Marco's Component Maker
Version
1.5.2 (last update on Jan 13, 2011)
Rating
Compatibility
Reviews
8
License
Other (only for tools)
Non-Commercial
Type
Date Added
7 April 2010
Note: Marco's Component Maker is NOT a tool for beginners.
History:
** Jan 13, 2010 - v 1.5.2.0
* Joomla! 1.6 support
* generation of multiple translation files
* no more use of global vars ($mainframe, $option) both J1.5 and J1.6 code
* minor code improvements
** Dec 29, 2010 - v 1.5.1.0
* more input renderer types (string, text area, rich text editor, calendar, select list, boolean radio button)
* field by field rendering control
* support for translation files
* selection of fields for list/editing
* selection of searchable fields
* basic support for related tables (foreign keys)
* full code generation for select input
* code generation for related table
** Jun 12, 2010 - v 1.5.0.0
* no more mandatory fields in table (id, ordering,published)
* automatic recognition of primary key (no need that there is `id`, but must be numeric)
* generation of submenu for navigation between controllers, no more need to add navigation manually
* back end table list with sortable fields list & filter
* automatic rendering based on DB field type (input/textarea/rte/calendar)
* input validation, based on DB field type, before saving data
* configuration file management for generated component
* more security checks
(see web site for previous releases)
Images
Even though I've been working in Joomla for several years I'd never actually written a component, module or plugin. Yesterday I started out my quest in the morning to write a component and within 2 hours I found Marco's Component Maker and built a fully operational component. Simply amazing! It saved me DAYS if not WEEKS of work.
I look forward to the implementation of all the things you have listed as "not implemented yet".
Also, it would be nice if there was some sort of support forum or email for questions and issues.
I look forward to the implementation of all the things you have listed as "not implemented yet".
Also, it would be nice if there was some sort of support forum or email for questions and issues.
This is quite possibly the best Joomla developer tool I've ever used. If you are writing a component that lists several types of data and provides an interface to edit them this could easily save you 20 hours of coding time. It almost makes it TOO easy!
There are a few tiny little "bugs" here and there, such as the use of short tags in the JHTML calendars and the menu items for each admin view being overwritten with the controller name but five minutes to put those issues to rest in my component was IMMENSELY outweighed by the hours it saved me! I hope this tool continues to be actively developed. An easier DB config screen for quickly setting up new projects would be nice to have some time in the future too.
Thanks again for an AWESOME utility!
There are a few tiny little "bugs" here and there, such as the use of short tags in the JHTML calendars and the menu items for each admin view being overwritten with the controller name but five minutes to put those issues to rest in my component was IMMENSELY outweighed by the hours it saved me! I hope this tool continues to be actively developed. An easier DB config screen for quickly setting up new projects would be nice to have some time in the future too.
Thanks again for an AWESOME utility!
I e-mailed the dev about one bug and a few features I'd love to see, but otherwise the software worked as expected!
Just so you know what to expect with 1.5
There's a bug when storing records in some cases which can be fixed by editing the model class ( call to getError )
The completed component doesn't support enum fields, it will render it as a text box instead of select boxes as you'd expect.
The completed component required joomla prefixes on the tables, I had some custom tables that lacked prefixes.. while it let me select the table, the component still added "#__" in the queries.. that's fixable by editing the table class and the model classes..
Otherwise, the software is great and I'm sure the dev will fix the known issues =)
Just so you know what to expect with 1.5
There's a bug when storing records in some cases which can be fixed by editing the model class ( call to getError )
The completed component doesn't support enum fields, it will render it as a text box instead of select boxes as you'd expect.
The completed component required joomla prefixes on the tables, I had some custom tables that lacked prefixes.. while it let me select the table, the component still added "#__" in the queries.. that's fixable by editing the table class and the model classes..
Otherwise, the software is great and I'm sure the dev will fix the known issues =)
Owner's reply
Hi Lonnie,
thank you for bug report.
1. bug
Added to kwnown bugs ;)
You can easily fix it by replacing line 98 in templates/beModel.php with:
$this->setError( $row->_db->getErrorMsg() );
2. support for enum fields
may be in a next release, but it is not a priority: enum fields are not portable, so I never use them (sorry).
3. prefix
Joomla coding standard requires table have the prefix, so this will not be changed.
bye,
marco
Its hard to put into words the achievment of this amazing program. I have been trying to save time, and have been using all the web-based 'generate a basic component' and been frustrated with timeouts, session expired and gave up.
Then I tried this one, enter your information, select the predone database tables.. and bang.. one program ready for configuration.
I know its not the only one out there, but the simplicity is beyond awesome.
I am developing a commercial component with over 40 tables, and 600 fields, this baby hammered out the skeleton of the component with forms, layouts, lists, views (front and back) in seconds.
YES, you will need to tidy the code, but the boring bit is done for you. I have saved maybe 3 months work with this gem!
My only issue with the program is the that the calender control didnt appear properly in forms, but easily sorted.
My suggestions for the future.
1 - Instead of an (edit) button just make the name link to edit record like most joomla components (easily done with a site wide find - replace)
2 - Publish should be a radio button, not a text field (sorted same way)
3 - Sort by option on the fields in table views.
4 - (a real wish list, but I would happily pay for this as a commercial plugin) a generated search plugin that searches tables based on a 'searchable' tick box during the creation stage.. or just the entire of the table specified in the component itself.
5 - Optional 'forms' for the front end as well
Utterly BRILLIANT.. Thanks
Then I tried this one, enter your information, select the predone database tables.. and bang.. one program ready for configuration.
I know its not the only one out there, but the simplicity is beyond awesome.
I am developing a commercial component with over 40 tables, and 600 fields, this baby hammered out the skeleton of the component with forms, layouts, lists, views (front and back) in seconds.
YES, you will need to tidy the code, but the boring bit is done for you. I have saved maybe 3 months work with this gem!
My only issue with the program is the that the calender control didnt appear properly in forms, but easily sorted.
My suggestions for the future.
1 - Instead of an (edit) button just make the name link to edit record like most joomla components (easily done with a site wide find - replace)
2 - Publish should be a radio button, not a text field (sorted same way)
3 - Sort by option on the fields in table views.
4 - (a real wish list, but I would happily pay for this as a commercial plugin) a generated search plugin that searches tables based on a 'searchable' tick box during the creation stage.. or just the entire of the table specified in the component itself.
5 - Optional 'forms' for the front end as well
Utterly BRILLIANT.. Thanks
As someone who develops a lot of components for many clients, this package is absolutely the best thing that has happened for Joomla component development in years. It cuts down at the VERY least 50% of my development time on most components.
All you need to do is download the MySQL connector from MySQL.com, install it, and you are ready to rock.
It generates a fully Functional MVC compliant structure with Controllers, Models, Views, Tables etc. It builds a basic CRUD for your component in seconds. (As fast as you can click Next...)
In the next version I would love to see the ability to edit the field types (i.e selecting dropdown as field type etc).
Marco, Good work, well done. I am building a major commercial component based on this, and you will get some of my proceeds when I start selling. You are that good.
Cheers
Jacques
All you need to do is download the MySQL connector from MySQL.com, install it, and you are ready to rock.
It generates a fully Functional MVC compliant structure with Controllers, Models, Views, Tables etc. It builds a basic CRUD for your component in seconds. (As fast as you can click Next...)
In the next version I would love to see the ability to edit the field types (i.e selecting dropdown as field type etc).
Marco, Good work, well done. I am building a major commercial component based on this, and you will get some of my proceeds when I start selling. You are that good.
Cheers
Jacques
