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The Forums on slxdeveloper.com are now retired. The forum archive will remain available for the time being. Thank you for your participation on slxdeveloper.com!
Forum to discuss the use of the SalesLogix Web Platform, Client and Customer Portals, and the Application Architect (For version 7.2 and higher only). View the code of conduct for posting guidelines.
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SLX Web: Where to start?
Posted: 20 Apr 09 8:36 PM
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I have been working with SLX LAN client for nearly 9 years doing both design and development of solutions for many companies. In the coming year my current company will be looking to move to SLX Web. My development experience is quite limited to VB and SQL which I have learnt thanks to SLX.
My question is where is the best place to start with customizing SLX Web in mind? Is it better just to get devlogix and work backwards (as in this would teach me web development including things like asp.net, Web2.0, RESTful services etc) or start from scratch and get a C# or asp.net or other book/course.
Any advice is most appreciated.
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Re: SLX Web: Where to start?
Posted: 21 Apr 09 4:16 AM
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Hi Leon,
The good thing about them moving to the web platform now is that you will miss the legacy 6.2 web environment, which was completely non standard and would require the purchase of DevLogix or an equivalent (I dont even think there is an equivalent). With the new web being standards based you can learn about the supporting technologies independently of Saleslogix as such. As a background to get you started here a few things I would look at before thinking about getting a Saleslogix-centric book:
i) (NO BRAINER) C#. Being proficient in C# is an absolute must. You can use VB.NET but all of the examples and Dlls are in C# so you need to understand the way they use code so you can get ideas from currently existing functionality.
ii) NHibernate. SLX runs on an object oriented layer above sql known as NHibernate. It will definitely be useful to Google this topic and read a few articles.
iii) Ajax - get yourself familiar with how this works, as it is used extensivley throughout the SLX web client, and it is very useful to know how you can create Javascript client side code that can live side by side with Ajax.
iv) IIS and ASP.NET - get familiar with IIS and how it works, and websites in general. (IIS) You will not need to be an expert on it, but it will help to understand how web applications and virtual directories work. Create a simple "Hello world" style web app in ASP.NET - this always helps to get the basics of i) ii) and iv)! (ASP.NET) Read up on the Page event lifecycle and master pages, and how ASP.NET serves up web pages.
v) Visual Studio (preferably 2008). ESSENTIAL (at the moment, I say at the moment as perhaps the Application Architect will improve in the future, but at the moment there is no debugging and limited intellisense!)
vi) Javascript - you will need to understand how javascript works if you want to add any client side events, i.e. if you do not want to postback to the server. Its also usueful to be able to view source on a page and read the javascript to understand why a control may be acting a particular way.
That should keep you busy and give a good overview of what you will need to know, before moving onto the SLX side of things 
Also, most of what you need to know you can ask on this forum, and search through previous topics. There are many experts on here (not me!). 
Thanks,
Nick |
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Re: SLX Web: Where to start?
Posted: 21 Apr 09 6:36 PM
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Thanks Nick - that's great info. I'm off to learn C#.
Leon
PS. I'm pretty sure as a top 10 poster I will be classing you as expert... |
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Re: SLX Web: Where to start?
Posted: 22 Apr 09 6:28 AM
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On the Javascript side focus on both JQuery and ExtJS as these are used extensively in the platform. With Regards to the comment Nick made about VS 2008, I expect that you will always need Visual studio. There is always going to be that work item you need to complete that just cannot be done in AA. It is simply (IMHO) the best dev envirionment for just getting the crap done. I stress the C# as did Nick, very important to get boned up on that.
What I find is a good exercise is to deploy out a portal and go about refactoring it. In what I mean is go in and start to clean up code. Make sure as you go it continues to work, but by forcing yourself into the portal you will start to see how it starts to piece together.
In it you will see examples of IDataService, IEntityContext, EntityBoundSmartPartProvider, EntityFactory ... how smart parts are loaded, how to access the Dialog Service and so much more. NHibernate is also key as the primary data access strategy, however you should also think of places where it does not make sense. All this comes with experience but the more you know the better you will be, most definately.
Mark
Mark |
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Re: SLX Web: Where to start?
Posted: 12 May 09 5:59 AM
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if you can, also sign up & do the course on Developing for Sage Saleslogix Web 7.5
The course gives a good coverage on using the Application Architect where you create forms and much much more.
And as others have suggested using this Forum and getting to know C# and IIS management is a must |
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Re: SLX Web: Where to start?
Posted: 12 May 09 6:02 AM
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if you can, also sign up & do the course on Developing for Sage Saleslogix Web 7.5
The course gives a good coverage on using the Application Architect where you create forms and much much more.
And as others have suggested using this Forum and getting to know C# and IIS management is a must |
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