Flex 4 Tutorials

ADOBE® FLEX® 4 Tutorials
© 2010 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Copyright
Adobe® Flex® 4 Tutorials.

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Flash, Flash Builder, Flex, Flex Builder and LiveCycle are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in
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Adobe Systems Incorporated, 345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110-2704, USA.
Last updated 6/1/2010

iii
Contents
Chapter 1: Import a service and bind data to application components
Create the application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Create a ColdFusion service that returns localized strings ............................................................... 5
(Optional) Test the ColdFusion service ................................................................................. 6
Connect to the ColdFusion service ..................................................................................... 9
Examine the generated code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 2: Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database

Download and install the Flash Builder tutorial database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 3: Creating ColdFusion services for client applications

Create a CFC that accesses a database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(Optional) Test the service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Import the service into Flex and bind returned data to application components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Chapter 4: Creating PHP services for client applications

Create a PHP class that implements a service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
(Optional) Test the PHP service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Import the service into Flex and bind returned data to application components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Chapter 5: Manage the access of data through paging

Paging tutorial (ColdFusion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Paging tutorial (PHP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Chapter 6: Using data management to synchronize server updates

Data management tutorial (ColdFusion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Data management tutorial (PHP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

1
Chapter 1: Import a service and bind data

to application components
The relationship between client code and server code in Flex differs from the traditional relationship in a server
template.
In a traditional relationship, a server template mixes server code with client code. When the client queries a database,
it dynamically embeds HTML code with returned data.
Flex, however, separates client code from server code. The remote service returns only data. Flex binds the returned
data to user interface components in the client application.
This tutorial shows how to create a client application that imports a ColdFusion service. You first create a Label item
that displays static text. Next, you create a ColdFusion service that returns a localized text string. Then, you bind the
data returned from the ColdFusion service to the Label item. Finally, you examine the generated code to see how Flex
accesses the data returned from the service.
Create the application

1 In Flash Builder, select File > New > Flex Project.
2 Specify HelloCF for the project name, set Application Server Type to ColdFusion, and specify ColdFusion Flash
Remoting.

FLEX TUTORIALS 2
Import a service and bind data to application components
Specify project name and server type
3 Click Next. Verify your ColdFusion server configuration and click Validate Configuration.
4 Click Finish.
The Flash builder source editor opens to Hello.mxml.
5 If Design mode is not selected, select Design to switch to Design mode of the editor.
6 In the Components View, make sure that the Controls folder is open. Scroll the controls to find the Label control.

FLEX TUTORIALS 3
Label control in the Controls folder
7 Drag a Label component from the Components View to the design area.
8 Double-click the Label component. Replace the default text with Hello.
9 In the Properties view, modify the appearance of the text. With the Label component selected, specify the following:
Font Size 24
Font Attribute Bold
Font Attribute Italic
Select the font attributes

FLEX TUTORIALS 4
10 Click the Font color box and specify #ff0000 to change the text to Red.
Font color box
11 Save the file. Click the Run button to run the application.
Run button

FLEX TUTORIALS 5
The application runs in a web browser.
Create a ColdFusion service that returns localized

strings
Create a ColdFusion component (CFC) that can be accessed as a service by Flex over the Internet.
1 Create the following directory in your web root:
<CF Web Root>/HelloCF/
2 Code the following HelloService.cfc and place it in the HelloCF directory:

FLEX TUTORIALS 6
<cfcomponent>
<cffunction name="getMessage" access="remote" returntype="string">
<cfset message = "Hello from CF!">
<cfreturn message>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="getLocalizedMessage" returnType="string" access="remote">

<cfargument name="locale" required="yes"/>
<cfswitch expression="#locale#">
<cfcase value="en">
<cfset message = "Hello from CF!"/>
</cfcase>
<cfcase value="es">
<cfset message = "Hola de CF!"/>
</cfcase>
<cfcase value="ne">
<cfset message = "Namaskar CF bata!"/>
</cfcase>
<cfdefaultcase>
<cfthrow message="Unknown locale code"/>
</cfdefaultcase>
</cfswitch>
<cfreturn message>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="getLocales" returnType="array" access="remote">
<cfset codes = listToArray("en,es,ne")/>
<cfreturn codes>
</cffunction>
</cfcomponent>
The function getMessage() is a service operation that client applications access.

Make sure to specify remote as the access type for the function.
(Optional) Test the ColdFusion service

There are various ways to test the service before you access it from an application.
1 Create a ColdFusion script file, helloservicetest.cfm, that calls the service and displays the returned data in
HTML.
Use the cfinvoke tag to call the service.
Use the cfdump tag to view the results.
Testing getLocales()...
<cfinvoke component="HelloService" method="getLocales" returnvariable="locales"/>
 Result: <cfdump var="#locales#"/> 
Testing getLocalizedMessage("es")...
<cfinvoke component="HelloService" method="getLocalizedMessage" locale="es"
returnvariable="message"/>
 Result: <cfdump var="#message#"/> 
2 Save helloservicetest.cfm in the same folder as HelloService.cfc, and call the script from a web browser:

FLEX TUTORIALS 7
http://localhost:8500/HelloCF/helloservicetest.cfm
Using cfinvoke and cfdump
If there is an error in the service, ColdFusion displays detailed information about the error.
You can also enable Robust Exception Information for the ColdFusion server to get detailed debugging output.
3 Add trace statements to the service.
In the ColdFusion Administrator, enable debugging and logging.

FLEX TUTORIALS 8
Add ColdFusion trace statements as necessary to debug your service. For example, add the following line in
helloservicetest.cfm:
Testing getLocalizedMessage()...
<cfinvoke component="HelloService" method="getLocalizedMessage" locale="es"
returnvariable="message"/> Result: <cfdump var="#message#"/>
<cftrace category="getLocalizedMessage End" inline="yes" var="message"
text="GetLocalizedMessage call has completed">
Call the script from a web browser to view the debugging output. You can also inspect the ColdFusion log files.
Testing a service directly from a URL
4 Call a function in the service directly from a URL.

For example, call getLocalizedMessage() with the parameter es:
http://localhost:8500/HelloCF/HelloService.cfc?method=getLocalizedMessage&locale=es
Note: You can also test a service after importing the service into Flash Builder. Use Test Operation, which is available
from the Data/Service view.

FLEX TUTORIALS 9
Connect to the ColdFusion service

In Flash Builder, connect to the ColdFusion service and bind the data returned from the service to the Label
component.
1 In Design mode of the MXML editor, make sure HelloCF.mxml is open. From the Flash Builder Data menu, select
Connect To Data/Service.
2 Select ColdFusion as the service type. Click Next.
Select service type
3 Click Browse and navigate to the HelloService.cfc you previously created. Flash Builder names the service
HelloService.
Importing a ColdFusion Service
4 Click Finish. Provide your credentials to log in to the ColdFusion database.

The Data Services View now displays your ColdFusion service.
Data Services View

FLEX TUTORIALS 10
The Data Service View provides a picture of remote services. This view becomes useful when you configure types
for data returned by a service call.
5 Select the Label component in the design area. From the context menu for the Label component, select Bind to Data.
Select OK to replace the current text with the text returned from a service operation.
Flash Builder provides various ways to bind data to a selected component. In addition to the the context menu,
you can bind to data from Properties view. You can also select Bind to Data from the Flash Builder Data menu.
6 In the Bind to Data dialog, make sure that New Service Call is selected. For Operation select
getLocalizedMessage. Click OK.
Select the operation for binding data
Flash Builder switches the editor to Source mode, highlighting the parameter to getLocalizedMessage().
7 Type "es" for the parameter value for getLocalizedMessage(). Switch to Design mode of the editor.
Design mode showing data binding
8 Save and run the application.

