eric_h - Friday, November 11, 2011 3:29 PM:
I have taken a little look at the AJAXToolkit community project. I had not really put this together before, but the more I think about it, it should be pretty doable to create a client out of pure HTML/JavaScript for exposing a subset of data to users. My point is, I was thinking along the lines that some sort of server-side scripting language would be needed, but in fact you should be able to serve up nothing more than HTML and JavaScript, and not require the use of any server-side scripting language (other than of course ASP.NET needed for the core Innovator installation -- the server installation is still needed obviously, with all its requirements and dependencies0.)
Has anyone done this, exposed data with nothing more than HTML/JavaScript? I have used the jQuery JS library a little in the past, and I imagine that could be leveraged here as well. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Eric
eric_h - Friday, November 11, 2011 5:10 PM:
I just had some additional thoughts, but if you are using this outside of the standard Innovator client (and in this case that would be what it would be), you would not be able to use JavaScript functions that tapped into the IOM.dll file (so part of the standard Innovator API), but would have to find other means. You can always create AML direct via properly designed JavaScript objects/methods, and feed that to the server. Am I on the right track with this? Thanks again.
Eric
PeterSchroer - Monday, November 14, 2011 3:26 PM:
Hi Eric,
Quick update on a project I am working on. There will be a 100% JS implementation of the IOM functions (replacing the IOM.DLL that is used in Internet Explorer). We're committed to a browser neutral client. over the next 2-3 months, I'll release libraries etc. to the community project site that you and others can use to make custom clients. These will be the same libraries that Aras is using to create a new standard client (browser neutral).
Question to all the smart developers out there... JQUERY or DOJO for the UI components (Grid, Tree, etc.). What are you using? any pros/cons?
Peter.
eric_h - Monday, November 14, 2011 4:51 PM:
Thanks for the update Peter. This sounds like good news as I think many could benefit from this sort of thing. What I am getting at from what you are saying here is that the JavaScript libraries will be released first, then at some point a more browser/platform neutral client will follow.
Maybe by getting these libraries out there, the community members (myself included) could try their hand at creating some client implementations and give feedback as to experiences, input, etc. Maybe even show off some demo applications. Feedback could be used to evolve the library that will eventually be used in the Aras standard client.
I know a little bit about various JS libraries out there, but by no means am I an expert. Both jQuery and Dojo appear to package widgets outside the core libraries. I know that jQueryUI (UI project for jQuery) is finalizing their grid, whereas Dojox (UI project for Dojo) has one already. That said, the Dojo demo did not allow highlight and copy of data (which cannot currently be done in Aras IE client either, but would be nice so data could be pasted to external app like an email; the 3rd party jQuery plugins allowed this.) jQueryUI has also recently proposed a treeview, but don't think it has been started. There are many 3rd party plugins that do these kinds of things, but that could be dangerous if they go unmaintained and then core changes break them. There is also a library called Ext JS that is popular, but the licensing might not be as compatible. The core jQuery library is very popular, but you'll want to see what libraries can provide 'rich client' like functionality via appropriate widgets for Aras' needs.
On a side note, there are tons of good JavaScript libraries out there that could be leveraged for an Aras/PLM client. Great graphing libraries, etc. If the JavaScript client replacement for IOM.dll becomes available, it would be cool like I said above if people could try things and share what their experiences are to evolve the core libraries, but also generate ideas for a standard Aras client.
Thanks Peter,
Eric
eric_h - Monday, November 28, 2011 1:56 PM:
Peter,
Just curious, but are you looking to use the JavaScript library (e.g. jQuery, Dojo, etc.) for just the widgets, or would you be basing part of the Aras JS library (aka IOM.dll equivalent) on this same library you went with? As I am sure you know, many of these libraries create abstractions to certain functionality that is intended to make doing certain things easier and consistent across browser differences, but if it became part of the core Aras library then you also depend on that library for the core code.
The other option would be to create the core library in pure JavaScript, coding in the abstractions you needed for the browsers you supported. I don't know if really that would be that big of a deal for the core library (take all I say with a grain of salt because I am not an expert on this), as a lot of those differences are documented and known how to handle. In particular I am thinking about Ajax calls, but I suppose there are other things.
What is nice about some of these libraries is a lot of helper functions and selectors that are available that are not part of core JavaScript. But then again, I guess it would be a question of if the core library needed this sort of thing, because anyone who wanted to add a library for custom UI designs could do so external to the core library.
What I think I am getting at it, would you want to use a 3rd party library as a dependency on the core Aras (IOM.dll replacement) library, or is it just something you would use for the Aras Web client for things like widgets and also maybe DOM selectors, etc?
Thanks,
Eric
rhuesem - Sunday, December 25, 2011 3:09 PM:
Hi Peter,
we are currently using jQuery for implementing special tables within ARAS as well as an external client connecting to ARAS via SOAP. I think jQuery is great and the many plugins provide a lot of great solutions which are easy to use.
Rolf
scottmahr - Monday, February 13, 2012 6:33 PM:
Hi Peter, do you have any update on a browser netral client?
Scott
souheil - Tuesday, December 27, 2011 2:46 AM:
Hi Rolf and Peter ,
We have at SCK associates, implemented a connector to ARAS using Soap. We are working on several UI specific to Aras. A Multi BOM with comlete editing functionality, a UI to create and package an assembly with all the assembly product structure and be able to share th epackage with other users. Take a look at this interface sample to innovator. You can view the Demo database or log onto your own innovator.
souheil
PeterSchroer - Monday, February 13, 2012 9:08 PM:
Development is on-schedule for March release to Aras subscriber ECCO (they funded the development and provided the specification). Demo looks good.
Should be available to other Subscribers in April, and then openly several months thereafter (will go into the next open release).
For anyone that was tracking the JS library discussions, the Aras development team selected DOJO as the JS / HTML5 libraries for the client. We'll publish a standard Aras client based on DOJO, and also a client library toolkit to support your homegrown client apps. Any jQuery fans won't be disappointed. No reason you can't mix your favorite jQuery controls with the Aras + DOJO libraries. I'll ask development to post their notes from the testing and selection process. jQuery is certainly a popular library for developing web sites, but we felt that the DOJO framework is better organized and structured for application development.
--peter
scottmahr - Tuesday, January 24, 2012 6:11 PM:
This is great news, any update on when the JS libraries will come out? I also am a fan of jQuery, super easy to use, with a ton of community support.
Scott
