Bill

 

In an effort to really see how all these things operate with one another, I decided to create a new application from scratch.  I have gotten it running; however, the new layout that I created in Cabana (which I stole from myself) is not loading...only the ShellForm form is loading.  It is as if FoundationModule is not getting run.  I am going to perform a few more passes with the debugger.  Perhaps I will detect something.

 

The ProfileCatalog.xml in the shell lists the CAB assemblies that are to be loaded. This includes the Infrastructure.Foundation.dll that has the basic shell loading stuff.

 

In each assembly, it is the Load method of the <name>Module.cs file that is used first because that class inherits from ModuleInit.

 

In the Load method, it usually adds a new workitem which uses a controller named <name>ModuleController that inherits from the WorkItemController class. The load method then calls the Run method of the newly loaded controller which does all the steps to add buttons to navbars and subscribe to events etc. This also is where the first forms are opened when someone clicks a button etc.

 

For each view there is a presenter that is created by the object builder when the view is instantiated. That code is in the view in a method having the [InjectionMethod] attribute, usually called InjectPresenter. Elsewhere in the view the presenter is accessed using the InnerPresenter object, although there is often a Presenter property defined in the view so it can be accessed with that property instead. e.g. a button press on the form would call Presenter.<buttonhandlermethod>

 

Hope that helps a bit :)

 

Create a new view and presenter in Infrastructure.Foundation.Views.Layout which is a modification of the default shell view and presenter in IdeaBlade.Cab.DotNet.Views.Layout.DotNetShellLayoutView

 

Add to the Infrastructure.Foundation.ViewFactoryService the registration of the new custom shell (create a new constant for the name of the new shell)

 

Modify the Infrastructure.Foundation.FoundationModule.ShowShellLayout method to load the new custom shell.

 

 

 

I started tracing the ShellLayoutView late yesterday.  The FoundationModule is key, I think, in the Cabana application and plays a role in the layouts somehow.  Still working on it.  If I figure something out, I'll make sure to share it in the forums.

 

I agree with the Lib concept...shouldn't these be untouched and untouchable assemblies?  I am finding myself regularly entering one of the IdeaBlade.CAB assemblies in order to effect a change.

 

Let's keep at it, though...there is great reward waiting for us after we figure this CAB thing out.  Especially, in conjunction with the DevForce product.  Powerful, useful, adaptable applications are just around the corner!

 

Bill

 

I am not sure what is the best way of creating a new shell format that has a toolbar without just modifying all the standard Cabana code. I don't want to shut myself out of any updates from future Cabana releases. I haven't actually found out how the IdeaBlade.Cab.DotNet.DotNetShellLayoutView actually becomes the main shell layout so that I can replace it with my own new shell layout. I also would have thought that type of customising code shouldn't even exist in the lib solution. Too many questions...

  

 

The Platt book is available, now, so I checked the Amazon customer review.  It has a 2/5 star rating.  That's not too good.

 

 

Only one review, but substantial.

 

Bill

There were so many people who wanted the update to Cabana.  Now that it is here and you all have had a week to look at it, how are you coping with Cabana?