Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

Last post 10-09-2007 9:56 PM by gbeltrao. 12 replies.

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01-07-2004 4:05 PM

Mihies
Joined on 01-10-2003
Slovenia, Nova Gorica
Posts 80
Points 2,615

Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Hi guys,

This template generates strong typed dataset schema (xsd) for selected tables.

Requirements: CodeSmith beta 2.5.9 or later

Follow the link below,

http://www.rthand.com/default.aspx?Page=2&SubPage=1#5

Comments are welcome.

Miha Markic [MVP C#], RIGHTHAND .Net consulting and software development

Blog: http://cs.rthand.com/blogs/blog_with_righthand

Post Points: 435

01-22-2004 10:33 PM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Miha,

Good stuff! I'm planning on using this in some of my projects. Does the Guid type work correctly with the MSDataSetGenerator? I noticed that VS.NET, when it pulls in a Guid, does

<xs:element name="field" msdata:DataType="System.Guid, mscorlib, Version=1.0.5000.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" type="xs:string" />

Which I'd like to do. Also, I was going to add code to generate unique constraints, on both the primary keys, and any indexes on the table. This works with ADO.NET Improved DataSet Generator (which I'm doing dev on). Are you doing any more work on your template? If so, we should make sure we aren't doing the same work twice. :-)

Erick

Miha Markic said...
Hi guys,

This template generates strong typed dataset schema (xsd) for selected tables.

Requirements: CodeSmith beta 2.5.9 or later

Follow the link below,

http://www.rthand.com/default.aspx?Page=2&SubPage=1#5

Comments are welcome.

Post Edited (Erick) : 1/22/2004 10:34:02 PM GMT

Post Points: 5

01-23-2004 1:17 PM In reply to

Mihies
Joined on 01-10-2003
Slovenia, Nova Gorica
Posts 80
Points 2,615

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Hi Erick,

Currently I am idle on this - no comments were made so far.
I am not sure what are you reffering to with ADO.NET Improved DataSet Generator.
Are you upgrading my template?
If so, I would be very glad for your contribution and ideas.

I am not sure on GUIDs as I've never used them. Will have to check

Miha Markic [MVP C#], RIGHTHAND .Net consulting and software development

Blog: http://cs.rthand.com/blogs/blog_with_righthand

Post Points: 5

02-28-2004 12:47 AM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

Generate XSD.zip

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Miha,

The improved typed dataset generator is part of the ADO.NET PowerToys project, and is basically a replacement for the xsd.exe application in .NET. It generates Typed DataSets that are drop in compatible with the MS Typed DataSets, but also include additional functionality. I'm working a new version right now, but the current version works pretty well.

http://www.gotdotnet.com/Community/Workspaces/Workspace.aspx?id=40d3e800-e2af-4220-a079-66552dd2b825

As for the template, I've made some changes. First, I added an include related property that automatically gets dependant tables and adds them to the XSD. I also set up the foreign key relationships between all the tables, so the XSD will fully reflect the database. Finally, in the case of text columns of finite length (char/varchar), I added a type for the XSD that limits the length of column (which is supported by both xsd.exe and the ADO.NET tool). In addition, I fixed up the Guid problem, so it generates correctly now. I've attached the template to this message, but there might be some problems with it. If so, let me know!

Thanks,
Erick

(edit: there was a bug in the template which I fixed)

Post Edited (Erick) : 2/28/2004 1:38:19 AM GMT

Post Points: 5

03-23-2004 2:44 PM In reply to

austegard
Joined on 10-06-2003
Posts 127
Points 3,299

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Miha, Erick - great template!

Erick - I assume you're the ErickT on the GotDotNet workspace... You say you are working on a new version of the xsd.exe replacement - what is the status of this? I'd be very interested in the new version and any CS related templates.

Thanks,
Oskar

Thanks,

Oskar
mo.notono.us

Post Points: 5

03-23-2004 9:40 PM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Oskar,

I am the same ErickT that is in the workspace. The xsd.exe replacement is working, and has a number of improvements over the typed datasets that xsd.exe generates. If you go ahead and download the latest version, you can use it as a drop in replacement for xsd.exe.

I've been spending a lot of time on this template, to allow it to support a combination of views and tables, as well as encode information into the xsd relating the source (view/table, DB object name, etc). I have a DAL generator that I'm using which uses this info to create CRUD methods that can use the dataset, even if it's been changed from the DB (renames, etc). I'll be posting this stuff up here when it gets closer to being finished...

Thanks for the complement,

Erick

Post Points: 5

03-23-2004 10:05 PM In reply to

ejsmith
Joined on 12-27-2002
Dallas, TX USA
Posts 2,185
Points 873,825

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Erick,

I was planning to create an XSD.exe replacement for the CodeSmith engine to allow XML to be used as a template property more easily. I guess I should check out what you have done so far.

Thanks,
Eric J. Smith

Eric J. Smith
CodeSmith Tools, LLC
Chief Software Architect

Post Points: 5

03-23-2004 10:10 PM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Eric,

I think creating an xsd.exe replacement in codesmith isn't the best use of time. There's been a great of effort put into the ADO PowerToys project, and I'm sure we could figure out a way to integrate the two together.