FLEX TUTORIALS 11
The Label component displays the message retrieved from the HelloService.
Examine the generated code

When you imported the ColdFusion service into a client application, Flex generated client code that accessed the
ColdFusion service. Flex also generates code when you bind operations to application components.
There are three parts to the generated code:
• Event handler
• Service call and responder
• Data binding
This part of the tutorial walks you through the Flex code generated in the previous tutorial. There are no “steps” to this
part of the tutorial. Just a description of the code generation.
Event handlers
Flex uses event handlers to trigger a service call.
Flex code is not processed “top to bottom,” as in server templates. Instead, applications built with Flex listen for events
to trigger responses.
By default, Flex uses the creationComplete event on a component to trigger a service call.
Examine the Label component in the HelloCF.mxml source code:
<s:Label x="70" y="60"
text="{getLocalizedMessageResult.lastResult}"
fontWeight="bold" fontSize="24" fontStyle="italic"
color="#FF0000" id="label"
creationComplete="label_creationCompleteHandler(event)"/>
The creationComplete event fires after the application creates the component. For this Label component,
creationComplete calls an event handler that Flash Builder generated for the event. Examine the code for the event
handler, which is placed inside a Script block:

FLEX TUTORIALS 12
<fx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.events.FlexEvent;
import mx.controls.Alert;
protected function label_creationCompleteHandler(event:FlexEvent):void

{
getLocalizedMessageResult.token = helloService.getLocalizedMessage("es");
}
]]>
</fx:Script>
The creationComplete event handler calls the getLocalizedMessage() operation from the ColdFusion service. It
passes the parameter “es”, which you specified earlier in the source code.
You can use other events, such as a Click event on a button or a selectionChange event of a list, to trigger service
calls.
Service calls and responders

When you add a service, Flex creates a component containing methods that call the service operations. When you call
one of the methods, the component calls the corresponding service operation over the network using the appropriate
protocol.
Service calls are associated with CallResponders. Data returned from a service call is placed in the lastResult
attribute of the CallResponder. CallResponders allow service calls to operate asynchronously. The client application
can continue to be responsive while the service call is being processed.
Examine the generated service call and responder:
<fx:Declarations>
<s:CallResponder id="getLocalizedMessageResult"/>
<helloservice:HelloService id="helloService"
fault="Alert.show(event.fault.faultString + '\n' + event.fault.faultDetail)"
showBusyCursor="true"/>
</fx:Declarations>
When you imported the HelloService service, Flex created the HelloService class. This class contains methods to call
the getLocales(), and getLocalizedMessage operations of the service.
The CallResponder, identified by the getLocalizedMessageResult id, provides access to the returned data.
Data binding
Flex data binding allows you to assign the value of the lastResult attribute of a CallResponder to a user interface
component. When the last result updates, Flex automatically updates the component.
Flex uses curly braces {} to bind data to an attribute of a component. In this example, Flex binds the lastResult value
to the text attribute of the Label component.
Examine the data binding for the Label component:
<s:Label x="70" y="60"
text="{getLocalizedMessageResult.lastResult}"
fontWeight="bold" fontSize="24" fontStyle="italic"
color="red" id="richEditableText"
creationComplete="label_creationCompleteHandler(event)"/>

FLEX TUTORIALS 13
The data returned to the CallResponder, getLocalizedMessageResult.lastResult, is automatically assigned as

the text attribute for the Label component.
Code generation summary

In summary, Flash Builder generates code to access the imported service in the client application:
• After Flex creates the Label component in the running application, the creationComplete event fires, calling a
service operation.
• The data returned from the service call is placed in the lastResult attribute of the associated CallResponder.
• The text attribute of the Label component, which is bound to the lastResult attribute, updates with the returned data.

14
Chapter 2: Installing the Flash Builder

tutorial database
Several of the tutorials show how to access data returned from a database. The tutorials use a MySQL database, which
you can access from either a PHP or ColdFusion installation.
Download and install the Flash Builder tutorial database

1 Download Flash Builder Tutorial Database and unzip it into a temporary directory on your computer.
The downloaded ZIP file contains two SQL files:
• fb_tutorial_db_full.sql
Use this file to import the entire database into your MySQL installation. It creates the fb_tutorial_db
database, which contains three tables. The tables in the database are departments, employees, and dept_emp.
• fb_tutorial_db_tables.sql
Use this file to import just the three tables into an existing database. This file is provided in case you do not have
privileges to create a database in your MySQL installation. See the ReadMe file for information on importing
this file.
You can install the database either from the command line or using the phpMyAdmin utility for MySQL databases.
2 (Command Line) Execute the following command from a terminal window for your operating system.
<MySQL_Install_Dir>/bin/mysql -u root -p < fb_tutorial_db_full.sql
3 (phpMyAdmin) From the phpMyAdmin home page, navigate to the Import page. Browse to the downloaded SQL
file and import the database.
4 (ColdFusion) In the ColdFusion Administrator, add fb_tutorial_db as a data source.
The following table lists the settings for the data source using the default configuration for ColdFusion 8:
Configuration Field Value
ColdFusion Data Source fb_tutorial_db

Name
Database fb_tutorial_db
Server 127.0.0.1
Port 3306

15
Chapter 3: Creating ColdFusion services

for client applications
When you access a remote service, you typically retrieve records from a database and display them in the client
application. This tutorial shows how to access a remote database and display retrieved records in a DataGrid.
The tutorial illustrates the following concepts:

• Using a ColdFusion component (CFC) to implement service operations that query a database.
• Binding a CFC service operation to a Flex data control, such as a DataGrid.
• Sampling the data returned from a service operation to configure a data type for the returned data.
• Running the application and viewing the returned data in the DataGrid.
Create a CFC that accesses a database

This tutorial accesses the cfbookclub database that is provided with a ColdFusion installation. It lists the contents of
the Books table in the database. However, you can modify this tutorial to select records from any database you have
access to.
This tutorial assumes that you have a local installation of ColdFusion 8 or ColdFusion 9 and the ColdFusion server is
running.
1 In your web root, create a folder named books.
2 In your favorite ColdFusion editor, create the following CFC. Name it BookService.cfc and place it in the books
folder in your web root.
BookService.cfc selects all the records from the Books table in the cfbookclub database.

FLEX TUTORIALS 16
Creating ColdFusion services for client applications

<cffunction name="getBooks" output="false" access="remote" returntype="any" >


<cfset var qAllBooks="">
<cfquery name="qAllBooks" datasource="cfbookclub">
SELECT * FROM Books
</cfquery>
<cfreturn qAllBooks>
</cffunction>
3 In BookService.cfc, examine the code that calls the database:

Flex expects data returned by the operation to be an object or an array of objects. Each object in the array
corresponds to a retrieved record from the database, containing values for each column in the record.
The cfquery, qAllBooks, accesses the Books table in the cfbookclub database. ColdFusion returns an array of
records from the database.
(Optional) Test the service

It is always a good idea to test a service before you access it from an application.
1 Create bookservicetest.cfm to test the CFC. This script uses cfdump to view the results of the service operation.
Testing getBooks()...
<cfinvoke component="BookService" method="getBooks" returnvariable="books"/>
 <cfdump var="#books#"/>
2 Save bookservicetest.cfm in the books folder next to BookService.cfc.

3 From a web browser, run the script to test the service:

FLEX TUTORIALS 17
http://localhost:8500/books/bookservicetest.cfm
You can also test a service after importing the service into Flash Builder. Use Test Operation, which is available from
the Data/Service view.
Import the service into Flex and bind returned data to

application components
template.

FLEX TUTORIALS 18
1 In Flash Builder, select New > Flex Project to create a ColdFusion server project. Name the project Books.
Set the Application Server Type to ColdFusion. Enable Use Remote Object Access Service and select ColdFusion
Flash Remoting.
2 Click Next. Validate your configuration.

3 Set the output folder to the books folder containing the service. Click Finish.
Flash builder creates Books.mxml and opens the file in the MXML editor.
Select Design to open the editor in Design mode.
4 In Design mode, drag a DataGrid control to the design area.
The DataGrid control is available under Controls in the Components view.
5 From the context menu for the DataGrid, select Bind to Data.
6 In the No Services Defined dialog, click Yes to connect to a service.
7 In the Connect to Data/Service wizard, select ColdFusion. Click Next.

