Dynamics AX TAP
Knowledge
Transfer
Wave 2
Dynamics™ AX
Business Connector
Lachlan Cash
Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
Karl Tolgu
Program Manager
Microsoft Corporation
Agenda
Overview and Architecture
Common Usage Patterns
Demo – Exploring Business Connector Elements
Demo – Integration Framework
Demo – InfoPath Integration
Exploring CLR Interop
Authentication Changes
Usage Guidance
Q&A
.NET Business Connector
Overview
A platform component that enables
integration with AX
Provides an X++ runtime environment
AX interpreter
Access to AOD
Client/server execution
Single/multi-user mode
Built with .NET Framework 2.0
.NET Business Connector
Architecture (1)
.NET Business Connector
Managed Classes
Transition Layer
(.NET/X++ Type Marshalling)
Interpreter Layer
(Dynamics™ AX X++)
The .NET Business Connector is not a COM Connector wrapper!
.NET Business Connector
Architecture (2)
AX
Database
AOS
AX Interpreter
.NET Business Connector
Supported Topologies (1)
Intranet
.NET application
Axapta
Database
Client
.NET Business
Connector
AOS
Intranet
.NET application
Axapta
Database
AOS
.NET Business Connector
.NET Business Connector
Supported Topologies (2)
Intranet
Sharepoint
Database
Axapta
Database
Client
IIS
ASP.NET
Windows Sharepoint Services
Enterprise Portal
.NET Business Connector
AOS
Domain Controller 1
Common Usage Patterns
Basic Object Manipulation
Axapta
AxaptaBuffer
AxaptaContainer
AxaptaObject
AxaptaRecord
Demo – Basic Object
Manipulation
Common Usage Patterns
Data Types (1)
AX Data Type
.NET Data Type
String, RString, VarString System.String
Integer
System.Int32
Real
System.Decimal
Enums
System.Enum
(Business Connector uses Integers)
Common Usage Patterns
Data Types (2)
AX Data Type
.NET Data Type
Time
System.Int
(convert to Dynamics AX time format)
Date
System.Date
(only need to use the date portion)
Container
System.Object[]
(have to use the Container object)
Dimensions
System.Object[]
(use [] when inserting records)
Common Usage Patterns
Data Types (3)
AX Data Type
.NET Data Type
Boolean (Enum)
System.Boolean
(use an integer to represent
True/False)
Guid NEW
Int64 NEW
System.Guid
System.Int64
Demo – Exploring Business
Connector Elements
Integration Framework
Code Reuse
How large is your integration project ?
Envisage a framework that simplifies
integration:
Base Classes  data types
Base Application Class  administration
Base Record Class  record manipulation
Base Objects Classes  AX classes
Demo –
Integration Framework
Client Integration
Microsoft Office InfoPath
IIS
WS
.NET
BC
AOS
Web Server
AX
Database
Demo – InfoPath Integration
.NET Business Connector
CLR Interop
NEW
Windows
Client
Application
Object Server
COM Business
Connector
NEW
.NET Business
Connector
COM Interop
CLR Interop
NEW
CLR Interop
AX
Database
NEW
CLR Interop
.NET Business Connector
CLR Interop
Application Tier
MyApp.exe
AOS
.NET
Application
LoadLibrary
Server Tier
foo.dll
CLRBridge.dll
CallStaticClassMethod
(“bar”,…)
AOD
Reference: foo.dll
Class: bar (client)
bar
Authentication Changes
Windows integrated authentication
AX User  Domain User
Understand constraints (hops, etc.)
What impersonation mechanism should
you use?
LogonAs() – Business Connector API
RunAs() - X++ API
Runas – Microsoft Windows
Refactor applications to use Windows
authentication
AX Integration Technologies
CLR Interop
AIF
Document
Processing
Web Services
.NET Business
Connector
AX Integration Technologies
AIF – Document Processing
XML/document oriented
Asynchronous (batch)
Support for multiple transports
Transformation support
Trusted intermediary
Extensible using X++
B2B, A2A, EAI
AX Integration Technologies
AIF – Web Services
XML/document oriented
Standards based
Web Services (request, submit)
Synchronous
Trusted intermediary
Extensible using X++
Uses .NET Business Connector
B2B, A2A, EAI
AX Integration Technologies
.NET Business Connector
Client/server applications
Single/multi-user support
Synchronous
Web-aware
Access to AX business logic (X++) & data
Tighter coupling (than AIF)
AX Integration Technologies
CLR Interop
Integrated into the AX kernel
Client/server usage
Synchronous
Extend existing business logic in X++ with
managed (.NET) components
Q&A