Click here to Skip to main content
15,867,453 members
Articles / Database Development / SQL Server
Article

Tier Generator 1.0

Rate me:
Please Sign up or sign in to vote.
4.89/5 (140 votes)
26 Jul 2008CPOL2 min read 252.1K   13.3K   297   113
A powerful tool for rapid application development.

Setup

Introduction

Tier Generator is a powerful tool for generating business and data layers in C#. It is a code generation tool that helps users to rapidly generate and deploy business and data layers for their applications. The idea behind this is to provide a utility (tool) to the developer that has the capabilities of quickly generating consistent and tested source code that will help to get projects started sooner and finished faster.

Tier Generator connects to a Microsoft SQL Server database server and generates business and data layers in C#. It also generates Stored Procedures for DML operations.

Business layer

Tier Generator generates code in two layers (business and data). It generates some classes for the each table in the database in the business layer. E.g., our database contains the table Employee. Tier Generator will generate the following files:

  • Employee
  • EmployeeKeys
  • EmployeeFactory

The Employee (business object) class contains the declaration of all instance fields along with properties. It also overrides the AddValidationRules method to associate the validation rules to the properties of the business object. It also contains an enum of all the fields.

C#
public class Employee: BusinessObjectBase
{
   #region InnerClass

   public enum EmployeeFields
   {
     EmployeeID, Name, Password, Email, TeamID,DepartmentID, IsAdmin    
   }
    
   #endregion

   #region Data Members

   int _employeeID;
   string _name;
   string _password;
   string _email;
   int _teamID;
   int _departmentID;
   bool _isAdmin;

   #endregion

   #region Properties

   public int  EmployeeID
   {
     get { return _employeeID; }
     set
     {
        if (_employeeID != value)
        {
           _employeeID = value;
           PropertyHasChanged("EmployeeID");
        }
     }
   }

   public string  Name
   {
     get { return _name; }
     set
     {
       if (_name != value)
       {
         _name = value;
         PropertyHasChanged("Name");
       }
     }
   }
    .
    .
    .
    
   #endregion

   #region Validation

   internal override void AddValidationRules()
   {
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleNotNull("EmployeeID", 
                                                                 "EmployeeID"));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleNotNull("Name", 
                                                                 "Name"));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleStringMaxLength("Name", 
                                                                    "Name",50));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleStringMaxLength("Password", 
                                                                         "Password",50));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleStringMaxLength("Email", 
                                                                         "Email",100));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleNotNull("TeamID", 
                                                                 "TeamID"));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleNotNull("DepartmentID", 
                                                                 "DepartmentID"));
     ValidationRules.AddRules(new Validation.ValidateRuleNotNull("IsAdmin", 
                                                                 "IsAdmin"));
   }

   #endregion
}

The EmpolyeesKeys (business object keys) class contains the list of primary keys of the table.

C#
public class EmployeeKeys
{
    #region Data Members

    int _employeeID;

    #endregion

    #region Constructor

    public EmployeeKeys(int employeeID)
    {
      _employeeID = employeeID; 
    }

    #endregion

    #region Properties

    public int  EmployeeID
    {
      get { return _employeeID; }
    }

    #endregion

}

The EmployeeFactory (business factory) class contains the methods for the Insert, Delete, Update, and Select operations. It provides the following methods for the DML operations:

  • public bool Insert(Employee businessObject)
  • public bool Update(Employee businessObject)
  • public Employee GetByPrimaryKey(EmployeeKeys keys)
  • public List<Employee> GetAll()
  • public List<Employee> GetAllBy(Employee.EmployeeFields fieldName, object value)
  • public bool Delete(EmployeeKeys keys)
  • public bool Delete(Employee.EmployeeFields fieldName, object value)

The factory class performs the DML operations with the help of the data layer.

