Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to debug and trace the execution of business logic step by step. Because developers do not deal with debugging in MX-Frame, some kind of tool must be implemented which will totally replace it. For this purpose MX-Frame offers strong diagnostics tool which enables the user to precisely and undoubtedly determine the course of events.
Data Profiler is a diagnostics tool, a tool for monitoring the behaviour of data, security, expressions, etc. Every action is monitored and tracked throughout the whole system. The tool contains several different categories. Each category tracks one specific segment in MX-Client.
Categories
Several different categories exists that cover different segments in application execution. Categories can be related to system or content execution.
Data
Data category tracks data flow. Every statement executed in MX-Client is recorded here along with all its execution properties. This way it can be exactly defined which statement of which data source and adapter was executed at precisely what time. Data diagnostics provides following information.
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Authorization | Provides information whether the authorization for statement execution was successful. |
| Initialization | Provides information whether the initialization of statement for the execution was successful. |
| Parameters | Provides information about all parameters; input and output. Information provides the name of every parameter and the value of the parameter. |
| Executing | Provides information about the connection used to access the data source. It is specified which data source object is used, if any. The number of records affected is also available. |
| Transformation | Provides information about field transformation or field mappings. It is explained which field, retrieved from the data source, is mapped to which field, defined in schema of the data source in MxAdapter. |
Expression
Expression category tracks the execution of every expression created with Expression Designer. Expressions can be used to define default values, expression conditions, constraints, read only conditions, etc. That is why it is essential to know exactly which of the expressions was evaluated, what were its parameters and what was the result. The expression diagnostics provides the following information.
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| Expression | Displays the expression which will be executed. |
| Parameter Name | Provides the name of all input parameters that serves as variables in the expression. |
| Parameter Value | Provides the values for each parameter that serves as a variable in the expression. |
| Result | Provides the information about the result of the evaluated expression. |
| Duration | Provides information about how long the expression execution lasted. |
Workflow
Workflow category tracks the execution of every workflow started in MX-Client. Because business logic is implemented with workflows it is absolutely essential that some kind of analysis of business logic execution is available. Workflow diagnostics enable the user to see exactly which steps were executed in which activity and in which order. On the base of information provided here, it is possible to conclude how the business logic was executed, the path of the execution and the result.
Security
Due to large variety of security entities and possibilities, security policy can be very complex in MX-Frame. Therefore security category tracks the validation of all security elements in MX-Client. It is possible to track navigation elements. The security for them is evaluated when the user logs in. Security checking of statements is monitored as they are executed. From the information provided by security diagnostics it is possible to see the type of permission level used in the system. It is possible to see whether any policy at all is defined for the security element. Diagnostics also displays information about which policy is defined and found and the result of security checking.
Using this diagnostics user can undoubtedly know which policy defined the final behaviour of the security element.
Delete
To delete information currently available in data profile, select any record and press Delete key on the keyboard. Note that all information, even in other categories, will be deleted.
Activate Data Profiler
By default Data Profiler is not accessible to any user in MX-Client, even the administrator. Data profiler is either accessible to everyone or to nobody. This is done so because, sometimes it is necessary to use data profiler even for the users with lowest of security privileges.
To activate Data Profiler tool
- On the root folder of MX-Client installation create settings.xml file.
- Edit the file and add the following text.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1250" standalone="yes"?>
<DocumentElement>
<Settings>
<Name>Profiler</Name>
<Value>true</Value>
</Settings>
</DocumentElement> - Save the file and run MX-Client.
The data profiler can be accessed through Add-In Panel, through Add-Ins option in application menus and through Quick Access Toolbar.