Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Creating a new number sequence 2
Renaming the primary key 8
Merging two records 11
Adding a document handling note 14
Using a normal table as a temporary table 17
Copying a record 19
Building a query object 23
Using a macro in a SQL statement 27
Executing a direct SQL statement 29
Enhancing the data consistency check 36
Exporting data to an XML file 40
Importing data from an XML file 43
Creating a comma-separated value file 45
Reading a comma-separated value file 48
Using the date effectiveness feature 52
Introduction 57
Creating dialogs using the RunBase framework 58
Handling a dialog event 63
Building a dynamic form 68
Adding a form splitter 73
Creating a modal form 78
Modifying multiple forms dynamically 80
Storing user selections 82
Using a Tree control 86
Building a checklist 97
Adding the View details link 106
Introduction 109
Using a number sequence handler 110
Creating a custom filter control 113
Creating a custom instant search filter 118
Building a selected/available list 121
Preloading images 130
Creating a wizard 137
Processing multiple records 150
Coloring records 151
Adding an image to records 153
Introduction 163
Creating an automatic lookup 164
Creating a lookup dynamically 167
Using a form to build a lookup 169
Building a tree lookup 175
Displaying a list of custom options 179
Displaying custom options in another way 181
Building a lookup based on the record description 185
Building the browse for folder lookup 192
Building a lookup to select a file 196
Creating a color picker lookup 200
Introduction 207
Using a segmented entry control 208
Creating a general journal 214
Posting a general journal 222
Processing a project journal 224
Creating and posting a ledger voucher 228
Changing an automatic transaction text 233
Creating a purchase order 236
Posting a purchase order 239
Creating a sales order 244
Posting a sales order 247
Creating an electronic payment format 252
Introduction 261
Creating an Excel file 262
Reading an Excel file 265
Creating a Word document from a template 268
Creating a Word document with repeating elements 272
Creating a Microsoft Project file 276
Sending an e-mail using Outlook 281
Introduction 285
Consuming the system query service 286
Consuming the system metadata service 291
Consuming an existing document service 293
Creating a document service 297
Consuming a document service 302
Using an enhanced document service 305
Creating a custom service 310
Consuming a custom service 313
Consuming an external service 315
Introduction 319
Creating a code editor template 320
Modifying the Tools menu 325
Modifying the right-click context menu 327
Searching for an object in a development project 333
Modifying the Personalization form 336
Modifying the About Microsoft Dynamics AX dialog 340
Introduction 343
Calculating code execution time 343
Writing efficient SQL statements 346
Caching a display method 348
Using Dynamics AX Trace Parser 351
Using SQL Server Database Engine Tuning Advisor 357
Index 361
Preface
As a Dynamics AX developer, your responsibility is to deliver all kinds of application customizations, whether it is a small adjustment or a bespoke module. Dynamics AX is a highly customizable system and requires a significant amount of knowledge and experience to deliver quality solutions. One goal can be achieved in multiple ways, and there is always the question of which way is the best.
This book takes you through numerous recipes to help you with daily development tasks. Each recipe contains detailed step-by-step instructions along with the application screenshots and in-depth explanations. The recipes cover multiple Dynamics AX modules, so at the same time, the book provides an overview of the functional aspects of the system for developers.
What this book covers ?
The book's content is presented in nine chapters that cover various aspects of Dynamics AX.
Chapter 1, Processing Data, focuses on data manipulation. It explains how to build data queries, how to check and modify existing data, how to read and write external files, and how to use date effectiveness.
Chapter 2, Working with Forms, covers various aspects of building forms in Dynamics AX. In this chapter, dialogs and their events are explained. Also, various useful features such as splitters, tree controls, and checklists are explained here.
Chapter 3, Working with Data in Forms, basically supplements Chapter 2, Working with Forms, and explains about data organization in forms. Examples in this chapter include instructions about how to build filter controls on forms, process multiple records, and work with images and colors.
Chapter 4, Building Lookups, covers all kinds of lookups in the system. The chapter starts with a simple, automatically generated lookup, continues with more advanced ones, and finishes with standard Windows lookups, such as the file selection dialog or color picker.
Chapter 5, Processing Business Tasks, explains the usage of the Dynamics AX business logic API. In this chapter, topics such as how to process journals, as well as purchase and sales orders are discussed. Other features such as posting ledger vouchers, modifying transaction texts and creating electronic payment formats are included as well.
Chapter 6, Integration with Microsoft Office, shows how Word, Excel, Outlook, and Project applications can be integrated with Dynamics AX.
Chapter 7, Using Services, explains how to use services in Dynamics AX. The chapter covers standard query, metadata, and document system services. It also demonstrates how to create custom services and how to consume external services.
Chapter 8, Improving Development Efficiency, presents a few ideas on how to make daily development tasks easier. The chapter demonstrates how to build code templates, modify the tools and the right-click context menus, use search in development projects, and customize the Personalization form.
Chapter 9, Improving Dynamics AX Performance, discusses how system performance can be improved by following several simple rules. The chapter explains how to calculate code execution time, how to write efficient SQL statements, how to properly cache display methods, and how to use Dynamics AX Trace Parser and SQL Server Database Engine Tuning Advisor.
