Class: AlphaController

Source Location: /controller/AlphaController.inc

Class AlphaController

Class Overview

The master controller class for the Alpha Framework.

Located in /controller/AlphaController.inc [line 64]

Author(s):

John Collins <dev@alphaframework.org>

API Tags:

Abstract:

Information Tags:

Version:	$Id: AlphaController.inc 1341 2011-03-17 15:02:02Z johnc $
Copyright:	Copyright (c) 2011, John Collins (founder of Alpha Framework). All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. * Neither the name of the Alpha Framework nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
Since:	1.0
License:	The BSD License

Properties

Methods

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Descendants

Child Class	Description
CacheManager	Controller used to clear out the CMS cache when required
Create	Controller used to create a new BO, whose classname must be supplied in GET vars
CreateArticle	Controller used to create a new article in the database
Detail	Controller used to display the details of a BO, which must be supplied in GET vars
Edit	Controller used to edit BO, which must be supplied in GET vars
EditArticle	Controller used to edit an existing article
GenSecureQueryStrings	Controller used to generate secure URLs from the query strings provided
Install	Controller used install the database
ListAll	Controller used to list a BO, which must be supplied in GET vars
ListBusinessObjects	Controller used to list all of the business objects for the system
Login	Login controller that adds the current user object to the session
Logout	Logout controller that removes the current user object from the session
PreviewArticle	Article for previewing Markdown content in the markItUp TextBox widget
Search	Generic tag-based search engine controller
TagManager	Controller used to allow an admin to manage tags in the database
ViewArticle	Controller used to display a Markdown version of an article
ViewArticlePDF	Controller used to display PDF version of an article where the title is provided in GET vars
ViewAttachment	Controller used to view (download) an attachment file on an ArticleObject
ViewExcel	Controller for viewing Business Objects as Excel spreadsheets
ViewFeed	Controller for viewing news feeds
ViewImage	Controller for viewing an image rendered with the Image widget.
ViewLog	Controller used to display a log file, the path for which must be supplied in GET vars
ViewMetrics	Controller used to display the software metrics for the application
ViewRecordSelector	Controller for viewing a RecordSelector widget.
ViewTestResults	Controller which displays all of the unit test results

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Property Summary

AlphaDAO	$BO	Optionally, a BO may be set for the default validation form handling code to load in the displayPageHead() method. The definition of this BO class will need to be included in the child controller.
string	$description	Meta description for the controller page.
array	$dirtyObjects	An array for storing dirty objects in a session (i.e. persistent business objects that have not been updated in the database yet).
string	$firstJob	The name of the first controller that is used in this unit of work.
string	$keywords	Meta keywords for the controller page, generally populated from tags
string	$lastJob	The name of the last controller that is used in this unit of work.
string	$name	The name of the controller
array	$newObjects	An array for storing new objects in a session (transient business objects that have no OID yet).
string	$nextJob	The name of the next controller that is used in this unit of work.
string	$previousJob	The name of the previous controller that is used in this unit of work.
string	$statusMessage	Used to set status update messages to display to the user (messages stored between requests in _SESSION). Useful for when you want to display a message to a user after POSTing a request, or when moving from one page to the next.
string	$title	The title to be displayed on the controller page
Timestamp.	$unitEndTime	Stores the end time of a unit of work transaction.
Integer	$unitMAXDuration	Stores the maximum allowed time duration (in seconds) of the unit of work.
string	$unitOfWork	Used to determine if the controller is part of a unit of work sequence (either empty or the name of the unit).
Timestamp	$unitStartTime	Stores the start time of a unit of work transaction.
string	$visibility	Used to set access privileages for the controller to the name of the rights group allowed to access it. 'Public' by default.

