View source for Exercise 02: Creating Applications and Defining Objects

==Introduction==
===Types of AgileApps Applications===
:* '''Dynamic Case Management (DCM) Application'''
:** Automates the handling of Cases, Incidents, or Investigations
:** Allows for process variants for dynamic behavior

:* '''Service Desk Application'''
:** An example of a Dynamic Case Management system
:** Specialized to provide additional features for customer support

:* '''Database (DB) Application'''
:** A generic Web-based database application
:** Like a spreadsheet but with extra capabilities

===Dynamic Case Management (DCM) Application===
The front-line of customer, partner, and employee engagement
A case is a unit of work
A case Object can have a different name (other than “case”) 
Examples:
:* '''Service Requests'''
:** Customer Service
:** Claims Management
:** Employee, Supplier, and Partner on-boarding & off-boarding
:** Complex, high-value proposals
:* '''Incident Management'''
:** Order Exception Management
:** Complaint Management
:** Dispute Resolution
:** Employee Health and Safety
:* '''Investigations'''
:** Customer Analysis
:** Regulation, Audit requests, and tracking
:** Compliance Tracking
:** Fraud investigations

===Three Ways of Creating an Application===
:* Start with a sample application and customize it
:* Create a new application:
:** Import your Object and data from a spreadsheet
:* Create a new application:
:** Use the Wizard to start “from scratch”

===Creating an Application from a Sample Application===
:* Select from many pre-built applications in the Marketplace
:** Software AG owned source of pre-built applications
:** Download for use with cloud tenants only
:** Number of the available application may vary from time to time
<br><br>[[File:Marketplace_Applications.PNG|800px]]<br><br>
:* Customize as required

===Create a New Application by Importing Spreadsheet Data===
:* Object structure and Data only – no formulas
:* Paste spreadsheet data
<br><br>[[File:Paste_Spreadsheet_Data.png|700px]]<br><br>
:* OR: Load from File
<br><br>[[File:Load_From_File.png|700px]]<br><br>

===Creating a New Application Using the Wizard===
:* Use to create a custom application from scratch
:* You specify Object definitions by filling in the form
<br><br>[[File:Create New Application Create_Using_Wizard Acme Onboarding.PNG|900px]]<br>
:* Hint:
:* Type a Field Label carefully (because it is used to create the field name)
:** The label can change - the internal name never does

===Components of an AgileApps Application===
:* An AgileApps application is composed of Objects and Object Relationships
:* An AgileApps application may also include:
:** Forms, Web Forms, Pages, Views, Templates, Reports, Dashboards (display data)
:** Validations, Business Rules
:** Macros, Processes
 
:* An AgileApps application can integrate global and external system elements:
:** Web Services, Global Picklists
:** Java classes
:** Web Tabs

===AgileApps is Built on a Relational Database===
:* The AgileApps platform is built on MySQL
:* Similar to a spreadsheet <br><br>[[File:Spreadsheet.png|500px]]<br><br>
:* A relational database contains tables  - selected data is shown in a View<br><br>[[File:All_Active_Cases.png|500px]]<br><br>

===An AgileApps Object is an Enhanced Database Table===
:* An AgileApps Object consists of a database table, plus:
:** Forms and Layout Rules
:** Field and Form scripts
:** Email & Document templates
:** Macro-actions, Validations, Processes 

<br><br>[[File:All_Fields.png|800px]]<br><br>
:* When you define a new Object:
:** internal table and default Forms are automatically generated
:** Object is added as a new tab to you application by default

===Forms to Display Object Fields===
:* As a developer/administrator at design-time:
:** Modify (default) Forms in the graphic Form editor
:** Create/clone new Forms
:** Assign them to Application Roles
:** Dynamically modify their behavior

