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bradwebber

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Layered Architecture Confusion

This question relates to the Layered Architecture pattern and to OOA/D in general. I hope I have posted it in the right area!

I am new to OOA/D and patterns (including the layers pattern). I am developing a computerised log book system in .NET using layers, in other words I am using an access db (data layer), I have a domain layer, and I am using Windows forms for the presentation layer.

The log book system is used to keep track of photographic films that have been dropped into a shop for processing. The user of the system must select the type of photographic developement service for the film from a list of available services, and then select the appropriate service options. Each service has one or more service options. When the user selects a particular photographic development service, I need the presentation layer (i.e. the windows form) to then display the appropriate service options in a suitable format. For example some service options might be represented by checkboxes, some might be textboxes, and some might be comboboxes.

What is the best way to go about this, bearing in mind that I do not want to couple the presentation layer to the domain layer too tightly. I have had it suggested to me that I should be looking to implement a data-driven approach, but I don't really know what this means.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Kind Regards,
Brad
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mmusante

I usually solve problems like this by adding a field to the DB table (service options) that describe with a code the datatype of the record (for example 0=boolean 1=text 2=numeric...), then the GUI code choose the right control based on this datatype code (for example 0=checkbox, 1=textbox 2=textbox ...)

... hope this can help you ...
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ASKER

Hi there mmusante,

How would I represent something like a combo box with three or four entries though? A service option would correspond to an entry in the combox, but how would the gui know which combobox to assign the service option to (assuming there was more than one combobox)???
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mmusante

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