FLEX TUTORIALS 19
Flash Builder provides multiple ways to connect to a data service. In this scenario, you first create the user
interface. Then from a user interface component, you connect to a service and specify the remote operation.
8 Click Browse and navigate to the BookService.cfc you created previously. Click Finish.
Provide authorization credentials as needed for your system.
The Data Services View now displays the BookService.
9 Again, from the context menu for the DataGrid, select Bind to Data.
The Bind to Data dialog now opens with New Service Call selected.
BookService is the only service available in the Flex project.
getBooks() is the only operation available in the service.
10 In the Bind to Data dialog, select Configure Return Type to define the data type for returned data.
Flex uses the return data type to access service operations. The BookService service does not define the data type
for returned data. Flash Builder uses client-side typing to define a custom data type for the returned data.
Some services, such as those provided by LiveCycle Data Services, provide server-side typing. With server-side
typing, Flash Builder does not have to configure the data type for returned data.
11 In the Configure Return Type dialog, Auto-Detect the Return Type is selected by default. Click Next.
Flash Builder introspects the service to determine the data and data types returned.
12 Specify Book in the Array Of field to define a custom type for returned data.
The BookService returns an array of records from the data service. Each record is a complex data type representing
a database record for a book. The custom type Book provides access to each field of the record.
The Configure Return Type dialog displays the properties of the data type returned by the service. Click Finish.
When Flash Builder configures a return type, it accesses the database to create a value object. The properties of
the custom data type are derived from the value object. You can view the properties of the data type before
proceeding.
13 In the Bind to Data dialog, click OK.

FLEX TUTORIALS 20
Flash Builder binds the data returned from the service call to the DataGrid component. It modifies the columns of
the DataGrid, binding the value returned for each Book property to a column in the DataGrid.
14 Make sure the DataGrid is still selected. In the Properties view, click Configure Columns and then do the following
steps:
a Select the ISSPOTLIGHT column. Click Delete to delete the column.
b Delete all columns except TITLE and GENRE.
c Select the TITLE column. Edit the Header Text field to rename the column Title.
d Rename the GENRE column to Genre.
e With the GENRE column selected, click Up to rearrange the order of the columns.

FLEX TUTORIALS 21
f Click OK.
15 In Design View, grab the far left handle of the DataGrid and resize it to a more normal shape. Save and run the
application.

22
Chapter 4: Creating PHP services for client

applications
You can create applications with Flex that access services from a wide variety of technologies. These technologies
include:
• ColdFusion
• PHP
• HTML (REST-style) services
• Web services (SOAP)
After creating a service, it is a good idea to test the service before accessing it from a client application.
The principles of creating and testing PHP services can be applied to other service technologies.
Create a PHP class that implements a service

The service you create in this tutorial accesses the fb_tutorial_db database. For information on installing this database,
see “Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database” on page 14.
1 In your web root, create a folder named PHPService. Within that folder, create another folder named services.
2 In your favorite PHP editor, create the following PHP file, which implements EmployeeService. Name the file
EmployeeService.php. Place it in the PHPService/services folder.

FLEX TUTORIALS 23
Creating PHP services for client applications
<?php
/**
* This sample service contains functions that illustrate typical service operations.
* This code is for prototyping only.
*
* Authenticate users before allowing them to call these methods.
*/
/**
* The constructor initializes the connection to database. Everytime a request is
* received by Zend AMF, an instance of the service class is created and then the
* requested method is called.
*/
class EmployeeService {
var $username = "USERNAME";
var $password = "PASSWORD";
var $server = "localhost";
var $port = "3306";
var $databasename = "fb_tutorial_db";
var $tablename = "employees";
var $connection;
public function __construct() {
$this->connection = mysqli_connect(
$this->server,
$this->username,
$this->password,
$this->databasename,
$this->port
);
$this->throwExceptionOnError($this->connection);
}
public function getEmployees() {
$stmt = mysqli_prepare($this->connection, "SELECT * FROM $this->tablename");

$this->throwExceptionOnError();
mysqli_stmt_execute($stmt);
$rows = array();
mysqli_stmt_bind_result($stmt, $row->emp_no, $row->birth_date,

$row->first_name, $row->last_name, $row->gender, $row->hire_date);
while (mysqli_stmt_fetch($stmt)) {
$rows[] = $row;
$row = new stdClass();
}
mysqli_stmt_free_result($stmt);

FLEX TUTORIALS 24
mysqli_close($this->connection);
return $rows;
}
/**
* Utitity function to throw an exception if an error occurs
* while running a mysql command.
*/
private function throwExceptionOnError($link = null) {
if($link == null) {
$link = $this->connection;
}
if(mysqli_error($link)) {
$msg = mysqli_errno($link) . ": " . mysqli_error($link);
throw new Exception('MySQL Error - '. $msg);
}
}
}
?>
This PHP class contains functions that implement data service operations. Flash Builder introspects the service
operations in the PHP class to create ActionScript classes in the client application. The client application accesses
the data service using these ActionScript classes.
3 Save EmployeeService.php at the following location:
<Web Root>/PHPService/services/EmployeeService.php
Note: Make sure that the filename corresponds to the name of the class implementing the PHP service.
4 In EmployeeService.php, examine the code that calls the database.
• Connecting to data:
The code uses global variables and a constructor function that connects to the database server.
Substitute your connection settings for the global variables.
• Call the database:
This code implements a basic PHP call to a database to return a result set. This call uses prepared statements
available with the MySQLi extension. Prepares statements provide more security than a basic database query.
• Return the data as an array of rows:
$rows = array();
$rows[] = $row;
}
return $rows;

FLEX TUTORIALS 25
Flex expects data returned by the operation to be an object or an array of objects. The PHP code that handles
the returned result set iterates through the result, returning an array of objects. Each object in the array
corresponds to a retrieved record from the database, containing values for each column in the record.
The code uses bound results for the prepared statement. This call allows the values of the result to correctly be
bound to expected values of the data.
• Exception handling
The code creates a utility function to catch exceptions.
(Optional) Test the PHP service

It is always a good idea to test a service before you access it from an application.
1 Create a PHP script file, tester.php, that calls the service and displays the returned data.
<pre>
<?php
include('EmployeeService.php');
$o = new EmployeeService();
var_dump($o->getemployees());
?>
</pre>
2 Save tester.php in the same folder as EmployeeService.php, and call the service from a web browser.
If the call is successful, tester dumps records from the database:

FLEX TUTORIALS 26
array(999) {
[0]=>
object(stdClass)#4 (6) {
["emp_no"]=>
string(5) "10002"
["birth_date"]=>
string(10) "1964-06-02"
["first_name"]=>
string(7) "Bezalel"
["last_name"]=>
string(6) "Simmel"
["gender"]=>
string(1) "F"
["hire_date"]=>
string(10) "1985-11-21"
}
[1]=>
["emp_no"]=>
string(5) "10003"
["birth_date"]=>
string(10) "1959-12-03"
["first_name"]=>
string(5) "Parto"
["last_name"]=>
string(7) "Bamford"
["gender"]=>
string(1) "M"
["hire_date"]=>
string(10) "1986-08-28"
}
[2]=>
["emp_no"]=>
. . .
If there is an error in the service, PHP displays information to help locate the error.
Warning: mysqli_connect() [function.mysqli-connect]: (28000/1045):
Access denied for user 'admin'@'localhost' (using password: YES) in
C:\wamp2\www\PHP_Service\services\PHPservice.php on line 6
Access denied for user 'admin'@'localhost' (using password: YES)
You can also test a service after importing the service into Flash Builder. Use Test Operation, which is available from
the Data/Service view.
Import the service into Flex and bind returned data to

application components
template.