C#
public class EmployeeFactory
{
    #region data Members

    EmployeeSql _dataObject = null;

    #endregion

    #region Constructor

    public EmployeeFactory()
    {
      _dataObject = new EmployeeSql();
    }

    #endregion

    #region Public Methods

    public bool Insert(Employee businessObject)
    {
       if (!businessObject.IsValid)
       {
          throw new InvalidBusinessObjectException(
                           businessObject.BrokenRulesList.ToString());
       }

        return _dataObject.Insert(businessObject);

    }

    
    public bool Update(Employee businessObject)
    {
      if (!businessObject.IsValid)
      {
        throw new InvalidBusinessObjectException(
                         businessObject.BrokenRulesList.ToString());
      }
      
      return _dataObject.Update(businessObject);
    }

    public Employee GetByPrimaryKey(EmployeeKeys keys)
    {
       return _dataObject.SelectByPrimaryKey(keys); 
    }

     
    public List<Employee> GetAll()
    {
       return _dataObject.SelectAll(); 
    }

    public List<Employee> GetAllBy(Employee.EmployeeFields fieldName, 
                                         object value)
    {
      return _dataObject.SelectByField(fieldName.ToString(), value);  
    }

    public bool Delete(EmployeeKeys keys)
    {
       return _dataObject.Delete(keys); 
    }

    public bool Delete(Employee.EmployeeFields fieldName, object value)
    {
       return _dataObject.DeleteByField(fieldName.ToString(), value); 
    }

    #endregion

}

Data Layer

The data access file generated by the Tier Generator contains the methods for DML operations. It uses Stored Procedures for DML operations. The factory class methods call the data layer methods for insertion and deletion.

C#
class EmployeeSql : DataLayerBase 
{
  
   #region Public Methods

   /// <summary>
   /// insert new row in the table
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="businessObject">business object</param>
   /// <returns>true of successfully insert</returns>
   public bool Insert(Employee businessObject)
   {
     SqlCommand    sqlCommand = new SqlCommand();
       sqlCommand.CommandText = "dbo.[sp_Employee_Insert]";
       sqlCommand.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;

     // Use base class' connection object
     sqlCommand.Connection = MainConnection;

     try
     {                
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@EmployeeID", SqlDbType.Int, 4, 
                                                  ParameterDirection.Output, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.EmployeeID));
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@Name", SqlDbType.NVarChar, 
                                                  50, ParameterDirection.Input, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.Name));
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@password", SqlDbType.NVarChar, 
                                                  50, ParameterDirection.Input, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.Password));
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@Email", SqlDbType.NVarChar, 
                                                  100, ParameterDirection.Input, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.Email));
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@TeamID", SqlDbType.Int, 
                                                  4, ParameterDirection.Input, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.TeamID));
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@DepartmentID", SqlDbType.Int, 
                                                  4, ParameterDirection.Input, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.DepartmentID));
       sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("@IsAdmin", SqlDbType.Bit, 
                                                  1, ParameterDirection.Input, 
                                                  false, 0, 0, "", 
                                                  DataRowVersion.Proposed, 
                                                  businessObject.IsAdmin));
       MainConnection.Open();
       
       sqlCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
       businessObject.EmployeeID = 
         (int)sqlCommand.Parameters["@EmployeeID"].Value;

       return true;
     }
     catch(Exception ex)
     {
       throw new Exception("Employee::Insert::Error occured.", ex);
     }
     finally
     {
       MainConnection.Close();
       sqlCommand.Dispose();
     }
  }

  #endregion
}

How to use

The code generated by the Tier Generator is easy to use. Open the generated project in Visual Studio 2005 and compile it. Run the Stored Procedures script in the the database which is generated by the Tier Generator. You can find the SQL script file in the generated folder.

Add a new Windows/web project in the existing project and add the DLL of the generated code to it. Add app.config for Windows applications and web.config for web applications. Get the connection string from the generated app.config file. You will get this file in the generated folder.

XML
<appSettings>
   <add key="Main.ConnectionString"
           value="Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=School;
                  User Id=sa;Password=sa" />
</appSettings>

Here is the code sample for inserting a new record:

C#
public void AddNewRecord()
{
    Employee emp = new Employee();
    emp.EmployeeID = 1;
    emp.FirstName = "Shakeel";
    emp.LastName = "Iqbal";
    .
    .
    .
    .
    