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Method Summary

static boolean	checkControllerDefExists()	Checks that the definition for the controller classname provided exists. Will also return true if you pass "/" for the root of the web application.
static boolean	checkIfAccessingFromSecureURL()	Static function for determining if the current request URL is a secure one (has a tk string or not)
static boolean	checkSecurityFields()	Method to check the validity of the two hidden form security fields which aim to ensure that a post to the controller is being sent from the same server that is hosting it.
static array	generateSecurityFields()	Generates the two security fields to prevent remote form processing.
static string	getCustomControllerName()	Returns the name of a custom controller if one is found, otherwise returns null.
static void	loadControllerDef()	Loads the definition for the controller classname provided.
AlphaController	__construct()	Constructor for the AlphaController that starts a new session if required, and handles the population of new/dirty objects from the session when available. Accepts the name of the rights group that has access to this controller, 'Public' by default.
void	abort()	Method to clearup a cancelled unit of work.
void	accessError()	Method to display an access error for trespassing users. HTTP response header code will be 403.
boolean	checkRights()	Checks the user rights of the currently logged-in person against the page visibility set for this controller. Will return false if the user has not got the correct rights.
void	commit()	Commits (saves) all of the new and modified (dirty) objects in the unit of work to the database.
mixed	getBO()	Get the BO for this controller (if any).
string	getDescription()	Getter for the page description.
array	getDirtyObjects()	Getter for the dirty objects array.
Timestamp	getEndTime()	Getter for the unit end time.
string	getFirstJob()	Gets the name of the first job in this unit of work.
string	getKeywords()	Getter for the page keywords.
string	getLastJob()	Gets the name of the last job in this unit of work.
Integer	getMAXDuration()	Getter for the unit of work MAX duration.
string	getName()	Get the name of the unit of work job.
array	getNewObjects()	Getter for the new objects array.
string	getNextJob()	Gets the name of the next job in this unit of work
string	getPreviousJob()	Gets the name of the previous job in this unit of work
Timestamp	getStartTime()	Getter for the unit start time.
string	getStatusMessage()	Gets the current status message for this controller. Note that by getting the current status message, you clear out the value stored in _SESSION so this method can only be used to get the status message once for display purposes.
string	getTitle()	Getter for the page title.
integer	getUnitDuration()	Calculates and returns the unit of work current duration in seconds.
string	getVisibility()	Get the name of the rights group that has access to this controller.
void	loadCustomController()	Does a HTTP redirect to a custom controller if one is found.
void	markDirty()	Adds the supplied business object to the dirtyObjects array in the session.
void	markNew()	Adds a newly created business object to the newObjects array in the session.
void	setBO()	Setter for the BO for this controller.
void	setDescription()	Setter for the page description.
void	setKeywords()	Setter for the page keywords, should pass a comma-seperated list as a string.
void	setName()	Setter for the unit of work job name.
void	setStatusMessage()	Set the status message in the _SESSION to the value provided.
void	setTitle()	Setter for the page title.
void	setUnitEndTime()	Setter for the unit end time (value will be stored in the session as key unitEndTime).
void	setUnitMAXDuration()	Setter for the unit MAX duration.
void	setUnitOfWork()	Sets the name of the controller job sequence to the values in the supplied array (and stores the array in the session).
void	setUnitStartTime()	Setter for the unit start time (value will be stored in the session as key unitStartTime).
void	setVisibility()	Setter for the name of the rights group that has access to this controller.

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Properties

AlphaDAO $BO = null [line 89]

Optionally, a BO may be set for the default validation form handling code to load in the displayPageHead() method. The definition of this BO class will need to be included in the child controller.

API Tags:

Access:

protected

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

Redefined in descendants as:

Create::$BO : The new BO to be created
CreateArticle::$BO : The new article to be created
Detail::$BO : The BO to be displayed
Edit::$BO : The business object to be edited
EditArticle::$BO : The new article to be edited
ViewArticle::$BO : The article to be rendered

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string $description [line 196]

Meta description for the controller page.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

Redefined in descendants as:

ViewFeed::$description : The description of the feed

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array $dirtyObjects = array() [line 163]

An array for storing dirty objects in a session (i.e. persistent business objects that have not been updated in the database yet).

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $firstJob [line 130]

The name of the first controller that is used in this unit of work.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $keywords [line 188]

Meta keywords for the controller page, generally populated from tags

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $lastJob [line 154]

The name of the last controller that is used in this unit of work.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $name [line 71]

The name of the controller

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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array $newObjects = array() [line 172]

An array for storing new objects in a session (transient business objects that have no OID yet).

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $nextJob [line 138]

The name of the next controller that is used in this unit of work.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $previousJob [line 146]

The name of the previous controller that is used in this unit of work.

API Tags:

Access:

protected

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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string $statusMessage [line 206]

Used to set status update messages to display to the user (messages stored between requests in _SESSION). Useful for when you want to display a message to a user after POSTing a request, or when moving from one page to the next.

API Tags:

Access:

protected

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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string $title [line 180]

The title to be displayed on the controller page

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

Redefined in descendants as:

ViewFeed::$title : The title of the feed

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Timestamp. $unitEndTime [line 114]

Stores the end time of a unit of work transaction.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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Integer $unitMAXDuration [line 122]

Stores the maximum allowed time duration (in seconds) of the unit of work.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $unitOfWork [line 98]

Used to determine if the controller is part of a unit of work sequence (either empty or the name of the unit).

