We just posted a video here to illustrate how simple it is to use EntitySpaces for module development on the DotNetNuke 4.x platform. This gets you up to where our standard code generation video starts with generating your EntitySpaces objects. We do plan to post an additional code generation video specifically for DotNetNuke in the near future, so stay tuned.

EntitySpaces release 1.5 currently has a soft target date of July 30^th, 2006. We will keep you posted as we get closer to release. The list below is what we are planning for 1.5. Of course, any bug fixes will be included. The ASPX template will be released as soon as it is available, possibly as early as mid-June.

• Hierarchical support. This is the number 1 priority for this release. It is no small thing and will support many-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many relationships,  DataBinding Sub-Collections, and lazy loading. 
• Caching. There has been a great deal of interest expressed in caching. This will eliminate unnecessary trips to the database while avoiding duplicate objects in memory. It will be well integrated with our hierarchical plans.
• ASPX template. The template generates pages using the GridView control. This will be an amazing template with very sophisticated features:
  • Versions for both C# and VB output.
  • Sorting, filtering, searching, and editing.
  • Detail pages with hyperlinks to related objects.
  • DropDown ComboBoxes for lookups. You can choose the display column or even define your own concatenation of columns.
  • Paging with user definable number of line items per page.

We have a growing wish list of items for inclusion in future releases. We have not prioritized them, yet, and some may never see the light of day, but feel free to comment on them and add your own:

• Ability to load a table-based EntitySpaces object from a View. Similar to dOOdads.
• Improved DataBinding.
• Add a Clone method to the single entity.
• Additional Providers.
• Implement an .IsLoaded() method for entities and collections.
• .NET Remoting.
• WinForm templates.
• Dynamic Query enhancements:
  • Support for common functions like UPPER() in WHERE clauses.
  • Support for JOINs.
• Some tough ones. These are particularly thorny, especially in a multi-db environment, but we are still considering them as worth-while suggestions:
  • Updateable Views.
  • Add the ability for the EntitySpaces Dynamic Query API to do more than SELECT statements, such as INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE statements.
  • Add the ability to generate EntitySpaces objects from Stored Procedures (as opposed to just Views and Tables).

If your pet feature has not made the list, do not be discouraged. Just let us know what you want in the forums or by commenting on this post. And, don't let that stop you from using EntitySpaces 1.4 right now. It can replace tens (even hundreds) of man-hours of repetitive drudgery with well-tested, high-quality code. You are free to concentrate on the aspects of a project that make it unique. Ask yourself, "What price would I pay if I could spend more time with my family and friends?" Then, let your conscience be the guide.

The EntitySpaces Team

EntitySpaces 1.4 initially was targeted for May 31st, however, we had to make some adjustments. Hierarchical support is now the main focus of our next release (1.5). Also, the ASPX templates are still underway and will be released separately before the 1.5 release. We had also planned on doing some databinding work as well but that has been pushed to 1.5 as well. However, all that said this is a terrific release, we have some very good features, a few fixes, and even a new MySQL provider in 1.4. See the release notes below for the details.         

·          EntitySpaces 1.4

o         Added templates to provide full VB.NET support

§          Includes a full set of Custom, Generated, and MetadataMap templates.

§          It is no longer necessary to pre-compile the generated code under C#.

§          Note: If you are using VBExpress, we recommend opening your Project Properties, selecting the Application properties tab, and clearing the Root namespace that the IDE set by default. That way, when you add “Imports BusinessObjects” to your code, it will work as expected.

o         Added an EntitySpaces provider for MySQL.

§          Works with MySQL 4.x using DynamicSql mode.

§          Works with MySQL 5.x and supports both DynamicSql and StoredProcedure modes, as well as Views.

o         Added an EntitySpaces Template to produce MySQL 5.x stored procedures.

o         Fixed stored procedure parameter name prefix handling for SQL Server, Oracle and Access.

o         Fixed parameter name handling for column names with spaces.

o         Added output parameter support to esParameters.         

public string GetFullName(int employeeID)
{
   esParameters parms = new esParameters();

   parms.Add("EmployeeID", employeeID);
   parms.Add("FullName", esParameterDirection.Output, DbType.String, 40);

   this.ExecuteNonExec(esQueryType.StoredProcedure, "proc_GetEmployeeFullName", parms);

   return parms["FullName"].Value as string;
}

o         Fixed an obscure bug in Transaction Manager. (Special thanx to Graham Scragg and Thomas Coats for working with us on this.)

o         Improved Exception handling. We no longer wrap the exceptions which will make it much easier for you to see the real exception.

o         Updated and improved compiled help.

·          DotNetNuke

o         Includes an EntitySpaces ControlPanel module for DotNetNuke.

§          Displays EntitySpaces assembly information.

§          Allows you to upload/update EntitySpaces assemblies.

§          Allows you to encrypt/decrypt connection information in config files.

o         Added new template to create Sql scripts for DotNetNuke module development.

·          ASP.NET

o         Includes ASP.NET code for an EntitySpaces ControlPanel.

§          Displays EntitySpaces assembly information.

§          Allows you to update EntitySpaces assemblies.

§          Allows you to encrypt/decrypt connection information in config files.

·          EntitySpaces SqlDemo

o         Includes code demonstrating encrypting/decrypting app.config connection information.

o         Note: If SqlDemo is run from within Visual Studio, SqlDemo.vshost.exe.config gets encrypted. This file is only used by Visual Studio and should never be distributed with your application. To encrypt SqlDemo.exe.config, run SqlDemo.exe directly from the bin\Debug folder.

·          EntitySpaces Test Suite

o         Updated the test fixtures and added NUnit projects to test the EntitySpaces provider for MySQL.

o         Duplicated the C# tests in VB.

Note: Installation instructions at the bottom of the Release Notes for 1.4 contain special instructions for MySQL users. They explain how add the required Language Mapping to MyGeneration.

Wow, so many good things to talk about for the upcoming EntitySpaces 1.4 drop. Another addition, is a complete template to generate DotNetNuke ready install scripts for any of your EntitySpaces business objects. It works just like any of our other stored procedure templates, and will allow you to generate a DNN ready script for all of your tables/stored procedures in one fell swoop. We previously mentioned that we will also be releasing native vb.net templates for ES with 1.4, so what are you waiting for DotNetNuke module developers? Quit wasting your time writing buggy, un-tested object persistence code and do it the easy way. ES 1.4 is scheduled to hit on Monday 05/15, get ready.

This module/page will show you what EntitySpaces assemblies you have available and the versions of those assemblies. It will also allow you to upload assemblies when you are ready to update EntitySpaces. Lastly, and perhaps the coolest feature, is that this module will actually encrypt/decrypt the EntitySpaces connection info section of your web.config for you. We are just putting the finishing touches on the 1.4 drop and starting to package everything up for distribution, so you can expect to see this soon. We will have a DotNetNuke installable version, as well as an aspx page you can use in your ASP.NET projects. Winformers? Don't think we forgot to spread the love around, in the SqlDemo we have also added the encryption routines so that you can add this to your winform applications if you should so desire.