FLEX TUTORIALS 27
1 In Flash Builder, select File > New > Flex Project.
2 Specify PHP_Service for the project name and set the Application Server Type to PHP.
Specify project name and server type
Note: If you forget to set the application server type when you create the project, you can later specify the server type
from the Project Properties page.
3 Click Next. Verify your PHP configuration and click Validate Configuration.
4 For Output Folder, specify the PHPService folder you created previously.
Flash Builder suggests a default location for the output folder. Use the location that already contains
EmployeeService.php. Here is the location previously specified:
<Web Root>/PHPService/
5 Click Finish.

FLEX TUTORIALS 28
The Flash Builder source editor opens to PHP_Service.mxml.

6 Select Design to open the editor in Design mode. Add a DataGrid control to the application:
The DataGrid component is available under Data Controls in the Components view. Drag the DataGrid control to
the design area.
7 From the context menu for the DataGrid, select Bind to Data.
8 In the No Services Defined dialog, click Yes to connect to a service.
9 In the New Flex Service wizard, select PHP. Click Next.
Flash Builder provides multiple ways to connect to a data service. In this scenario, you first create the user
interface. Then from a user interface component, you can connect to a service and specify the remote operation.
10 Click Browse and navigate to the EmployeeService.php file you created previously.
The path to the file is:
<Web Root>/PHP_Service/services/EmployeeService.php
Click Finish. Flash Builder prompts you to install or update the Zend Framework, if necessary.
The Data Services View now displays the EmployeeService.
11 From the DataGrid context menu, again select Bind to Data.
The Bind to Data dialog opens with New Service Call selected.
EmployeeService is the only service available in the Flex project.
getEmployeess() is the only operation available in the service.
12 In the Bind to Data dialog, select Configure Return Type to define the data type for returned data.
Flex uses the return data type to access service operations. The EmployeeService service does not define the data
type for returned data. Flash Builder uses client-side typing to define a custom data type for the returned data.
14 Specify Employee for the name of the type.
The EmployeeService returns a complex data type representing a database record for an employee. The custom type
Employee provides access to each field of the record.

FLEX TUTORIALS 29
View the properties of the Employee data type returned by the service. Click Finish.
When Flash Builder configures a return type, it accesses the database to create a value object. The properties of
the custom data type are derived from the value object. You can view and modify the properties of the data type
before proceeding.
15 In the Bind to Data dialog, click OK.
Flash Builder binds the data returned from the service call to the DataGrid component. It modifies the columns of
the DataGrid, binding the value returned for each Employee property to a column in the DataGrid.
16 Make sure the DataGrid is still selected. In the Properties view, click Configure Columns and then do the following
steps:
a Select the hire_date column. Click Delete to delete the column.
b Similarly, delete all columns except emp_no, first_name, and last_name.
c Select the emp_no column. Click Up to move it to the first position.
d In the Header Text field, rename the emp_no column to ID.
e Similarly, rename the first_name and last_name columns.
f Click OK.
17 With the DataGrid still selected, in the Properties view, specify False for the editable property.
18 Select File > Save to save the application file. Then select Run > Run PHP_Service to run the application.

FLEX TUTORIALS 30
The application runs in a web browser.

31
Chapter 5: Manage the access of data

through paging
For various performance and network bottleneck issues, you typically do not retrieve all the records in a database with
a single call. Paging allows you to retrieve the records incrementally in sets, and only on an as needed basis.
To use paging to retrieve records, implement a data service that includes two operations with the following signatures:
• getItems_paged($startIndex, $numItems)
• count()
Paging tutorial (ColdFusion)

The application you create in this tutorial accesses the fb_tutorial_db database. For information on installing this
database, see “Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database” on page 14.
This tutorial creates an application that uses paging to populate a DataGrid.
Data grid
Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project

1 In your web root create a folder named PagingCF.
2 In your favorite ColdFusion editor, create the following CFC. Name the CFC PagingService.cfc and place it in
the PagingCF folder in your web root.
PagingService.cfc contains the functions required by Flash Builder to implement paging.

FLEX TUTORIALS 32
Manage the access of data through paging
<cfcomponent output="false">

<cffunction name="getItems_paged" output="false" access="remote" returntype="any" >
<cfargument name="startIndex" type="numeric" required="true" />
<cfargument name="numItems" type="numeric" required="true" />

<cfset var qRead="">
<cfquery name="qRead" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">
SELECT * FROM employees LIMIT #startIndex#, #numItems#
</cfquery>
<cfreturn qRead>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="count" output="false" access="remote" returntype="numeric" >
<cfquery name="qread" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">

SELECT COUNT(emp_no) AS empCount FROM employees
</cfquery>
<cfreturn qread.empCount>
</cffunction>
</cfcomponent>
3 In Flash Builder, create a Flex project. Name the project PagingCF and specify ColdFusion for the server technology
as listed below. Click Next.
• Application Server Type: ColdFusion
• Enable Use Remote Object Access Service
• Select ColdFusion Flash Remoting

FLEX TUTORIALS 33
New project for ColdFusion
4 Validate your ColdFusion settings and specify the PagingCF directory for the Output Folder. Click Finish.
5 From the Flash Builder Data menu, select Connect to Data Service. Select ColdFusion and click Next.
6 Click Browse and navigate to the PagingService.cfc file you created in step 2. Click Finish.

FLEX TUTORIALS 34
7 In the Flash Builder Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getItems_paged() operation, select
Configure Return Type.
9 Specify values and types for the parameters to the getItems_paged() operation as described below. Click Next:
Argument Argument Type Value
startIndex Number 0
numItems Number 10

FLEX TUTORIALS 35
New project configuration
10 Specify Employee in the Array Of field toto define a custom type for returned data.
Flex uses custom data types to access and update complex data types returned from a server.
The Configure Return Type dialog displays the properties of the data type returned by the service.
11 Click Finish to configure the Employee return type.
12 In the Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getItems_paged() operation, select Enable Paging.
13 In the Select Unique Identifier dialog, select emp_no and click Next.
14 In the Confirm Paging dialog, leave the Page Size field blank. Specify the count() operation from the drop-down
list. Click Finish.

FLEX TUTORIALS 36
Note: By default, Flash Builder configures the page size to be 20 records. This dialog allows you to specify a custom
page size for an operation.
Create an application and bind getItems_paged() to a DataGrid

1 If the MXML editor is in Source mode, select Design to open the editor in Design mode.
2 From the Components view, drag a DataGrid component onto the Design Area and place it near the top.
The DataGrid component is available under Data Controls.
3 Make sure the DataGrid component is selected, then in the Properties view specify false for the Editable attribute.
4 With the DataGrid component selected, from the Data menu select Bind to Data.
5 In the Bind to Data operation, select New Service Call. For the PagingService, select the getItems_paged()
operation. Click OK.

FLEX TUTORIALS 37
Bind To Data
6 Save and run the file.

In the application, click in the DataGrid scroll bar or move the thumb of the scroll bar to observe the paging of data.
Paging tutorial (PHP)

The application you create in this tutorial accesses the employee database that you previously downloaded and
installed. For information on installing this database, see “Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database” on page 14.

FLEX TUTORIALS 38
This tutorial creates an application that uses paging to populate a DataGrid.
Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project

1 In your web root create a folder named PagingPHP. In the PagingPHP directory, create a directory named
services.
2 In your favorite PHP editor, create the following PHP file that implements the required paging functions. Name
the file PagingService.php and save it in the services directory.
<?php
/**
* This sample service contains functions that illustrate typical service operations.
* This code is for prototyping only.
*
* Authenticate users before allowing them to call these methods.
*/
class PagingService {
/* connection variables */
var $port = "3306";
var $connection;

$this->server,
$this->username,
$this->password,
$this->port);
}
public function count() {

$stmt = mysqli_prepare($this->connection,
"SELECT COUNT(*) AS COUNT FROM $this->tablename");

FLEX TUTORIALS 39
mysqli_stmt_bind_result($stmt, $rec_count);
mysqli_stmt_fetch($stmt);
return $rec_count;
}
public function getItems_paged($startIndex, $numItems) {
"SELECT * FROM $this->tablename LIMIT ?, ?");
mysqli_bind_param($stmt, 'ii', $startIndex, $numItems);

$rows = array();

$row->first_name, $row->last_name,
$row->gender, $row->hire_date);
$rows[] = $row;
$row->first_name, $row->last_name,
$row->gender, $row->hire_date);
}

FLEX TUTORIALS 40
return $rows;
}
/**
*/
if($link == null) {
}
}
}
}
?>
3 In PagingService.php, modify the connection variables to provide your server, username, and password for
access to the fb_tutorial_db database.