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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Timestamp $unitStartTime [line 106]

Stores the start time of a unit of work transaction.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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string $visibility = 'Public' [line 80]

Used to set access privileages for the controller to the name of the rights group allowed to access it. 'Public' by default.

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Access:

protected

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Since:

1.0

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Methods

static method checkControllerDefExists [line 1159]

static boolean checkControllerDefExists(
string
$controllerName 
)

Checks that the definition for the controller classname provided exists. Will also return true if you pass "/" for the root of the web application.

Parameters:

string

$controllerName:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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static method checkIfAccessingFromSecureURL [line 1209]

static boolean checkIfAccessingFromSecureURL(
)

Static function for determining if the current request URL is a secure one (has a tk string or not)

API Tags:

Return:	True if the current URL contains a tk value, false otherwise
Access:	public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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static method checkSecurityFields [line 948]

static boolean checkSecurityFields(
)

Method to check the validity of the two hidden form security fields which aim to ensure that a post to the controller is being sent from the same server that is hosting it.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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static method generateSecurityFields [line 996]

static array generateSecurityFields(
)

Generates the two security fields to prevent remote form processing.

API Tags:

Return:	An array containing the two fields
Access:	public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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static method getCustomControllerName [line 1018]

static string getCustomControllerName(
string
$BOName, string
$mode 
)

Returns the name of a custom controller if one is found, otherwise returns null.

Parameters:

string	$BOName:	The classname of the business object
string	$mode:	The mode of the controller (create, view, edit)

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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static method loadControllerDef [line 1186]

static void loadControllerDef(
string
$controllerName 
)

Loads the definition for the controller classname provided.

Parameters:

string

$controllerName:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:	1.0
Throws:	IllegalArguementException

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Constructor __construct [line 224]

AlphaController __construct(
[string
$visibility = 'Public'] 
)

Constructor for the AlphaController that starts a new session if required, and handles the population of new/dirty objects from the session when available. Accepts the name of the rights group that has access to this controller, 'Public' by default.

Parameters:

string

$visibility:

The name of the rights group that can access this controller.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

Redefined in descendants as:

CacheManager::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
Create::__construct() : Constructor to set up the object
CreateArticle::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
Detail::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
Edit::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
EditDEnum::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
EditTags::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
EditArticle::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
GenSecureQueryStrings::__construct() : Constructor
Install::__construct() : the constructor
ListAll::__construct() : Constructor to set up the object
ListDEnums::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
ListSequences::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
ListBusinessObjects::__construct() : the constructor
Login::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
Logout::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
PreviewArticle::__construct() : Constructor to set up the object
Search::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
TagManager::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
ViewArticle::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
ViewArticlePrint::__construct() : Constructor to set up the object
ViewArticleTitle::__construct() : Constructor to set up the object
ViewArticlePDF::__construct() : Constructor to set up the object
ViewAttachment::__construct() : The constructor
ViewExcel::__construct() : Constructor
ViewFeed::__construct() : constructor to set up the object
ViewImage::__construct() : Constructor
ViewLog::__construct() : The constructor
ViewMetrics::__construct() : The constructor
ViewRecordSelector::__construct() : Constructor
ViewTestResults::__construct() : The constructor

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abort [line 752]

void abort(
)

Method to clearup a cancelled unit of work.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Throws:	AlphaException
Since:	1.0

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accessError [line 862]

void accessError(
)

Method to display an access error for trespassing users. HTTP response header code will be 403.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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checkRights [line 893]

boolean checkRights(
)

Checks the user rights of the currently logged-in person against the page visibility set for this controller. Will return false if the user has not got the correct rights.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

Redefined in descendants as:

Install::checkRights() : Custom version of the check rights method that only checks for a session for the config admin username/password, when the system database is not set-up

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commit [line 683]

void commit(
)

Commits (saves) all of the new and modified (dirty) objects in the unit of work to the database.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Throws:	FailedUnitCommitException
Since:	1.0

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getBO [line 293]

mixed getBO(
)

Get the BO for this controller (if any).

