Packt Publishing inivted me to review the recently published book
Title: Microsoft Dynamics Ax 2009 Getting Started
Author: Erland Darlen
Reviewed by: Stephen Jones.
Date: December 2009
The target audience for Erland Darlen’s new book Microsoft Dynamics Ax 2009 Getting Started is someone who is already a programmer and is looking to fast track learn how to apply those skills with X++ , with a focus more on practical examples than on theory. It meets that objective pretty well.
Someone aspiring to be a programmer, e.g. an Ax functional consultant wishing to understand more of the technical side would struggle initially to learn just from this book without some initial guidance, and then will find this a useful guide. Whether an experienced or a new programmer you probably already use the excellent developer articles in MSDN e.g. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa676506(AX.10).aspx, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa660163(AX.10).aspx.
There is inevitably some duplication of the MSDN material, but in many cases the information from MSDN and this book are complementary. New Ax programmers will find the step by step instructions, and logical flow of a case study approach much easier to absorb. The book contains an appendix with this and other links to useful websites for developers; and a nice touch is that you can download these from the publisher and upload to your browser. There are a few more links I would include but those provided are all useful.
Experienced Ax developers, who have not had the benefit of a formal Ax training course, will find this book will improve their conceptual understanding of X++ and will be a useful reference. Most will find some tips and less well known features that will be of value. For example:
• The information on Enterprise Portal development and web part creation
• An example of creating a Wizard
I was also pleased to see that the newer Ax 2009 user interface features are also briefly covered.
For a programmer wishing to learn how to program in Ax It is difficult to know what to assume a new starter knows, for example some prerequsities to read this book might be:
• How to set up a vpc
• How to log on to Ax
• How to navigate Ax
• Basic coding concepts for example ‘what is a compiler?’
I cross checked a lot of the basic syntax definitions In Axaptapedia / MSDN and this book will plug a lot of gaps that other sources take for granted.
At 348 pages you get a lot for your money and the book is generally well structured. The supporting code examples use the RTM demo database and the illustrative case study means that the concepts are taught inside a meaningful context. Some of the initial explanations I fear might confuse a new programmer e.g. in the opening chapter there is a simple Hello World example that contains an explanation
A new programmer might well ask for example :
• What does Args class mean?
• What is a static job?
The English is generally clear and readable though a pedant could pick holes. The poor style used in Microsoft Ax help files seems to have been adopted as an unfortunate role model. For example the use of ‘them’ instead of ‘these’, and ‘as’ instead of ‘because’ etc There is overuse of complex tenses e.g. ‘had been added to’ when ‘is added’ or ‘was added’ would suffice. Some other stylistic points include: starting paragraphs with ‘This’, no concept of an ‘if ..then’ clause , and that ‘if’ is generally used instead of the more appropriate ‘when’ There is also an irritating tendency to insert the words ‘you can’ when they are not needed e.g. ‘Now you can try to add…’ when the simple ‘To add..’ would suffice.
The comment, on page 104, is not what I want to read when learning something new. I accept that it is a way of making a point. I much prefer to be taught the correct method in the first place, not to have to rework. It is left unclear whether the reader should make any correction.
The author’s practical experience of what a new programmer needs to know is evident, both from Chapter 7, which covers data manipulation and Chapter 8, which covers the core Ax modules of: Inventory, Ledger, AR and AP. Chapter 8 digs down to the main tables and classes level and also deals with journals and posting. The simplified schemas are very helpful and for new programmers are worth the price of the book.
Chapter 9 builds further with advice on the creation of a new module and covers the essentials of a Parameter form, Number Sequences and Security Configuration keys. There is much more additional useful information in this book
To conclude there is an extensive index which I always welcome in an instructional book
For developers who are more concerned with day to day implementation rather than developing isv modules there are many topics that could be covered in a follow up book e.g:
• Snap-in technology
• Applying patches and hotfixes
• Tax engine
• Merging code/Moving code between layers
•\Worthwhile Development Utilities and add ons
• Additional sample code/developments/common/useful customisations needed in core modules for most implementations e.g.
• changing default decimal places
• colour coding
• combining screens or tabs
• typical workflows that are not out of the box
• integration to third party software e.g. RFID/barcode integration to create Ax transactions.
I look forward to more books from Erland. This is a very valuable guide for developers.
http://www.packtpub.com/microsoft-dynamics-ax-2009-programming/mid/ssoft?utm_source=synergysoftware.wordpress.com&utm_medium=bookrev&utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=mdb_002000
