Data Access Layer Code Generator

[Ralf Hermanns]

Hello!

I am evaluation some of the different DAL-Generators on the market. I have
looked into ORM, Objectz.NET, DeKlarit, LLBLGEN, RapTierGen, nTierGen to
name a few products I have seen.

What I have just now are Microsofts "products", namely the OlyMars
Generator, which seems to be of french origin. I also just found the "Data
Application Block" offered by Microsoft. Since it seems not that big, I will
evaluate myself.

But this OlyMars tools looks so HUGE on the first impression, I wonder if
someone used it before and can answer me the following two quick Questions
before I spend much time looking into it:
1)
Can it generate VB code?
My first quick look suggests it only does C#. I could life with that, or
even better let it die and have VB inherit from! (<- no flame intended,
SCNR)

2)
Does it create "real" objects and collections? By "real" objects I mean
objects that do not inherit from datarow, have properties for the columns,
and have the childtables matched into collections that can be enumerated and
intellisensed through.
Or does it just wrap all into typed datasets and add some load/save
procedures, as many others do?

Cheers,
Ralf

 

[Thomas Tomicek [MVP]]

Yep, Dbobjecter - so open source that the link returns 404

Why ae so many people behind code generators? Things like OlyMars and
other's are one of the most stupid ways to handle persistence that I have
ever seen.

--
Regards

Thomas Tomiczek
THONA Software & Consulting Ltd.
(Microsoft MVP C#/.NET)

 

[Michael Lang]

That is odd. I just copied the link from this message into the address bar
of explorer, and it works for me. Also clicking on the link in the message
(using Outlook Express) works fine.

Can you see sourceforge at all? I've never had a problem opening
sourceForge.
http://sourceforge.net/

You can also do a search for "Dbobjecter" from the main sourceForge page.

Why not generate code? It gets the base framework of your application
written in a consistent and fully tested manner all within seconds.
Assuming you have used a particular template before, you know the code works
as you expect.

Where your skills are really needed is in determining HOW your application
should handle data access, not the details of copy pasting the same method
for all of your tables over and over. How is data access going to be
logically different between a "Customer" and an "Employee" table? The
difference is in what query strings look like, what properties the business
classes will have, the names of any stored procedures, etc... A good
generator should be able to handle these kinds of differences between
tables.

With Db Object-er you create code for data access for ONE of your tables.
Create all the classes required to do data access for one table, then turn
it into a template and generate the code for the rest of the tables using
the exact same logic as the first table. Then your expert skills are
required again to add custom business validation to the business layer for
each object. Don't worry it won't make you lose your job.

Michael Lang, MCSD

 

[Pascal Belaud [MS]]

Hi Ralf,

1) Can it generate VB code?
NO, it generates only C# code at this time but of course you can just
compile the C# code into an assembly and reuse it from your VB projects.

2) Does it create "real" objects and collections?
YES, you have two types of templates that are provided for this purpose.

a) "Busines Components Layer": in this case you will have one Business
Component per TABLE
see <OlyMars directory>\AddOns\Business Components
Layer\Documentation.mht

b) "Object Space Style": in this case, you can define your own "object"
regardless of your database structure
see <OlyMars directory>\AddOns\Object Space Style\Object Space
Style.mht

I suggest you run first the tutorial in order to get the basic on OlyMars.
It should take half a day to run this tutorial. Then playing with those two
templates should be much much more easier.

You can download the latest version of this FREE generator (and the
tutorial) at the following URL:
http://www.microsoft.com/france/msdn/olymars

Thanks,

Pascal Belaud
Microsoft France
http://www.microsoft.com/france/msdn/olymars

 

[Ralf Hermanns]

Très bon! Merci beaucoup Monsieur.

Hi Ralf,

1) Can it generate VB code?
NO, it generates only C# code at this time but of course you can just
compile the C# code into an assembly and reuse it from your VB projects.

2) Does it create "real" objects and collections?
YES, you have two types of templates that are provided for this purpose.

a) "Busines Components Layer": in this case you will have one Business
Component per TABLE
see <OlyMars directory>\AddOns\Business Components
Layer\Documentation.mht

b) "Object Space Style": in this case, you can define your own "object"
regardless of your database structure
see <OlyMars directory>\AddOns\Object Space Style\Object Space
Style.mht

I suggest you run first the tutorial in order to get the basic on OlyMars.
It should take half a day to run this tutorial. Then playing with those two
templates should be much much more easier.

You can download the latest version of this FREE generator (and the
tutorial) at the following URL:
http://www.microsoft.com/france/msdn/olymars

Thanks,

Pascal Belaud
Microsoft France
http://www.microsoft.com/france/msdn/olymars

 

[Pascal Belaud [MS]]

De rien. Bon courage!

Pascal

Très bon! Merci beaucoup Monsieur.