FLEX TUTORIALS 41
4 In Flash Builder, create a Flex project. Name the project PagingPHP and specify PHP for the server technology.
Click Next.
5 Specify the Web Root and Root URL for your system. Validate your server settings and specify the PagingPHP
directory for the Output Folder. Click Finish.
6 From the Flash Builder Data menu, select Connect to Data Service. Select PHP and click Next.
7 Click Browse and navigate to the PagingService.php file you created in step 1. Click Finish.
If the Zend Framework, which includes Zend AMF, is not installed on your system, click OK to install the Zend
Framework.

FLEX TUTORIALS 42
8 In the Flash Builder Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getItems_paged() operation, select
10 Specify values and types for the parameters to the getItems_paged() operation as described below. Click Next:
startIndex int 0
numItems int 20
11 Specify Employee in the Array Of field to define a custom type for returned data.

FLEX TUTORIALS 43
Flex uses custom data types to access and update complex data types returned from a server.
13 In the Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getItems_paged() operation, select Enable Paging.
14 In the Select Unique Identifier dialog, select emp_no and click Next.
15 In the Confirm Paging dialog, leave the Page Size field blank. Specify the count() operation from the drop-down
list. Click Finish.
Note: By default, Flash Builder configures the page size to be 20 records. This dialog allows you to specify a custom
page size for an operation.
Create an application and bind getItems_paged() to a DataGrid

1 If the MXML editor is in Source mode, select Design to open the MXML editor in Design mode.
3 Make sure the DataGrid component is selected, then in the Properties view specify false for the Editable attribute.
4 With the DataGrid component selected, from the Data menu select Bind to Data.

FLEX TUTORIALS 44
5 In the Bind to Data operation, select New Service Call. For the PagingService, select the get Items Paged()
operation from the drop-down list,. Click OK.
6 Save and run the file.

In the application, click in the DataGrid scroll bar or move the thumb of the scroll bar to observe the paging of data.

45
Chapter 6: Using data management to

synchronize server updates
Data management features allow you to synchronize adding, updating, and deleting of records in a database. Changes
you make in the client application are not written to the server until a commit method is called. You can call a revert
method to roll back changes made in the client application.
Additionally, data management helps synchronize your client application with the data on the service. Data
management features can automatically update user interface controls that display data retrieved from a service.
This tutorial shows how to use Flash Builder to implement data management. The tutorial illustrates how to
synchronize data on the server and with client application controls.
Data management service operations

Data management requires a data service that implements one or more operations with the following signatures:
• createItem(item:CustomDatatype):int
• deleteItem(itemID:Number):void
• updateItem((item: CustomDatatype):void
• getItem(itemID:Number): CustomDatatype
CustomDatatype is a data type representing complex data returned from the server. In server-side typing, the service
defines the custom data type. In client-side typing, use Flash Builder to introspect the service and configure the custom
data type.
Note: The required data management operation signatures listed in this tutorial are a subset of the signatures that can
be used. For a complete list of the operation signatures you can use, see Enabling data management.
Client-side and server-side typing

This tutorial illustrates both client-side typing and server-side typing. For this tutorial, the client application accesses
an Employee object from the data service. The Employee object contains fields, such as name and hire date, that define
an employee. With client-side typing, you use Flash Builder wizards to introspect the data on the server and define the
Employee data type in client code. With server-side typing, server code defines the Employee data type.
Both PHP and ColdFusion let you define custom data types in server code. Flash Builder recognizes the custom data
type during introspection of services. You do not have to walk through the wizard screens to configure the Employee
data type.
Whether you use server-side or client-side typing is a developer preference. Server-side typing can help enforce data
integrity on the server and simplify the Flash Builder workflow. Client-side typing simplifies the service coding while
using Flash Builder to define the custom data types.
Note: Flash Builder can generate sample server code from a database. The sample code generated by Flash Builder
illustrates client-side typing. See Generating a sample ColdFusion service from a database table and Generating a sample
PHP service from a database table.

FLEX TUTORIALS 46
Using data management to synchronize server updates
Data management tutorial (ColdFusion)

The application you create in this tutorial accesses the fb_tutorial_db database. For information on installing this
database, see “Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database” on page 14.
In this tutorial, you create an application that contains an editable DataGrid that displays employee records. You can
modify one or more records in place in the DataGrid. You can also add or delete selected records. All changes in the
DataGrid are local until you select a Save All Changes button that updates the database.
You can implement the service in this tutorial using client-side or server-side typing. The service is defined in
EmployeeService.cfc. If you use server-side typing, you define the Employee data type in a separate
Employee.cfc.
The server code in EmployeeService.cfc is basically the same in both versions. However, in the version that
implements server-side typing, the functions access the Employee data type defined in Employee.cfc.
• “Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (client-side typing)” on page 46
• “Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (server-side typing)” on page 49
Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (client-side typing)
1 In your web root create a folder named DataMgtCF.
2 In your favorite ColdFusion editor, create the following CFC. Name the CFC EmployeeService.cfc and place it
in the DataMgtCF folder in your web root.
EmployeeService.cfc contains the functions required by Flash Builder to implement data management.

FLEX TUTORIALS 47

<cffunction name="getAllItems" output="false" access="remote" returntype="any" >
<cfset var qAllItems="">
<cfquery name="qAllItems" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">
SELECT * FROM employees
</cfquery>
<cfreturn qAllItems>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="getItem" output="false" access="remote" returntype="any" >

<cfargument name="itemID" type="numeric" required="true" />
<cfset var qItem="">

<cfquery name="qItem" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">
WHERE emp_no = <CFQUERYPARAM CFSQLTYPE="CF_SQL_INTEGER"
VALUE="#ARGUMENTS.itemID#">
</cfquery>
<cfreturn qItem>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="createItem" output="false" access="remote" returntype="any" >

<cfargument name="item" required="true" />
<cfquery name="createItem" datasource="fb_tutorial_db" result="result">

INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name, gender, birth_date,
hire_date)
VALUES (<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR"
VALUE="#item.first_name#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR"
VALUE="#item.last_name#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.gender#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE" VALUE="#item.birth_date#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE" VALUE="#item.hire_date#">)
</cfquery>
<cfreturn result.GENERATED_KEY/>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="updateItem" output="false" access="remote" returntype="void" >

<cfargument name="item" required="true" />
<cfquery name="updateItem" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">

UPDATE employees SET birth_date = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE"
VALUE="#item.birth_date#">,

FLEX TUTORIALS 48
hire_date = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE" VALUE="#item.hire_date#">,

gender = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.gender#">,
first_name = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR"
VALUE="#item.first_name#">,
last_name = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.last_name#">
WHERE emp_no = <CFQUERYPARAM CFSQLTYPE="CF_SQL_INTEGER" VALUE="#item.emp_no#">
</cfquery>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="deleteItem" output="false" access="remote" returntype="void" >

<cfquery name="delete" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">

DELETE FROM employees
</cfquery>
</cffunction>
</cfcomponent>
3 In Flash Builder, create a Flex project. Name the project DataMgtCF. Specify ColdFusion for the server technology
4 Validate your ColdFusion settings and specify the DataMgtCF folder for the Output Folder. Click Finish.
5 From the Flash Builder Data menu, select Connect to Data/Service. Select ColdFusion. Click Next.
6 Click Browse and navigate to the EmployeeService.cfc file you created in step 2. Click Finish.
7 In the Flash Builder Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getItem() operation, select Configure
Return Type.
Flash Builder requires a custom data type for data returned from the data service. By introspecting the getItem()
operation, you can define the custom data type Employee.
9 Specify a value and type for the parameter to the getItem() operation as described below. Click Next:
itemID Number 10001
For getItem(), you supply a valid parameter corresponding to the key field for the database. Number and 10001
are valid type and value for itemID
10 Specify Employee in the Array Of field to define a custom type for returned data.
Flex uses custom data types to access and update complex data types returned from a server. getItem() returns
the fields of a record from the Employees table in the database