As far as using XML as a data source for a template, what I've done so far is created a custom editor for selecting an XSD, and I then load the xsd as a schema into a generic (untyped) dataset. I can then write templates based on that structure, including keys, relations, etc. Is this the type of thing you are thinking about?

Erick

Post Edited (Erick) : 3/23/2004 10:10:44 PM GMT

Post Points: 5

03-23-2004 10:58 PM In reply to

ejsmith
Joined on 12-27-2002
Dallas, TX USA
Posts 2,185
Points 873,825

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Erick,

The end goal is to be able to do something like this:

<%@ XmlProperty Name="MyXml" Schema="MyXml.xsd" %>

This would dynamically build a strongly typed object model for this schema and allow the user to select an XML document instance to populate that object model. You would then be able to build your templates against a rich fully typed object model. One of the issues I've discovered so far is that this object model can't be a derivative of DataSet because of a limitation in the .NET designer support. (It seems as if any custom editor attribute that is applied to a DataSet derived class is ignored.)

I'm not sure how we would work something out with the work that you have done since my product is closed source. I will take a look at what you guys have been working on anyway and see if I can somehow use it without including it.

Thanks,
Eric J. Smith

Eric J. Smith
CodeSmith Tools, LLC
Chief Software Architect

Post Points: 5

03-24-2004 12:00 AM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Eric,

I think see what you're saying, but I don't think you need to make it that complex. If you use the LoadSchema method on a DataSet object, it will be exactly the same as the DataSet generated by xsd.exe (or the other gen tool) with the exception on the strongly typed methods/properties. For doing template development, you're going to want to iterate over tables and columns, so the strong typing doesn't help.

Are you working on a non DataSet system? If so, then I'm off base. If you're working on a DataSet based system, it can be made to work as derived from the DataSet, even in the designer, but it takes some work. Feel free to check out the source for the other generator. Can you call into an external DLL from your code? If so, I think you should be able to use the open source portion.

Here is what I have at the start of my templates that use the TDS.

DataSet ds;
string loc;

[Editor(typeof(CodeSmithDataSet.DataSetPicker), typeof(System.Drawing.Design.UITypeEditor))]
public string XsdLocation {
get {
return loc;
}
set {
loc = value;
ds = new DataSet();
ds.ReadXmlSchema(loc);
}
}

The picker is a simple file browse dialog right now, where the user picks the xsd file. I then use the generated DataSet as the basis for all my templates. It could be better integrated, but is this similar to what you're doing?

Erick

Post Points: 5

06-10-2004 6:50 AM In reply to

raygilbert
Joined on 09-01-2003
Posts 2
Points 10

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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The ignored custom editor, maybe its your implementation of your PropertyGrid. Have a look at, http://www.dotnet247.com/247reference/msgs/42/210909.aspx

I have found the TypeConverters and UIEditors do not load if the PropertyGrid cannot resolve their assembly.

This is interesting as I have written a DataSet generator for us to use in-house. I suppose here are a few pointers to things that helped.

* Used the PowerToys xsd code generator to easily add inheritable DataTables.

* I have found issues with writing xml schemas from DataSets. They do not correctly handle foreign keys and their cascade rules, and use unique keys, instead of schema keys. Using the decoder from XSDEditor by Marc Clifton, I found I could doctor the DataSets xsd and correct errors

* derive all database access using generic interfaces (e.g. IDbCommand, IDbDataAdapter, IDbConnection, ITransaction, IDataReader), the same code can be used for any of the data providers ODBC, SqlClient, Ole or proprietry

* Generate your code with CodeDom, gives you c#, vb, J#, mcpp, javascript outputs with a click of the button

The generator saves us hours and hours of work.

Ray Gilbert

Post Points: 5

06-10-2004 5:39 PM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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What is the status of your DataSet generator? I'd love to take a look at it.

I'm working ont he PowerToys xsd code generator; I'd be interested in knowing if you modified it.

Erick

Post Points: 5

06-11-2004 1:54 AM In reply to

raygilbert
Joined on 09-01-2003
Posts 2
Points 10

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Eric,

Where can I put it, to show you. The binaries are about 201K zipped

Ray

Post Points: 5

06-11-2004 6:19 PM In reply to

Erick
Joined on 08-15-2003
Posts 44
Points 1,035

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Ray,

You can email to me at ethompson@nbr.org.

Thanks,
Erick

Post Points: 5

12-09-2004 9:09 PM In reply to

swmolen
Joined on 12-07-2004
Posts 5
Points 85

RE: Strong typed dataset schema (xsd)

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Mmmm. I would love to see that new codesmith template that takes advantage of typed datasets. I wrote a template to aid me in some of the coding for my facade/dac work (We use typed datasets a lot) and my next big project was going to be to write a codesmith template for auto-generation of the whole shibang with typed datasets in mind.

Erick, If you could send me that work in progress of your DAL generator it would greatly help me to see whether I should write one myself or if yours could work for me.

swmolen@yahoo.com

Here is the link to my current junk templates that I have.

http://www.ericjsmith.net/codesmith/forum/default.aspx?f=9&m=5049

Post Points: 5

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