QXpress Community

Hello,

I was a software developer for years before I started my own cleaning company. I love QXpress because it is the only solution I found that would allow me to make customizations to fit my business model and the only one that allows jobs to be dragged from one week to another. That said, the development cycle for customizatons is frustrating. I would like to know a few things about doing customizations:

1) Is there a way to write/modify the scripts in a text editor. The pick a function thing gets frustrating after a while especiall if you want to insert a command in the middle of a 20 line script.

2) Is there anyway to re-use code or call a subroutine. I would like to build a collection of business rules and have the screen scripts call them. These rules could be for things like validating entries or calculating the next service date.

3) Is there any kind of debugger?

4) Is there anyway to have a sandbox to try out new code before putting it into the production system and potentially trashing all my live data.

5) Is there a way to set up a database "view"? I would like to keep track of certain min and max values of activity data for each customer.

I know I may be the kid who not only wants a car for his birthday but wants the Mustang GT Convertible but you never know till you ask.

Thank You,

Stephen Gissendaner,
Clean2Play llc

 Stephen,

I've addressed your questions below.

1. Is there a way to write/modify the scripts in a text editor. The pick a function thing gets frustrating after a while especiall if you want to insert a command in the middle of a 20 line script.
   
   QX Online and the Method Platform was designed to take the programming out of programming (so to speak).  It was designed to give end users the ability to program buttons and actions without having to learn a single line of programming code.  As such, there is no way to write scripts directly in QX Online.  We do give you access to our API, should you want to write your own scripts and link it to QX Online, more information on that can be found here, http://www.methodintegration.com/web/self-service-documentation.aspx under the Method API section.
   
    
2. Is there anyway to re-use code or call a subroutine. I would like to build a collection of business rules and have the screen scripts call them. These rules could be for things like validating entries or calculating the next service date.
   
   This functionality is available, but only if you want to call the same Action Set from a different action within the same screen.  Other this than this, unfortunately, you will have to add the actions again if it's from a different screen.
   
    
3. Is there any kind of debugger?
   
   No, there isn't any debugger because you aren't technically programming.
   
    
4. Is there anyway to have a sandbox to try out new code before putting it into the production system and potentially trashing all my live data.
   
   QX Online doesn't have a sandbox scenario, however, if you create a testing section within your account and don't add the copied screens until you've tested it, your data should be fine.
   
    
5. Is there a way to set up a database "view"? I would like to keep track of certain min and max values of activity data for each customer.
   
   I'm not 100% sure what you actually mean by this question, could you please provide a little more detail or an example.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks for the quick reply.

A database "view" is like a querry that the database engine keeps current. It allows you quicker access to data in multiple tables since it is performed by the database engine itself. I want it so I can get min and max service dates for each client.

On the API, can we have our custom functions show up in the graphical screen customization? In other words, could I put my business rules into a web service and then call that from my screens?

Stephen Gissendaner

 Stephen,

Stephen:

A database "view" is like a querry that the database engine keeps current. It allows you quicker access to data in multiple tables since it is performed by the database engine itself. I want it so I can get min and max service dates for each client.

Unfortauntely this isn't available in QX Online

Stephen:

On the API, can we have our custom functions show up in the graphical screen customization? In other words, could I put my business rules into a web service and then call that from my screens?

The Method API give you back door access into QX Online to write custom programs to preform tasks that currently QX Online can't do.  As for specific example as for what you can do, you are going to need to look over the Method API information I posted last time because this is the most Support I can provide on the API

Mark

Stephen -

Just reading this over.  I can be pretty geeky, so I'll add a little more.

The MethodAPI is awesome.  You'll find it very powerful and I highly suggest getting into it if you are a coder.  If you want to do advanced level coding you could:

1. Write you own webservice and put it on your server.

2. You webservice can interact with QXO via the MethodAPI. 

3. You can call that webservice from within Method using the Action "Call Another Web Service".

We do this on some of our other projects.  In fact, if you reverse engineer the how we did the Start Timer button on the mobile Work Orders screen, you'll see we call a special MethodAPI web service.

Paul