Alpha Custom Database Solutions, LLC
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Welcome to ACDS Gantt

ACDS Gantt

Introduction

Alpha Custom Database Solutions, LLC (ACDS) ACDS Gantt is a custom user defined web component addition for use with Alpha Software's Alpha Anywhere or Alpha Five version 11 RAD environments (A5). It is only supported for use in A5 browser/mobile based applications (A5 desktop and A5 WCD are not supported). A supported SQL backend is required. There is no support for DBF tables. The component uses a builder, much like native Alpha Five web components, to add a third party Gantt chart control, DHX's dhtmlxGantt, a product of Dinamenta, UAB, to your web project. You are responsible for obtaining a license to use the DHX Javascript libraries. A license to use the DHX libraries is not included with the ACDS Gantt.

The DHX Gantt Chart control is independently owned, licensed, and maintained by DHX. License terms, pricing, and the DHX Gantt documentation can be found on the DHX Gantt web site.

The dhtmlxGantt is a cross-browser Javascript library for creating Gantt charts. Fully-customizable elements, configurable project settings, built-in filtering and sorting, predefined skins, jQuery integration and other possibilities let you create a powerful tool for the users to successfully plan and schedule their team projects.

The ACDS Gantt uses the DHX dhtmlxGantt Javascript libraries and custom Xbasic code to give the A5 developer a Gantt Chart to use in A5 web projects with full interaction to a SQL backend. Currently tested and supported databases are MySql, Maria DB, Oracle, postgreSQL, Access, and MS SQL Server. Database interaction is accomplished using Alpha's AlphaDAO and portable SQL for seamless support of various databases. Once the necessary SQL tables and AlphaDAO connection string is in place a Gantt can be added to a web project with a few clicks of the mouse. No other coding is required for a basic Gantt control. The ACDS Gantt builder allows for custom HTML to be inserted above and below the Gantt and also provides both pre-initialization and post-initialization Javascript sections that allow the developer to leverage the powerful and feature rich DHX Gantt API.

Minimum Requirements

  • Alpha Five Version 11 Developer and Application Server (latest release) or Alpha Anywhere Version 12 Developer and Application Server
  • Administrator access for installation.
  • An Alpha Five Web Application. Desktop and Desktop web are not supported.
  • A supported SQL back end database with the required database schema. (MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Access, Oracle) See the section "SQL Table Requirements" for more information.
  • A license to use the third party DHX Javascript files. See the DXH website for current license information. DHX Gantt

Initial Installation

After purchasing ACDS Gantt, you will receive an email with a link for downloading the installer as well as your license key. You will need the key to install. There is a video that shows the installation process located at: http://www.a5customsolutions.com/gantt_video.html

SQL Table Requirements

The Gantt chart requires two tables, a tasks table and a links table. Below are the minimum requirements for the table structure for use in the ACDS Gantt control. Note that these requirements may not the same as those posted on the DHX website's Gantt documentation. Due to the many variables in making a product for use by the masses I decided to make the "open" and "type" columns required.

The links table will only ever have four columns. In both tables the first column must be the primary key, auto increment. The data types of the required columns is important. Column names are not as important, although some names may conflict with the dhtmlxGantt code.


/* MySQL format */
CREATE TABLE `gantt_links` (
  `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `source` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `target` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `type` varchar(1) NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
)

The tasks table can use either a duration interval, or an end date, for the time span of a task. Up to five custom columns, in addition to the required columns can be added for additional data. See the section on user defined columns for more detail. An example of the table structures in MySQL is below. Adjust the column types for your database.


/* For duration based tasks - MySQL format */
CREATE TABLE `gantt_tasks` (
  `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `text` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `start_date` datetime NOT NULL,
  `duration` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `progress` float NOT NULL,
  `sortorder` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `parent` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `open` tinyint(1)DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
  `type` varchar(255)DEFAULT 'TASK' NOT NULL,		
  PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
)

/* For end date based tasks - MySQL format */
CREATE TABLE `gantt_tasks` (
  `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  `text` varchar(255) NOT NULL,
  `start_date` datetime NOT NULL,
  `end_date` datetime NOT NULL,
  `progress` float NOT NULL,
  `sortorder` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `parent` int(11) NOT NULL,
  `open` tinyint(1) DEFAULT 0 NOT NULL,
  `type` varchar(255)DEFAULT 'TASK' NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
)

User defined additional columns in the tasks table.

The ACDS Gantt component builder allows for the use of up to five additional columns in the tasks table. These can be most data types. The data in the columns will be sent to the client and can be used in the Gantt Chart. Changes made to the values of the custom columns are persisted back to the database when their values are changed in the Gantt Chart. See the video on custom task columns for more information. http://www.a5customsolutions.com/gantt_video.html

Creating your first ACDS Gantt

For a detailed overview of creating your first ACDS Gantt there is a video located at: http://www.a5customsolutions.com/gantt_video.html

Support

ACDS will provide email support, for ACDS Gantt licensed users, for a period of 30 continuous calendar days, starting with the date that the ACDS Gantt license key is sent. ACDS support is limited to the function of the ACDS Alpha Five custom component and Xbasic code associated with the builder and used for the database CRUD operations. Questions or issues involving the dhtmlxGantt control libraries, and its support libraries, both Javascript and CSS, are not included. All support of the DHX Gantt libraries is to be through DHX per your licensing arrangements with them.

Copyright © 2014 Alpha Custom Database Solutions, LLC

A help file, in HTML format is available at the clicking this link: HTML HELP FILE

A PDF of the same help file can be downloaded by clicking this link: PDF HELP FILE