This is the first post in a series that explains the differences between Linx 4 and Linx 5.
Overview
With Linx 5 we've aimed to improve the user experience, technical framework and extensibility of Linx in order to give our existing clients a better product and to make it possible for us to reach a wider audience. Here are some of the visible changes.Core functionality
- UI - The Linx 4 Developer is a 15 year old design. Linx 5 Designer gives it a modern look and allows us to extend it in ways that was not feasible with Linx 4.
- Undo - Undo and Redo.
- Expressions - Properties can be filled with Expressions like Price * 0.14 or ReadFile.Content + " THE END".
- Contextual Properties - We only show the Properties that matter. Changing a Property may result in other Properties being shown or hidden.
- Types - Types and Custom Types replace the Variable component. They allow for re-use and more flexible Process designs.
- Scoped Functions - Functions that require shared resources are now possible. Examples include DbBulkCopy and FileOpen.
- WebService Services - Design your own SOAP or REST web services without linking it directly to a Linx Process.
- Deploy - Deploy to multiple servers from within the Linx Designer.
- Plugins - Linx components are now distributed and installed as separate Plugin packages.
- Auto update - The Linx Designer notifies you if there are updates available and allows you to install it.
- Help - Online help available from within the Linx Designer.
- Community - Help each other use and improve Linx - http://community.linx.twenty57.com.
Who moved my cheese
Some components have been replaced by others or its functionality has moved to other areas in Linx.
- Components are now split into Functions, Types and Services. They are distributed via Plugin packages.
- Constants is replaced by Settings and are now at the Solution level.
- Variable is replaced by Types and CustomTypes.
- DataIn and DataOut are replaced by Input and Output which are properties on a Process.
- Assign is replaced by SetValue and Expressions.
- RunProcess is gone. Drag the Process from the Solution tree to the Process tab.
- FileWrite does not have a 'Close after every write' property. Use the FileOpen in conjunction with FileWrite or SetValue to keep a file open while writing to it.
- Use StringBuilder in conjunction with SetValue to build large strings. Concatenating to the same string in a loop will be slower than using StringBuilder.
New components, so far
- SOAPWebService and RESTWebService - Design your own or mimic another web service.
- DbBulkCopy - Quickly populate a database.
- Zip and Unzip.
- Finswitch - Interact with the Finswitch web services.
- MongoDb - Read and write to MongoDb.
- Assert - Make sure what you get is what you expect.
- RazorTemplateTransform - Transform Razor templates to produce html, xml or text.
- GraphicsMagick - Do amazing things with images.
- AmazonEC2 - Use Amazon's EC2 service.
- GenerateHash - MD5, SHAxxx.
- FileOpen - Keep a file open while writing to it.
- DirectoryOperations - Copy, move, create, delete, exists.
- ThrowException - Create your own exception.
- PDFOperations - Fill form, split, concatenate, sign, add watermark.
- StringBuilder - Build a large string at speed.
- XmlPeek and XmlPoke - Extract or replace Xml snippets using XPath.