FLEX TUTORIALS 49

12 In the Flash Builder Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getAllItems() operation, select Configure
Return Type.
14 Select Use an Existing Data Type. Select Employee from the Array Of drop-down list to specify an array of
Employees. Click Finish.
Next:“Enable Data Management Features” on page 51
Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (server-side typing)
1 In your web root create a folder named DataMgtCF.
2 In your favorite ColdFusion editor, create the following CFC. Name the CFC Employee.cfc and place it in the
DataMgtCF folder.
Employee.cfc defines the Employee data type that is returned by the service.
<cfcomponent>
<cfproperty name="emp_id" type="numeric">
<cfproperty name="bdate" type="date">
<cfproperty name="fname" type="string">
<cfproperty name="lname" type="string">
<cfproperty name="gender" type="string">
<cfproperty name="hdate" type="date">
</cfcomponent>
3 Now create EmployeeService.cfc and place it in the DataMgtCF folder alongside Employee.cfc.
EmployeeService.cfc contains the functions required by Flash Builder to implement data management.

<cffunction name="getAllEmployees" output="false" access="remote"
returntype="Employee[]" >
<cfset var returnarray = ArrayNew(1)>
<cfset var temp = "">
<cfset var qAllEmployees="">
<cfquery name="qAllEmployees" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">
</cfquery>
<cfloop query="qAllEmployees">
<cfobject component="Employee" name="tempname">
<cfset tempname.emp_id = #qAllEmployees.emp_no#>
<cfset tempname.fname = #qAllEmployees.first_name#>
<cfset tempname.lname = #qAllEmployees.last_name#>
<cfset tempname.gender = #qAllEmployees.gender#>
<cfset tempname.bdate = #qAllEmployees.birth_date#>
<cfset tempname.hdate = #qAllEmployees.hire_date#>
<cfset temp = ArrayAppend(returnarray, tempname)>
</cfloop>
<cfreturn returnarray>

FLEX TUTORIALS 50
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="getEmployee" output="false" access="remote" returntype="Employee" >

<cfset var qItem="">

<cfquery name="qItem" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">
</cfquery>
<cfreturn qItem>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="createEmployee" output="false" access="remote" returntype="numeric" >

<cfargument name="item" type="Employee" required="true" />
<cfquery name="qCreateEmplyee" datasource="fb_tutorial_db" result="result">

INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name, gender, birth_date,
hire_date)
VALUES (<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.fname#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.lname#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.gender#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE" VALUE="#item.bdate#">,
<CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE" VALUE="#item.hdate#">)
</cfquery>
<cfreturn result.GENERATED_KEY/>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="updateEmployee" output="false" access="remote" returntype="void" >
<cfargument name="item" type="Employee" required="true" />
<cfquery name="updateItem" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">

UPDATE employees SET birth_date = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE"
VALUE="#item.bdate#">,
hire_date = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_DATE" VALUE="#item.hdate#">,
gender = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.gender#">,
first_name = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.fname#">,
last_name = <CFQUERYPARAM cfsqltype="CF_SQL_VARCHAR" VALUE="#item.lname#">
WHERE emp_no = <CFQUERYPARAM CFSQLTYPE="CF_SQL_INTEGER" VALUE="#item.emp_id#">
</cfquery>
</cffunction>
<cffunction name="deleteEmployee" output="false" access="remote" returntype="void" >

<cfquery name="delete" datasource="fb_tutorial_db">

DELETE FROM employees
</cfquery>
</cffunction>
</cfcomponent>

FLEX TUTORIALS 51
4 In Flash Builder, create a Flex project. Name the project DataMgtCF. Specify ColdFusion for the server technology
5 Validate your ColdFusion settings and specify the DataMgtCF folder for the Output Folder. Click Finish.
6 From the Flash Builder Data menu, select Connect to Data/Service. Select ColdFusion. Click Next.
7 Click Browse and navigate to the EmployeeService.cfc file you created in step 2. Click Finish.
Enable Data Management Features

1 In the Data/Services view, expand the Data Types node for EmployeeService and select the Employee data type.
2 From the context menu for the Employee data type, select Enable Data Management.
3 In the Select Unique Identifier dialog, select emp_id and click Next.
4 In the Map Database Operations dialog, specify the following operations. Click Finish.
• Create (Add) Operation: createEmployee( )
• Get Item Operation: getEmployee( )
• Update Operation: updateEmployee( )

FLEX TUTORIALS 52
• Delete Operation: deleteEmployee ( )
Data management is now enabled for this operation. Flash Builder generates client code that can update data using
a combination of the mapped operations.
Next:“Create the application and add a DataGrid and Buttons” on page 52
Create the application and add a DataGrid and Buttons

1 If the MXML editor is in Source mode, select Design to open the MXML editor in Design mode.
3 In the Properties view, with the DataGrid selected, specify the following properties:
Property Value
ID dg
Editable true
4 Drag four Buttons to the Design Area, lining them up beneath the DataGrid.
5 Double-click each button to edit their labels. Provide the following Labels:
Label
Add

FLEX TUTORIALS 53
Label
Delete
Revert
Save All Changes
6 In the Data/Services view, select the getAllEmployees() operation and drop it onto the DataGrid.
In the Bind to Data dialog, EmployeeService and getAllEmployees() are selected. Click OK.
7 (Optional) With the DataGrid selected, in the Properties view Click Configure Columns and do the following:
Rename and rearrange the columns.
Next:“Generate event handlers for the Buttons” on page 53
Generate event handlers for the Buttons

Each Button requires an event handler to specify the action to take when the Button is clicked. Flash Builder generates
stubs for event handlers, which you can then code to specify the service actions to take.
1 Select the Add button. In Properties view, near the On Click field of the Add button, click the icon. Select Generate
Event Handler.
The MXML editor changes to Source View, placing the cursor in the generated event handler.
2 In the event handler body, specify the implementation for the event.
The data types differ slightly for the client-side and server-side implementations. Make sure to use the correct code
for the event handler.
Client-side typing:

FLEX TUTORIALS 54
var e:Employee = new Employee();

var birthDate:Date = new Date(2000, 01, 01);
var hireDate:Date = new Date(2000, 01, 01);
e.first_name = "New";
e.last_name = "New";
e.birth_date = birthDate;
e.hire_date = hireDate;
e.gender = "M";
dg.dataProvider.addItem(e);
dg.verticalScrollPosition = dg.dataProvider.length -1;
Server-side typing:
var birthDate:Date = new Date(2000, 01, 01);
var hireDate:Date = new Date(2000, 01, 01);
e.fname = "New";
e.lname = "New";
e.bdate = birthDate;
e.hdate = hireDate;
e.gender = "M";
3 In the Script block, add the following import statement after the existing import statements:
import services.employeeservice.EmployeeService;
import valueObjects.Employee;
4 In Design mode, add an On Click event handler for the Delete button.
The data types differ slight for the client-side and server-side implementations. Make sure to use the correct code
Client-side typing:
employeeService.deleteEmployee(dg.selectedItem.emp_no);
Server-side typing:
employeeService.deleteEmployee(dg.selectedItem.emp_id);
5 Similarly, add an On Click event handler for the Revert button with the following code:
employeeService.getDataManager(employeeService.DATA_MANAGER_EMPLOYEE).revertChanges();
getAllEmployeesResult.token = employeeService.getAllEmployees();
6 Add an On click event handler for the Save All Changes button with the following code:
employeeService.commit();
7 For the creationCompleteHandler() for the DataGrid, add the following lines of code:
protected function dg_creationCompleteHandler(event:FlexEvent):void
{
employeeService.getDataManager(employeeService.DATA_MANAGER_EMPLOYEE).autoCommit=false;
employeeService.getDataManager(employeeService.DATA_MANAGER_EMPLOYEE).deleteItemOnRemoveFro
mFill=true;
getAllItemsResult.token = employeeService.getAllItems();
}