:* As a User (Agent) at runtime:
:** Use Forms to view/enter data for a record

===Defining Fields for an Object===
:* Mandatory label
:* Displayed on the form
:* Display Type (Field data type)
:* Required or not
:** Field Name (internal)
:** Auto-filled
:** Must begin with an alphabetic character
:** Can contain alphabetical and numeric characters, and underscores
:** Cannot be a reserved word (ex. BLOB, BINARY)
:** Must be unique within the Object
<br><br>[[File:New_Field.png|800px]]<br><br>

===Lookup Fields===
:* A Lookup is a field that points to a record of another Object
:* A Lookup field defines a Many-to-One relationship
:* Example: Many OrderItems point to a single Order:
<br><br>[[File:Lookup_Fields.png|800px]]<br><br>
:* Notes:
:** There could be a Products Object, as well (depending on the design)
:** When you specify an Object Relationship in the application wizards, the Lookup field is created for you
:** You can also create the Lookup fields yourself
:* Important terms: Lookup, target, related records, Object Relationship

===Lookup Fields and Object Relationships===
Object Relationships can be configured: 
:* in the application wizard
:* by adding child Objects to an Object
:* by adding Lookup fields
<br><br>[[File:application_wizard.png|800px]]<br><br>

===Types of Object Relationships===
:* '''One-to-Many'''
:** Many related records can point to one target record
:* '''One-to-One'''
:** There can be one and only one related record for each target record
:** Uncommon: 
:*** Define a one-to-many relationship
:*** Use program logic to restrict record creation
:* '''Many-to-Many'''
:** Example: Cases and Contributors
:** One Case has many Contributors, one Contributor works on many Cases
:** Internally, they are managed using junction Objects
:** A few good things about the platform are: 
:*** The platform makes them almost entirely invisible
:*** When looking at a Case, you see all related Contributors
:*** When looking at a Contributor, you see all related Cases

===Additional Concepts Related to Lookups===
:* '''Rollup Summary Fields'''
:** Can combine information from multiple records of a related Object
:** Get a record Count, Sum, Average, Max, or Min value from those records (see ch. 4)
:* '''Record Locators'''
:** A Lookup field contains a pointer to a record (generally a record#)
:*** Record Locators tell which fields to display to identify a record when:
:***: a) Performing a Lookup
:***: b) Displaying the record
:***: c) Searching
:*** Example: When selecting a User, you see First Name + Last Name
:* '''Lookup-derived Fields'''
:** Lookup-derived fields are copies of fields contained in a target record a Lookup points to
:*** Example: OrderItems contains a Lookup to a Products table
:*** The Products table might include inventory information and where to order more
:*** Product name could be copied into the OrderItem record for easy reference
:* '''External Lookup Fields'''
:** When the record is accessed, External Lookup fields invoke a Web Service to perform:
:*** a Lookup to retrieve one target-record  from an external server 	AND/OR
:*** a search that returns multiple target records from an external server. User can select one record from a pop-up

===Types of Application Objects===
:* An Application is composed of System Objects and Custom Objects
:** Some System Objects allow only limited customization:
:*** '''User''': Add fields and Business Rules
:*** '''Team''': Add Business Rules
:* Other System Objects are very customizable:
:** Cases and Tasks:	Modify labels, add fields, add rules and processes
:* Some System Objects are not customizable:
:** UI case “banner” and sidebar-options are pre-defined (not customizable)
:** Articles, Attachments, History: not customizable
:* Custom Objects (those that you create) are very customizable:
:** No UI banners, sidebar options are not defined
:** All other options are available:
:*** Add fields
:*** Modify forms (the UI for displaying the data)

==Exercise==
In this exercise, you will generate three webMethods AgileApps Cloud applications in three different ways:
:* In Part 1, [[Part 1: Create an Application from an Excel Spreadsheet|From an Excel spreadsheet.]]
:* In Part 2, [[Part 2: Create an Application by starting with a sample application|From an existing sample Application]]
:* In Part 3, [[Part 3: Create a new Application using the Wizard|Using the New Application Wizard.]]

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