Properties of entities which have large data type such as attachments, pictures, or large texts cannot be used by the entities. However, binary service allows you to view entities with large data type. This document provides a step by step guide using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 as an example. With the samples below, you can use them for other entities with binary properties, such as:
Other enhancements can also be made such as uploading two binary properties simultaneously.
1. Open Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.
2. Create a new project with the following information:
3. Add a service reference to the Binary service and Account service based on the following steps:
4. Add the following reference for Exact Globe Next connectivity:
Note: It is not recommended to perform direct referencing to the following: Exact.Entity, Exact.Entity.Data, Exact.Entity.Service, and Exact.Utilities.EG. This is because they have been replaced with Exact.Services.Client. For more information, see How-to: Consuming entity services using entity service client proxy.
5. Open the app.config file and increase the size of maxBufferSize, maxReceivedMessageSize, and maxArrayLength. You can change the size anytime to retrieve the information successfully from the service. The default size might be insufficient for the entity service.
1. Open Form1 class in the designer window and extend Form1 (based on the following screen). Add OpenFileDialog and SaveFileDialog controls. This interface allows you to use both Exact Synergy Enterprise and Exact Globe Next connectivity within the same application.
2. Open Form1 class in the Code Editor screen and type the following:
Note: Exact Synergy Enterprise uses specific implementation and Exact Globe Next uses generic implementation for the entities.
Add the codes below to upload images to the account binary property.
Note: Exact Globe Next uses the GetEGPropertyDataValue method to get the values of a particular property because the value cannot be directly accessed via the name of the value. This method loops through the properties in EntityData using Linq and returns the correct value.
Note: If there is more than one property which is binary, the MessageID will be post-fixed with the property name. In this example, the MessageID will be MessageIDCompanyLogo.
In Exact Globe Next, an additional property "IsBinaryServiceEnabled" has to be added for operations that involve binary service.
Add the codes below to download images for the account binary property.
1. Add the following code to select a location to download the image.
2. You have to retrieve the account entity by setting the PrepareDownload property to True. Setting the PrepareDownload to True will allow the entity engine to pre-chunk the binary data that you want to download and return the corresponding MessageID. If there is more than one binary property for the message ID, the PrepareDownload property will contain the binary property. In this case, the message ID will be PrepareDownloadCompanyLogo.
3. Declare the variables to be used.
4. Call the binary service to retrieve the first chunk of the binary data, and then initialize the first chunk.
5. Create a loop when the chunk is not empty and write the chunk into the file that you have chosen earlier. Continue to use the binary service to retrieve the subsequent chunks until all the data has been retrieved and saved.
Add the codes below to upload large texts for the account binary property.
1. Convert the large text into a binary array, and then get the length of the array.
Note: Exact Synergy Enterprise must be converted using ASCII encoding and Exact Globe Next must be converted using Unicode.
2. Initialize the binary data and call a create operation to get a new MessageID.
3. Initialize the following variables:
4. Break the data into chunks.
5. Upload each chunk using the binary service, and then get the next sequence number from the returned data.
6. Check the sequence number, and then increase the next packet total. Loop this process until all the packets are uploaded using the binary service.
7. Once all the images are uploaded using the binary service, assign the MessageID of the uploaded binary data to the corresponding property in the account entity. When you call the update or save the operation, the account entity will use the MessageID to get the image that you have uploaded and assign it into the account data.
Note: If there is more than one property which is binary, the MessageID will be post-fixed with the property name. In this example, the MessageID is MessageIDRemarks.
Add the codes below to download large texts for the account binary property.
1. Retrieve the account entity by setting the PrepareDownloadRemarks property to True. This allows the entity engine to pre-chunk the binary data that you want to download and return the corresponding MessageID. If there is more than one binary property for MessageID, the PrepareDownload property will be post-fixed with the binary property. In this example, the PrepareDownload will be PrepareDownloadRemarks.
2. Call the binary service to retrieve the first chunk of binary data, and then initialize the first chunk of binary data. This is also to initialize a new byte list for later use.
3. Loop while the binary data chunk is not empty by writing the binary data chunk into the earlier chosen file. Continue to use the binary service to retrieve the subsequent binary data chunks until all the data has been retrieved and saved.
4. Convert the data from binary to text.
Note: Exact Synergy Enterprise uses Unicode and Exact Globe Next uses Unicode to convert the binary data to text.