new to codesmith: template for simple DAL for first project?

Hello,

I recently purchased Codesmith, because I think its worth 200 $

For a little Project to start of, I like to create a simple DAL with Codesmith. Codesmith should create a "Business" and a "DataAccess" Layer for some T-SQL tables. I then want to modify the generated code one time.

All in all: Codesmith should help me generate the boring Business Classes for all my tables. Person table --> Person class And the DataAccessLayers (GetAll, Insert, Update, Delete) and so on. (With or without stored procedures)

I tried .Net Tiers and CSLA. I also had a quick look at the other Frameworks. These Frameworks are already very huge and to know which one I need I have to be an expert in all those Framework.

Maybe you can give me a hint: What Framework or Template Do I need for my intention to start of?

Thx for your answer!

beatoss

Hello,

First off, thanks for using CodeSmith. Picking the framework consists of your projects requirements and what you already know or what you think your strong points are. If you could give me some more information, I'd be very happy to point you in the right direction.

Thanks

-Blake Niemyjski

Hello,

I expected, that it is not easy to give an answer to my question;-) But thx for answering anyway!

Basically I want to learn CodeSmith so that I can generate all the boring code for my future projects. I have a little intranet prototype project (--> no security, no performance). In this project I don't want to write all the code by myself for the first time.

The goal ist not to find the best solution for my project (It's just an irrelevant intranet prototype). The goal is to learn to work with CodeSmith, so that I can use it in all my future projects.

I already have my 5 T-SQL Tables to start with. I'm going to do the following 2 things:

1. try to make my own two templates based on other templates (learn how to iterate in tables/columns/xml documents and so on). There will be a template that generates the business objects for each table. And a template that generates the ADO.net DataAccess Classes (Insert, Update...) You know templates to start with for this?

2. read the .net tiers documentation and try it with .net tiers. (I will start with this framework one, because I think it is the framework that suits me most... (We'll see;-)) (I hope this framework shows me a bit how it should be done).

By the way is there a website that shows the pros and cons of all the Frameworks? (.net Tiers, PLINQO, CSLA ...) (didn't find anything with google)

Regards

beatoss

Hello,

Starting out, I would more than likely recommend using PLINQO as it truly is the easiest to learn and understand every aspect of it.

1. If you take a look in the Template Explorer under Database -> Other -> Language (CSharp or VisualBasic). There is a template called BusinessObject that would be a good starting point. You might also consider taking a look at our CSLA templates as they generate all the crud and it uses master \ sub templates.
2. Keep reading the documentation .

There really isn't anything that compares the frameworks. PLINQO = Linq to SQL with many additions. I would just google .netTiers vs Linq-To-SQL or Linq-To-SQL vs CSLA. Then take into consideration of what we added to Linq-To-SQL (Rules, Auditing and much more). Also CSLA is not an ORM like PLINQO etc...

Thanks

-Blake Niemyjski

Thx for your answer! I already tested the BusinessObject Template, which is exactly what I need to create prototypes! It will save a lot of time of boring programming.

The BusinessObject Template is also a base for my customized template.

As you suggested I will take a look at the PLINQO Framework, although I wasn't a big fan of LINQ.

Regards

beatoss

Hello,

Let us know what you think!

Thanks

-Blake Niemyjski