What this book covers
Chapter 1, Introduction to NAV 2017 , starts with an overview of NAV as a business application system, which is followed by an introduction to the seven types of NAV objects, and the basics of C/AL and C/SIDE. Then, we will do some hands-on work, defining Tables, multiple Page types, and a Report. We’ll close with a brief discussion of how backups and documentations are handled in C/SIDE.
Chapter 2, Tables, focuses on the foundation level of NAV data structure: Tables and their structures. We will cover Properties, Triggers (where C/AL resides), Field Groups, Table Relations, and SumIndexFields. We’ll work our way through hands-on creation of several tables in support of our example application. We will also review the types of tables found in the NAV applications.
Chapter 3, Data Types and Fields, teaches you about fields, the basic building blocks of NAV data structure. We will review the different Data Types in NAV and cover all the field properties and triggers in detail, as well as review the three different Field Classes. We’ll conclude with a discussion about the concept of filtering and how it should be considered in database structure design.
Chapter 4, Pages - the Interactpe Interface, reviews the different types of pages, their structures (Triggers, Properties), and general usage. We’ll build several pages for our example application using the Page Wizard and Page Designer. We will also study the different types of controls that can be used in pages. In addition, we’ll review how and where actions are added to pages.
Chapter 5, Queries and Reports, teaches you about both Queries and Reports--two methods of extracting data for presentation to users. For Queries, we will study how they are constructed and some of the ways they are utilized. For Reports, we will walk through report data flow and the variety of different report types. We will study the two Report Designers, the C/SIDE Report Designer and the Visual Studio Report Designer and how a NAV report is constructed using both of these. We’ll learn what aspects of reports use one designer and what aspects use the other. As in previously studied objects, we will discuss Properties and Triggers. We will review how reports can be made interactpe and will do some hands-on report creation.
Chapter 6, Introduction to C/SIDE and C/AL, explains general Object Designer Navigation as well as the indpidual Designers (Table, Page, Report). We’ll study C/AL code construction, syntax, variable types, expressions, operators, and functions. We will then take a closer look at some of the more frequently used built-in functions. This chapter will wrap up with an exercise adding some C/AL code to a report objects created in an earlier exercise.
Chapter 7, Intermediate C/AL, digs deeper into C/AL development tools and techniques. We will review some more advanced built-in functions, including those relating to dates and decimal calculations, both critical business application tools. We’ll study C/AL functions that support process flow control functions, input/output, and filtering. Then, we’ll do a review of methods of communication between objects. Finally, we’ll apply some of what we’ve learned to enhance our example application.
Chapter 8, Advanced NAV Development Tools, reviews some of the more important elements of the Role Tailored User Experience; in particular, the Role Center Page construction. We will dig into the components of a Role Center Page and how to build one. We’ll also cover two of the powerful ways of connecting NAV applications to the world outside of NAV, XMLports, and Web Services. To better understand these, we will not only review their indpidual component parts, but we will go through the hands-on effort of building an example of each one.
Chapter 9, Successful Conclusions, gpes you a detailed study of how NAV functions are constructed and teaches you how to construct your own functions. We will learn more about tools and features built into C/AL and C/SIDE. We will study the new debugger, review the support for Test-Drpen Development, and take a look at the ability to integrate .NET Client Add-ins and integrate a .NET Add-in into our example applications. Finally, we will review tips for design efficiency, updating, and upgrading the system, all with the goal of helping us become more productpe, high quality NAV developers.