FLEX TUTORIALS 55
This code makes sure that deleted items can be reverted by selecting the Revert button.
8 Save the application and select Run > Run DataMgtCF.
You can update employees in place in the DataGrid. When you click Save All Changes, the changes are updated on
the server. The server is updated is because the data management feature calls the updateItem() operation to keep
the data synchronized between the client and the server.
Click the Revert button to undo any changes you made before you click Save All Changes.
You can add and delete employees. When you add and delete employees, the data management features take care
of adding or removing the DataGrid rows. Without data management enabled, you code the updates to the
DataGrid yourself.
When you add an employee, the Employee Number defaults to zero. This default value is because the new employee
has not been updated on the server. When you click Save All Changes, the new employee is added to the server. At
that time, an Employee Number is generated.
Click the Save All Changes button to write all changes to the database.
Data management tutorial (PHP)

The application you create in this tutorial accesses the employee database that you previously downloaded and
installed. For information on installing this database, see “Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database” on page 14.

FLEX TUTORIALS 56
In this tutorial, you create an application that contains an editable DataGrid that displays employee records. You can
modify one or more records in place in the DataGrid. You can also add or delete selected records. All changes in the
DataGrid are local until you select a Save All Changes button that updates the database.
You can implement the service in this tutorial using client-side or server-side typing. The service is defined in
EmployeeService.php. If you use server-side typing, you define the Employee data type in a separate Employee class
defined in EmployeeService.php.
The server code in EmployeeService.php is basically the same in both versions. However, in the version that
implements server-side typing, the functions access the Employee data type defined in the Employee class.
• “Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (client-side typing)” on page 56
• “Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (server-side typing)” on page 60
Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (client-side typing)
1 In your web root, create a folder named DataMgtPHP. Within that folder, create a folder named services.
2 In your favorite PHP editor, create the following PHP file, which implements a service. Name the file
EmployeeService.php and place it in the DataMgtPHP/services folder in your web root.

FLEX TUTORIALS 57
<?php

var $port = "3306";
var $connection;

$this->server,
$this->username,
$this->password,
$this->port
);
}
public function getAllEmployees() {

$rows = array();

$rows[] = $row;
}
return $rows;
}
public function getEmployeesByID($itemID) {
"SELECT * FROM $this->tablename where emp_no=?");

FLEX TUTORIALS 58
mysqli_bind_param($stmt, 'i', $itemID);


if(mysqli_stmt_fetch($stmt)) {
return $row;
} else {
return null;
}
}
public function createEmployees($item) {
"INSERT INTO $this->tablename (birth_date,
first_name, last_name, gender, hire_date) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)");
mysqli_bind_param($stmt, 'sssss', $item->birth_date,

$item->first_name, $item->last_name, $item->gender, $item->hire_date);
$autoid = mysqli_stmt_insert_id($stmt);
return $autoid;
}
public function updateEmployees($item) {
"UPDATE $this->tablename SET emp_no=?, birth_date=?,
first_name=?, last_name=?, gender=?, hire_date=?
WHERE emp_no=?");
mysqli_bind_param($stmt, 'isssssi', $item->emp_no, $item->birth_date,

$item->first_name, $item->last_name, $item->gender, $item->hire_date, $item-
>emp_no);
}

FLEX TUTORIALS 59
public function deleteEmployees($itemID) {
"DELETE FROM $this->tablename WHERE emp_no = ?");

}
/**
*/
if($link == null) {
}
}
}
}
?>
3 Modify the connection variables to provide your server, user name, and password for access to the
fb_tutorial_db database.
4 In Flash Builder, create a Flex project. Name the project DataMgtPHP and specify PHP for the server technology.
Click Next.
5 Specify the Web Root and Root URL for your system. Validate your server settings. Specify the DataMgtPHP
6 From the Flash Builder Data menu, select Connect to Data Service. Select PHP. Click Next.
7 Click Browse and navigate to the EmployeeService.php file you created in step 2. Select EmployeeService.php.
Click Finish.
8 In the Flash Builder Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getEmployeesbyID() operation, select
Flash Builder requires a custom data type for data returned from the data service. By introspecting the
getEmployeesbyID() operation, you can define the custom data type Employee.
10 Specify a value and type for the parameter to the getEmployeesByID() operation as described below. Click Next:
itemID int 10001

FLEX TUTORIALS 60
For getEmployeesByID(), you supply a valid parameter corresponding to the key field for the database. int and
10001 are valid type and value for itemID.
11 Specify Employee to define a custom type for returned data.
Flex uses custom data types to access and update complex data types returned from a server. getEmployeesByID()
returns the fields of a record from the Employees table in the database
12 Click Finish to configure Employee as the return type.
13 In the Flash Builder Data/Services view, from the context menu for the getAllEmployees() operation, select
15 Select Use an Existing Data Type. Select Employee from the Array Of drop-down list. Click Finish.
16 Configure the parameter type and return type for deleteEmployees() as follows:
a From the context menu for the deleteEmployees() operation, select Configure Input Types. Specify int for the
type. Click OK.
b From the context menu for the deleteEmployees() operation, select Configure Return Type. Select Use An
Existing Type. Specify void. Click Finish.
Create the remote service and import it into a Flex project (server-side typing)
This release of Flash Builder uses PHP DocBlock comments to recognize server-side data type. The sample service in
this example shows how to use DocBlock comments to define a custom data type. The example also shows how to
specify a data type for function arguments and return values.
1 In your web root, create a folder named DataMgtPHP. Within that folder, create a folder named services.
2 In your favorite PHP editor, create the following PHP file, which implements a service. The service also contains
an Employee class that defines the Employee data type.
Name the file EmployeeService.php and place it in the DataMgtPHP/services folder in your web root.

FLEX TUTORIALS 61
<?php
class Employee {
/**
* @var int
*/
var $emp_id;
/**
* @var string
*/
var $bdate;
/**
* @var string
*/
var $fname;
/**
* @var string
*/
var $lname;
/**
* @var string
*/
var $gender;
/**
* @var string
*/
var $hdate;
}

var $port = "3306";
var $connection;

$this->server,
$this->username,
$this->password,
$this->port
);
}
/**

FLEX TUTORIALS 62
* Returns all the rows from the table.

*
* Add authorization or any logical checks
* for secure access to your data
*
* @return Employee[]
*/
public function getAllEmployees() {
$stmt = mysqli_prepare($this->connection, "SELECT

employees.emp_no,
employees.birth_date,
employees.first_name,
employees.last_name,
employees.gender,
employees.hire_date
FROM $this->tablename");
$rows = array();
mysqli_stmt_bind_result($stmt, $row->emp_id, $row->bdate,

$row->fname, $row->lname, $row->gender, $row->hdate);
$rows[] = $row;
mysqli_stmt_bind_result($stmt, $row->emp_id, $row->bdate,
$row->fname, $row->lname, $row->gender, $row->hdate);
}
return $rows;
}
/**
* @param int $itemID
* @return Employee
*/
public function getEmployeesByID($itemID) {
"SELECT * FROM $this->tablename where emp_no=?");

mysqli_stmt_bind_result($stmt, $item->emp_no, $item->bdate,
$item->fname, $item->lname, $item->gender, $item->hdate);

FLEX TUTORIALS 63
if(mysqli_stmt_fetch($stmt)) {
return $item;
} else {
return null;
}
}
/**
* @param Employee $item
* @return int
*/
public function createEmployees($item) {
"INSERT INTO $this->tablename (birth_date,
first_name, last_name, gender, hire_date) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)");
mysqli_bind_param($stmt, 'sssss', $item->bdate,

