performs all the magic connections to Tables, Views as well as StoredProcedures for all MS datasources. If you need to connect to Oracle or MySQL, you need to go tot he code directly. For StoredProcedures, it'll read the IN and OUT variables and allow you to enter values. Note that MS-SQL does not support the OUT variables and it'll showed as IN/OUT. You can see the data types of the field by toggling the 'All Fields in Field' linked label.

Display Panel

This panel allows you to set the basic display controls.

Fields Panel

This panel allows you to specify the display fields. Just select the receiving property and then select the field(s).

Charts Panel

This panel primary shows how easy it is to plot a business chart. To activate the Example -

  1. Setup the preference panel.
  2. Click Chart Panel button.
  3. Select a chart type
  4. Click the e? linked label. A DesignerDemo.csv file will be created in the /tornado/DB directory. Connection will be setup and ready to go.
  5. Click the Code or Preview button.
ColGraph Panel

This panel shows how to display a cell as graph instead of a number.

  1. Setup the preference panel.
  2. Click ColGraph Panel button.
  3. Click the e? linked label. A DesignerDemo.csv file will be created in the /tornado/DB directory. Connection will be setup and ready to go.
  4. Click the Code or Preview button.
Lookup & DropDown Panel

This panel provide setup of the Common Lookup Lists, Display and Filter Lookup Fields. To activate example -

  1. Setup the preference panel.
  2. Click LookUp & Dropdown Panel button.
  3. Click the e? linked label. 'DesignerDemo.csv' will be created in the /tornado/DB directory. Connection will be setup and ready to go.
  4. Click the Code or Preview button.
Magic Cell Panel

This panel illustrate basic features of Basic and Extended MagicCell. Nwind.mdb is used as the datasource.

  1. Setup the preference panel.
  2. Click Magic Panel button.
  3. Click the BasicMacro or Extended Macro radiobutton to experience differnent level of MagicCell.
  4. Click the e? linked label to pop the example selection box.
  5. Select an example and all the datasource connections will be setup and ready to go.
  6. Click the Code or Preview button.
DynaList Panel

This panel illustrates how to build the dynamic list using SQL and Table/Fields. There are two examples provided by the e? linked label - SQL and Table/Field. The e? uses the Nwind.mdb database in the /tornado/DB directory as datasource.

  1. Setup the preference panel.
  2. Click Dynalist Panel button.
  3. Click the e? linked label to pop the example selection box
  4. Select an example and the Nwind.mdb connections will be setup and ready to go.
  5. Click the Code or Preview button.
Aspx Code Panel

When this Code panel is selected, the Aspx file will be built and displayed in the text box. VB code is the default and corresponding C# version is available upon clicking the C# radio button. Click the clipboard button will copy the stand alone Aspx code onto the clipboard for export. Drop the Example ComboBox and you'll find many very interesting ready made examples. You only need to setup the MS-SQL and Oracle datasources and also the preview directory in the Preference panel in order to preview these examples.

 

Navigation Buttons
 
  Preview output in browser View generated aspx code Open designer file
Save designer file New project - clear all panels Clear active panel
Print Aspx Code Help Exit
     
Preference panel Connection panel Display panel
Fields panel Charts panel Colgraph panel
Lookup & Dropdown panel MagicCell panel Dynalist panel
Aspx code panel    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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