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getDescription [line 815]

string getDescription(
)

Getter for the page description.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getDirtyObjects [line 637]

array getDirtyObjects(
)

Getter for the dirty objects array.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getEndTime [line 527]

Timestamp getEndTime(
)

Getter for the unit end time.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getFirstJob [line 380]

string getFirstJob(
)

Gets the name of the first job in this unit of work.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getKeywords [line 839]

string getKeywords(
)

Getter for the page keywords.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getLastJob [line 416]

string getLastJob(
)

Gets the name of the last job in this unit of work.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getMAXDuration [line 560]

Integer getMAXDuration(
)

Getter for the unit of work MAX duration.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getName [line 332]

string getName(
)

Get the name of the unit of work job.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getNewObjects [line 671]

array getNewObjects(
)

Getter for the new objects array.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getNextJob [line 392]

string getNextJob(
)

Gets the name of the next job in this unit of work

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getPreviousJob [line 404]

string getPreviousJob(
)

Gets the name of the previous job in this unit of work

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getStartTime [line 494]

Timestamp getStartTime(
)

Getter for the unit start time.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getStatusMessage [line 1146]

string getStatusMessage(
)

Gets the current status message for this controller. Note that by getting the current status message, you clear out the value stored in _SESSION so this method can only be used to get the status message once for display purposes.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getTitle [line 791]

string getTitle(
)

Getter for the page title.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getUnitDuration [line 584]

integer getUnitDuration(
)

Calculates and returns the unit of work current duration in seconds.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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getVisibility [line 356]

string getVisibility(
)

Get the name of the rights group that has access to this controller.

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Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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loadCustomController [line 1054]

void loadCustomController(
string
$BOName, string
$mode 
)

Does a HTTP redirect to a custom controller if one is found.

Parameters:

string	$BOName:	The classname of the business object
string	$mode:	The mode of the controller (create, view, edit)

API Tags:

Access:

protected

Information Tags:

Throws:	FileNotFoundException
Since:	1.0

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markDirty [line 615]

void markDirty(
AlphaDAO
$object 
)

Adds the supplied business object to the dirtyObjects array in the session.

Parameters:

AlphaDAO

$object:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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markNew [line 649]

void markNew(
AlphaDAO
$object 
)

Adds a newly created business object to the newObjects array in the session.

Parameters:

AlphaDAO

$object:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setBO [line 305]

void setBO(
AlphaDAO
$BO 
)

Setter for the BO for this controller.

Parameters:

AlphaDAO

$BO:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setDescription [line 827]

void setDescription(
string
$description 
)

Setter for the page description.

Parameters:

string

$description:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setKeywords [line 851]

void setKeywords(
string
$keywords 
)

Setter for the page keywords, should pass a comma-seperated list as a string.

Parameters:

string

$keywords:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setName [line 344]

void setName(
string
$name 
)

Setter for the unit of work job name.

Parameters:

string

$name:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setStatusMessage [line 1133]

void setStatusMessage(
string
$message 
)

Set the status message in the _SESSION to the value provided.

Parameters:

string

$message:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setTitle [line 803]

void setTitle(
string
$title 
)

Setter for the page title.

Parameters:

string

$title:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setUnitEndTime [line 544]

void setUnitEndTime(
integer
$year, integer
$month, integer
$day, integer
$hour, integer
$minute, integer
$second 
)

Setter for the unit end time (value will be stored in the session as key unitEndTime).

Parameters:

integer	$year:
integer	$month:
integer	$day:
integer	$hour:
integer	$minute:
integer	$second:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setUnitMAXDuration [line 572]

void setUnitMAXDuration(
integer
$duration 
)

Setter for the unit MAX duration.

Parameters:

integer

$duration:

The desired duration in seconds.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setUnitOfWork [line 430]

void setUnitOfWork(
array
$jobs 
)

Sets the name of the controller job sequence to the values in the supplied array (and stores the array in the session).

Parameters:

array

$jobs:

The names of the controllers in this unit of work sequence.

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Throws:	IllegalArguementException
Since:	1.0

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setUnitStartTime [line 511]

void setUnitStartTime(
integer
$year, integer
$month, integer
$day, integer
$hour, integer
$minute, integer
$second 
)

Setter for the unit start time (value will be stored in the session as key unitStartTime).

Parameters:

integer	$year:
integer	$month:
integer	$day:
integer	$hour:
integer	$minute:
integer	$second:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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setVisibility [line 368]

void setVisibility(
string
$visibility 
)

Setter for the name of the rights group that has access to this controller.

Parameters:

string

$visibility:

API Tags:

Access:

public

Information Tags:

Since:

1.0

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Documentation generated on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:43:10 +0000 by phpDocumentor 1.4.3

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