$item->fname, $item->lname, $item->gender, $item->hdate);
$autoid = mysqli_stmt_insert_id($stmt);
return $autoid;
}
/**
* @param Employee $item
*/
public function updateEmployees($item) {
"UPDATE $this->tablename SET emp_no=?, birth_date=?,
first_name=?, last_name=?, gender=?, hire_date=?
WHERE emp_no=?");
mysqli_bind_param($stmt, 'isssssi', $item->emp_id, $item->bdate,

$item->fname, $item->lname, $item->gender, $item->hdate, $item->emp_id);
}

FLEX TUTORIALS 64
/**
* @param int $itemID
*/
public function deleteEmployees($itemID) {
"DELETE FROM $this->tablename WHERE emp_no = ?");

}
/**
*/
if($link == null) {
}
}
}
}
3 Modify the connection variables to provide your server, user name, and password for access to the
fb_tutorial_db database.
4 In Flash Builder, create a Flex project. Name the project DataMgtPHP and specify PHP for the server technology.
Click Next.
5 Specify the Web Root and Root URL for your system. Validate your server settings. Specify the DataMgtPHP
6 From the Flash Builder Data menu, select Connect to Data Service. Select PHP. Click Next.
7 Click Browse and navigate to the EmployeeService.php file you created in step 2. Select EmployeeService.php.
Click Finish.
Enable Data Management Features

1 In the Data/Services view, expand the Data Types node for EmployeeService and select the Employee data type.

FLEX TUTORIALS 65
2 From the context menu for the Employee data type, select Enable Data Management.
3 In the Select Identity Properties dialog, select emp_id. Click Next.

4 In the Map Database Operations dialog, specify the following operations. Click Finish.
• Create (Add) Operation: createEmployees()
• Get Item Operation: getEmployeesByID()
• Update Operation: updateEmployees()
• Delete Operation: deleteEmployees ()
Click Finish. Data management is now enabled for this operation. Flash Builder generates client code that can
update data using a combination of the mapped operations.
Next:“Create the application and add a DataGrid and Buttons” on page 66

FLEX TUTORIALS 66
Create the application and add a DataGrid and Buttons

1 If the MXML editor is in Source mode, select Design to open the MXML editor in Design mode
3 In the Properties view, with the DataGrid selected, specify the following properties:
Property Value
ID dg
Editable true
4 Drag four Buttons to the Design Area, lining them up beneath the DataGrid.
5 Double-click each button to edit their labels. Provide the following Labels:
Label
Add
Delete
Revert
Save All Changes
6 In the Data/Services view, select the getAllEmployees() operation and drop it onto the DataGrid.
In the Bind to Data dialog, EmployeeService and getAllEmployees() are selected. Click OK.
7 (Optional) With the DataGrid selected, in the Properties view click Configure Columns. Rename and rearrange the
columns.
Next:“Generate and code event handlers for the Buttons” on page 67

FLEX TUTORIALS 67
Generate and code event handlers for the Buttons

For each Button, create an event handler to specify the action to take when the Button is clicked. Flash Builder
generates stubs for event handlers, which you can then code to specify the service actions to take.
1 Select the Add button. In Properties view, near the On Click field of the Add button, click the icon. Select Generate
Event Handler.
The MXML editor changes to Source View, placing the cursor in the generated event handler.
2 In the event handler body, specify the implementation for the event.
Client-side typing:
e.first_name = "New";
e.last_name = "New";
e.birth_date = "2000-01-01";
e.hire_date = "2000-01-01";
e.gender = "M";
Server-side typing:
e.fname = "New";
e.lname = "New";
e.bdate = "2000-01-01";
e.hdate = "2000-01-01";
e.gender = "M";
3 In the Script block, add the following import statements after the existing import statements:
import services.employeeservice.EmployeeService;
import valueObjects.Employee;
4 In Design mode, add an On Click event handler for the Delete button.
Client-side typing:
employeeService.deleteEmployees(dg.selectedItem.emp_no);
Server-side typing:
employeeService.deleteEmployees(dg.selectedItem.emp_id);
5 Similarly, add an On Click event handler for the Revert button with the following code:
employeeService.getDataManager(employeeService.DATA_MANAGER_EMPLOYEE).revertChanges();
getAllEmployeesResult.token = employeeService.getAllEmployees();
6 Add an On click event handler for the Save All Changes button with the following code:
employeeService.commit();
7 For the creationCompleteHandler() for the DataGrid, add the following lines of code:

FLEX TUTORIALS 68
protected function dg_creationCompleteHandler(event:FlexEvent):void

{
employeeService.getDataManager(employeeService.DATA_MANAGER_EMPLOYEE).autoCommit=false;
employeeService.getDataManager(employeeService.DATA_MANAGER_EMPLOYEE).deleteItemOnRemoveFro
mFill=true;
getAllItemsResult.token = employeeService.getAllEmployees();
}
This code makes sure that deleted items can be reverted by selecting the Revert button.
8 Save the application and select Run > Run DataMgtPHP.
You can update employees in place in the DataGrid. When you click Save All Changes, the changes are updated on
the server. The server is updated because the data management feature calls the updateEmployees() operation to
keep the data synchronized between the client and the server.
Click the Revert button to undo any changes you made before you click Save All Changes.
You can add and delete employees. When you add and delete employees, the data management features take care
of adding or removing the DataGrid rows. Without data management enabled, you code the updates to the
DataGrid yourself.
When you add an employee, the Employee Number defaults to zero. This default value is because the new employee
has not been updated on the server. When you click Save All Changes, the new employee is added to the server. At
that time, an Employee Number is generated.
Click the Save All Changes button to write all changes to the database.

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ADOBE® FLEX® 4 Tutorials

© 2010 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Adobe® Flex® 4 Tutorials.

Last updated 6/1/2010

Chapter 2: Installing the Flash Builder tutorial database

Chapter 3: Creating ColdFusion services for client applications

Chapter 4: Creating PHP services for client applications

Chapter 5: Manage the access of data through paging

Chapter 6: Using data management to synchronize server updates

Last updated 6/1/2010

Chapter 1: Import a service and bind data

Create the application

Last updated 6/1/2010

Specify project name and server type

Last updated 6/1/2010

Label control in the Controls folder

Font Attribute Bold

Font Attribute Italic

Select the font attributes

Last updated 6/1/2010

Font color box

Last updated 6/1/2010

The application runs in a web browser.

Create a ColdFusion service that returns localized

2 Code the following HelloService.cfc and place it in the HelloCF directory:

Last updated 6/1/2010

<cffunction name="getLocalizedMessage" returnType="string" access="remote">

The function getMessage() is a service operation that client applications access.

(Optional) Test the ColdFusion service

Last updated 6/1/2010

Using cfinvoke and cfdump

Last updated 6/1/2010

Testing a service directly from a URL

4 Call a function in the service directly from a URL.

Last updated 6/1/2010

Connect to the ColdFusion service

Select service type

Importing a ColdFusion Service

4 Click Finish. Provide your credentials to log in to the ColdFusion database.

Data Services View

Last updated 6/1/2010

Select the operation for binding data

Design mode showing data binding

8 Save and run the application.

Last updated 6/1/2010

Examine the generated code

Last updated 6/1/2010

protected function label_creationCompleteHandler(event:FlexEvent):void

Service calls and responders

Last updated 6/1/2010

The data returned to the CallResponder, getLocalizedMessageResult.lastResult, is automatically assigned as

Code generation summary

Last updated 6/1/2010

Chapter 2: Installing the Flash Builder

Download and install the Flash Builder tutorial database

Configuration Field Value

ColdFusion Data Source fb_tutorial_db

Last updated 6/1/2010

Chapter 3: Creating ColdFusion services

The tutorial illustrates the following concepts:

Create a CFC that accesses a database

Last updated 6/1/2010

3 In BookService.cfc, examine the code that calls the database: