Data Services

Introduction

The activity “Data Service” can be configured to read, write, update or delete your data in the database deployed by Simplifier DB Designer without writing any line of SQL Statements.

Technically the solution based on the latest OData V4 Protocol – open and state-of-the-art.

You will find the activity in the left menu of the process designer.

Prerequisites

For using the data service activity the db schema within DB Designer should be deployed first to ensure the generation of the needed datatypes for visual mapping.

A sample application with a connected sql connector and database schema can be download here. The import will work only for Simplifier Release 5.5 or higher.

The ‘Load Dataset’ configuration reads a list of data from the database and display them in appropiate widget that support the view of list elements (technically aggregations) like a list or table widget.

The shape can also be used to reload a list of data records after editing an entity.

The selected entity set will determine which data entity / table is loaded.

After selecting the database schema and table (entity) you have to configure the output mappings of the activity to a data aggregation of a UI widget.

Load Data

Using the “Load Data” setting you can load a single record and show this into a ui widget like a form or text layout.

To load a single record (entity) , the unique identifier (primary key fields of the entity) have to be provided as parameter input mappings.

The input mappings of the activity have to be configured to hold all necessary id properties of the chosen data set (primary key columns of database table)

In the configuration of the output mappings all fields of the chosen data set can be mapped to properties of UI widgets.

Because of technical reasons a widget has to be selected (e.g. a panel) that contains the widgets with the mapping target properties.

In the example the ‘DetailsPanel’ contains the UI Widgets that should finally be mapped.

You can then navigate through the widget tree and select the property to add it to the ‘Selected Properties’.

The selected properties are then available for mapping.

Create Data

To create a new data record the shape has to be configured as ‘Create Data’.

In the input mappings the fields of the record can be filled with data provided by widgets or variables.

The new data will be sent to the server via the OData interface of the DB Designer.

It is important that the data is formated in the correct way.

if you cannot be sure that the data will be formatted in the correct way or are not fully validated, it is better to deactivate the busy indicator and check the errors first.

The output mapping of the create data activity will contain the newly created entity with all its properties that can be mapped to variables or UI widgets for displaying or further use.

If you use a DatePicker UI Widget date fields should always be formatted in the ISO format with timezone (yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssX). This can be achieved if you set a value format for a date picker widget.