Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Apps using Windows Azure Mobile Services

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Apps using Windows Azure Mobile Services

 

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to explain how to develop Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Apps using Windows Azure Mobile Services.

 

Challenge: Mobility is one the most important trends nowadays. With the help of Microsoft Dynamics AX Connector for Mobile Apps you can develop mobile client apps to communicate with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 from phone or tablet platforms. In this walkthrough we’ll discover a creative way to accelerate development of mobile apps for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 using a power of Windows Azure Mobile Services.

 

Solution: Mobile Services allows you to accelerate your mobile app development by providing a turnkey way to structure storage, authenticate users, and send push notifications. With SDKs for Windows, Android, iOS, and HTML as well as a powerful and flexible REST API, Mobile Services lets you to build connected applications for any platform and deliver a consistent experience across devices. Please find more information about Windows Azure Mobile Services here: http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/services/mobile-services.

 

Scenario

 

In this scenario I want to develop Windows Azure Mobile Service which will be integrated with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 by means of Windows Azure Service Bus to track issues that are raised by your employees (internal, sales related, service related, etc.). From the functional perspective these issues/cases tracked by Windows Azure Mobile Service will have to be sent to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for processing and resolution (Case management in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012).

 

Walkthrough

 

For the purposes of this walkthrough I created Windows Azure Mobile Service for Case management.

 

I assume that you already have Windows Azure Subscription account to complete this walkthrough. In case you don’t you may want to sign up for the free trial here: http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/free-trial

 

Now let’s review the process step-by-step!

 

Mobile services

 

 

Currently I don’t have any Mobile service, so I’m going to create one for Case management

 

New Mobile service (1)

 

 

Here I’ll specify a name and the fact that I’ll be using SQL database to store case data in the Cloud

 

New Mobile service (2)

 

 

Here I’ll specify database settings which include name of the database and login credentials

 

Mobile services

 

 

My Windows Azure Mobile Service for Case management has been created. The creation process takes only couple of minutes and your Mobile Services is up and running

 

This mobile service is up and running

 

 

Mobile service (Case management)

 

 

Once my Mobile Service has been created I can now focus on defining a database structure to support cases tracking and also creating a client application using programming language I prefer (C# in my case)

 

Get started

 

 

Get started page allows you to download a sample app which is already pre-configured to work with your mobile service

 

Download

 

 

You can download this sample app as zip archive

 

But before we write a client application we’ll first define the structure of the database to allow us to track cases

 

SQL database (casemanagement_db)

 

 

Please note that casemanagement_db database has been already created as a part of Mobile Service creation

 

Mobile service (casemanagement) - Data

 

 

Currently I don’t have any tables related to casemanagement Mobile Service, so I’m going to create table called “case” to track cases

 

Create new table

 

 

Here I’ll specify table name and appropriate permissions

 

Mobile service (casemanagement) - Data

 

 

Now once I have created a new table “case” I can define necessary columns in order to store case data by switching to the database design experience (Manage). SQL Database Management URL schematically will look like (this URL is not real): https://database.windows.net/?langid=en-us#$database=casemanagement_db

 

SQL Database Management

 

 

SQL Database Management Portal

 

 

In SQL Database Management Portal I’ll switch to Design mode to define the structure of “case” table

 

SQL Database Management Portal - Design

 

 

SQL Database Management Portal - Design

 

 

In “case” table ID field was created automatically and I created one more field called “Description”

Now if I get back to Windows Azure Portal I’ll see the reflection of changes I made in SQL Database Management Portal on Mobile Service page

 

Mobile service - Columns

 

 

We just finished with the database portion and it’s time to get back to the client application

 

I’ve already downloaded zip archive with sample app, then I’ll unzip it and make appropriate code changes

 

casemanagement Client app

 

 

Solution Explorer

 

 

The structure of sample C#.NET project is depicted in Solution Explorer

 

This app is already preconfigured to work with Case management Mobile Service

 

// This MobileServiceClient has been configured to communicate with your Mobile Service's url         // and application key. You're all set to start working with your Mobile Service!         public static MobileServiceClient MobileService = new MobileServiceClient(             "https://casemanagement.azure-mobile.net/",             ""         );

 

Please note that Mobile Service Application key is the second parameter in MobileServiceClient class constructor

 

Manage Access Keys

 

 

You can retrieve Mobile Service Application Key from Mobile Service page (Access Keys) in Windows Azure Portal

 

Now we’ll make appropriate changes to the business logic and markup in order to track cases

 

Please see the source code below

 

C# (Business Logic)

 

using Microsoft.WindowsAzure.MobileServices; using Newtonsoft.Json; using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Collections.ObjectModel; using System.IO; using System.Linq; using Windows.Foundation; using Windows.Foundation.Collections; using Windows.UI.Popups; using Windows.UI.Xaml; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Data; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Input; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Media; using Windows.UI.Xaml.Navigation;   namespace casemanagement {     public class Case     {         public int Id { get; set; }           [JsonProperty(PropertyName = "description")]         public string Description { get; set; }            }       public sealed partial class MainPage : Page     {         private MobileServiceCollection<Case, Case> caseItems;         private IMobileServiceTable<Case> caseTable = App.MobileService.GetTable<Case>();           public MainPage()         {             this.InitializeComponent();         }           private async void InsertCase(Case caseItem)         {             // This code inserts a new case into the database. When the operation completes             // and Mobile Services has assigned an Id, the item is added to the CollectionView             await caseTable.InsertAsync(caseItem);             caseItems.Add(caseItem);                                }           private async void RefreshCases()         {             MobileServiceInvalidOperationException exception = null;             try             {                 // This code refreshes the entries in the list view by querying the cases table.                             caseItems = await caseTable.ToCollectionAsync();             }             catch (MobileServiceInvalidOperationException e)             {                 exception = e;             }               if (exception != null)             {                 await new MessageDialog(exception.Message, "Error loading cases").ShowAsync();             }             else             {                 ListItems.ItemsSource = caseItems;             }         }           private void ButtonRefresh_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)         {             RefreshCases();         }           private void ButtonSave_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)         {             var caseItem = new Case { Description = DescriptionInput.Text };             InsertCase(caseItem);         }                  protected override void OnNavigatedTo(NavigationEventArgs e)         {             RefreshCases();         }     } }

 

XAML (Markup)

 

<Page     x:Class="casemanagement.MainPage"     IsTabStop="false"     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"     xmlns:local="using:casemanagement"     xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"     xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"     mc:Ignorable="d">       <Grid Background="White">           <Grid Margin="50,50,10,10">             <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>                 <ColumnDefinition Width="*" />                 <ColumnDefinition Width="*" />             </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>             <Grid.RowDefinitions>                 <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />                 <RowDefinition Height="*" />             </Grid.RowDefinitions>               <Grid Grid.Row="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Margin="0,0,0,20">                 <StackPanel>                     <TextBlock Foreground="#0094ff" FontFamily="Segoe UI Light" Margin="0,0,0,6">WINDOWS AZURE MOBILE SERVICES</TextBlock>                     <TextBlock Foreground="Gray" FontFamily="Segoe UI Light" FontSize="45" >casemanagement</TextBlock>                 </StackPanel>             </Grid>                 <Grid Grid.Row="1">                 <StackPanel>                       <local:QuickStartTask Number="1" Title="Insert a case" Description="Enter some description below and click Save to insert a new case into your database" />                       <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="72,0,0,0">                         <TextBox Name="DescriptionInput" Margin="5" MinWidth="300"></TextBox>                         <Button Name="ButtonSave" Click="ButtonSave_Click">Save</Button>                     </StackPanel>                   </StackPanel>             </Grid>               <Grid Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1">                 <Grid.RowDefinitions>                     <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />                     <RowDefinition />                 </Grid.RowDefinitions>                 <StackPanel>                     <local:QuickStartTask Number="2" Title="Query and Update Data" Description="Click refresh below to load cases from your database" />                     <Button Margin="72,0,0,0" Name="ButtonRefresh" Click="ButtonRefresh_Click">Refresh</Button>                 </StackPanel>                   <ListView Name="ListItems" Margin="62,10,0,0" Grid.Row="1">                     <ListView.ItemTemplate>                         <DataTemplate>                             <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">                                 <TextBlock Name="TextBlockDescription" Text="{Binding Description}" Margin="10,0" />                             </StackPanel>                         </DataTemplate>                     </ListView.ItemTemplate>                 </ListView>               </Grid>           </Grid>     </Grid> </Page>

 

