Building Custom Applications with Fabrik
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Fabrik is a flexible Joomla! component designed for building custom web applications without the need to code from scratch. It allows for database management, fine-grained access control, and offers various tools for data input and visualization. The workshop covers the basic tools needed to get started with Fabrik, including how to create connections, forms, lists, and visualizations.
Building Custom Applications with Fabrik
- 1. For the Non-Developer in all of us Building Custom Applications with Fabrik Presented for #JD14BOS by @RobbieAdair
- 2. Session Roadmap What is Fabrik and Why Would We Use It? What We Need to Start A Closer Look at Fabrik The First Steps Let’s Build Something! Questions Time Permitting
- 3. What is ? Fabrik is a highly flexible Joomla! Component for Building Custom Web Applications. ! DB INPUT FORM(s) DATA VIEWS Forms for Users to Enter Data Multiple Display Options to Show Data Database Relationship Management Fine-grained Access Control
- 4. Can't accomplish what we want with native Joomla! Can’t find a component that does exactly what we want (or that can't be customized without touching the core of the component) Need input or display back information in the Joomla! database or other databases Need Granular Access Control on sections of data or operations Why Would We Use ?
- 5. ! So, basically we need a custom component, but… Why Would We Use ? don’t want to code from scratch don’t want to continually update component core with Joomla! updates want a product that is being used by a community of users (open source concept for continuous improvement) want to save TIME and MONEY
- 6. Both are Free to Download! http://fabrikar.comhttp://joomla.org The Basic Tools We’ll Need to Start
- 7. WARNING: Large quantities of caffeine could be involved. Last Thing We’ll Need to Start Rough Outline of What We Want to Accomplish!
- 8. A Look at Home A dashboard with news, sample data, links to help
- 9. A Look at! Global Options Note: This is where you can enable Debugging
- 10. A Look at! Connections Note: Fabrik automatically creates a connection to the Joomla! database, but you can add connections to different databases.
- 11. A Look at! Packages Create an installable component for multiple sites of your custom app Note: Only works with the same version of Joomla! as was originally created in
- 12. A Look at! Schedule Create a task that is setup to run at repeatedly at a given time and interval. Note: Requires Fabrik Cron Plugin(s) to work
- 13. A Look at! Visualizations Display data out of database as a chart, a map, a line graph, calendar, etc
- 14. A Look at! Menu Items Many Types Fabrik menu items (details, form, list, package, visualization, csv)
- 15. A Look at! Lists Allow us to see what's in a database table(s). Can edit, create new, view record, and delete.
- 16. A Look at! Forms Allows you to push new info into the database table(s). Also used to edit info and re-submit changes to the database.
- 17. A Look at! Groups Ways to separate elements into sections on the form. (Example: personal data section, job history section, etc.) Can be made to be a repeatable set.
- 18. A Look at! Elements These are the form fields that create and associate with the database table columns. There are many different types of elements: form fields, text areas, drop downs, radio buttons, check boxes, etc.
- 19. The First Steps Get an Overview of the Project Sketched Out Detail out the Specs of the Project - Functionality, Access Levels, Layouts, Requirements, etc. Diagram of our end result and database structure. Mapping out what we want to happen guides us on how to setup our Database Connections, Lists, Forms, Groups, Elements, and Visualizations (if any) in Fabrik ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
- 20. LET’S BUILD SOMETHING! 1. Review Idea 2. Map Plan 3. Implement 4. Test
- 21. Our Sample App
- 22. Questions? Business Website: www.mediaateam.com Personal Website: www.robbieadair.com Twitter: @robbieadair Twitter: @mediaateam Email: radair@mediaateam.com Questions later?