    EmployeeFactory empFact = new EmployeeFactory();
    empFact.Insert(emp);
}

The code sample for selecting all the records:

C#
public void SelectAll()
{
     EmployeeFactory empFact = new EmployeeFactory();
     List<Employee> list = empFact.GetAll();   
    
    dataGrid1.DataSource = list;
}

Future enhancements

I have some future enhancements planned for the Tier Generator, and I have plans to launch the next version of the Tier generator. In this version, I will improve my business and data layers, and I will also provide the following features:

  • Generate Windows application.
  • Generate Web application.
  • Generate Web Services.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Chief Technology Officer
Pakistan Pakistan
Passion and positive dedication is essential part of success. I believe on hardworking and sharing knowledge with others. I always try to be a better than I am and think positive for positive result.

My Blogs

My Linked-In Profile

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionSupporting Oracle Pin
Mohammad Nikravesh28-Nov-17 17:32
Mohammad Nikravesh28-Nov-17 17:32 
QuestionSQL Server - Schema Name Problem Pin
Armağan Celik2-Feb-16 22:30
Armağan Celik2-Feb-16 22:30 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
behrens2225-Aug-15 21:03
behrens2225-Aug-15 21:03 
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
Member 1058077012-Feb-15 4:52
Member 1058077012-Feb-15 4:52 
QuestionHi Pin
Member 1047840231-Mar-14 17:02
Member 1047840231-Mar-14 17:02 
QuestionYou saved me a lot of time more than once! Pin
kandikov14-Feb-14 4:00
kandikov14-Feb-14 4:00 
AnswerRe: You saved me a lot of time more than once! Pin
Shakeel Iqbal16-Feb-14 7:04
Shakeel Iqbal16-Feb-14 7:04 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
AmitGajjar10-Feb-14 18:13
professionalAmitGajjar10-Feb-14 18:13 
QuestionTimespan And IDataReadr Pin
mostafa esmaeili 826-Jan-14 2:53
professionalmostafa esmaeili 826-Jan-14 2:53 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
ThatsAlok31-Aug-13 5:20
ThatsAlok31-Aug-13 5:20 
GeneralGr8 Work. Pin
Waqas09469-Aug-13 0:16
professionalWaqas09469-Aug-13 0:16 
Questionusing validation rule Pin
parviz8616-Dec-12 9:36
parviz8616-Dec-12 9:36 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
xilione29-Nov-12 2:44
xilione29-Nov-12 2:44 
QuestionNice work buddy Pin
vmrosario17-Jul-12 21:43
vmrosario17-Jul-12 21:43 
QuestionGreat application! Everyone is waiting for new updates. Pin
xeno802-Jul-12 0:18
xeno802-Jul-12 0:18 
QuestionFantastic! please return the proyect Pin
squirerafa12-Mar-12 1:33
squirerafa12-Mar-12 1:33 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
squirerafa12-Mar-12 1:32
squirerafa12-Mar-12 1:32 
QuestionNice Pin
hendog988-Jan-12 19:08
hendog988-Jan-12 19:08 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Pankaj Garg MCA24-Nov-10 0:45
Pankaj Garg MCA24-Nov-10 0:45 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
thatraja7-Oct-10 1:22
professionalthatraja7-Oct-10 1:22 
Generaldatagrid Pin
kolisa28-Jul-10 1:49
kolisa28-Jul-10 1:49 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
ahmed-itani14-Jul-10 0:04
professionalahmed-itani14-Jul-10 0:04 
GeneralTier Generator and MySQL Pin
ipadilla11-Jun-10 23:38
ipadilla11-Jun-10 23:38 
GeneralRe: Tier Generator and MySQL Pin
Nishantha Bandara2-Nov-10 23:52
Nishantha Bandara2-Nov-10 23:52 
GeneralTierGenerator Pin
Nishantha Bandara2-Mar-10 18:37
Nishantha Bandara2-Mar-10 18:37 

General General    News News    Suggestion Suggestion    Question Question    Bug Bug    Answer Answer    Joke Joke    Praise Praise    Rant Rant    Admin Admin   

Use Ctrl+Left/Right to switch messages, Ctrl+Up/Down to switch threads, Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right to switch pages.