As the result our client app will look like this

 

Case management Client app

 

 

Case management client app will display the list of cases stored in the database and will allow you to create a new case by providing a description. When I create new case in Case management Client app I can review the data in Windows Azure Portal on Mobile Service page (Browse)

 

Mobile service (case) - Browse

 

 

The next step will be to integrate Case management Mobile Service with Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. This can be done by means of Windows Azure Service Bus. Please see more details about Developing mobile apps for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38413

 

Service bus

 

 

Currently I don’t have Service bus for integration and I’m going to create one

 

Create a namespace

 

 

  

Here I’ll specify namespace name and preferred data center location

 

Service bus

 

 

As the result in couple of minutes my Service bus will be ready to go

 

Service bus - Queues

 

 

Case management Mobile Service will send messages to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 by means of Service bus Queue, that’s why I’ll need to create a queue for the integration

 

Create queue

 

 

Here I’ll specify queue name and preferred data center location

 

Service bus - Queue

 

 

Finally Cases queue has been created. And now I can review Service bus Connection information

 

Access connection information

 

 

Now we can write a script which will be executed every time we insert a record into “case” table

 

Mobile service - Script

 

 

Please note that I use Default Key in the code that connects to the Service bus queue. In particular, Default Key is a second parameter in createServiceBusService method

 

Source code:

 

function insert(item, user, request) {     var insertInQueue = function() {         var azure = require('azure');         var serviceBusService = azure.createServiceBusService('casemanagement', ' ');           serviceBusService.createQueueIfNotExists('cases', function(error) {             if (!error) {                 serviceBusService.sendQueueMessage('cases', JSON.stringify(item), function(error) {                     if (!error) {                         console.log('sent message: ' + item.id);                     }                 });             }         });     };       request.execute({         success: function () {             insertInQueue();             request.respond();         }     }); }

 

In the code I also check if there’s a queue called “cases” and create this queue programmatically if necessary

 

If I create new case in Case management Client app now, the new record will be written into Service bus Queue

 

Case management Client app

 

 

Mobile service - Browse

 

 

New record is create in “case” table

 

Service bus - Queue

 

 

As well as new record has been written into Service bus queue. You can see that Queue length is 1 now. You may also ask Can I manipulate Service bus queue in Visual Studio 2012? Yes, you can. In order to do that I’ll first install Windows Azure SDL for .NET (Visual Studio 2012)

 

Windows Azure SDK for .NET (VS 2012)

 

 

Windows Azure SDK for Visual Studio 2012 gives you an ability to access Windows Azure Subscription details from within Visual Studio 2012

 

Server Explorer

 

 

In order to connect to your Windows Azure Subscription account you will need to import Subscription settings file in Import Windows Azure Subscriptions dialog 

 

Import Windows Azure Subscriptions

 

 

You can initially download Subscription settings file from Windows Azure Portal

When connected you will be able to see the details about your Windows Azure Service bus Queues

 

Server Explorer

 

 

After case record has been written to Service bus Queue it will be synchronized to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 by means of Microsoft Dynamics AX Connector for Mobile Apps. Details about configuration of Microsoft Dynamics AX Connector for Mobile Apps will be provided in a separate article for the sake of clarity. Please find more information about Configuring Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Connector for Mobile Apps here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36776

 

As the result information about case will be synchronized to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

 

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

 

Please note that Windows Azure Mobile Services also support custom APIs

 

As you can see Windows Azure Mobile Services provides a modern development experience for developing mobile apps which may be integrated with Line of Business (LOB) applications.

 

Summary: This document describes how to develop Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Apps using Windows Azure Mobile Services. In this example simple Case management App was developed. The information about cases is stored in Mobile Service SQL Server database and then by means of Windows Azure Service Bus and Microsoft Dynamics AX for Mobile Apps is synchronized into Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 for further processing and resolution. Please learn more about Windows Azure here: http://www.windowsazure.com. 

 

Tags: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, Windows Azure, Windows Azure Mobile Services, Windows Azure Service Bus, Microsoft Dynamics AX Connector for Mobile Apps, Microsoft Cloud, Mobile Apps.

 

Note: This document is intended for information purposes only, presented as it is with no warranties from the author. This document may be updated with more content to better outline the issues and describe the solutions.

 

Author: Alex Anikiev, PhD, MCP