Visualforce controllers

Getting Started with SalesForce CRM
VisualForce Controllers in SalesForce CRM

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History:
Version Description Change
0.1
Initial Draft
0.1
Review#1

www.bispsolutions.com

Author
Chandra Prakash Sharma
Amit Sharma

www.bisptrainigs.com

Publish Date
20th Dec 2013
20th Dec 2013

www.hyperionguru.com

Page 1

Contents
Understand the VisualForce framework, including its Advantages.....................................................3
Understand the VisualForce framework :.......................................................................................3
What is VisualForce ?................................................................................................................. 3
Advantage of VisualForce :............................................................................................................4
Dynamic VisualForce Bindings :.....................................................................................................5
Actions on a page to a controller :..................................................................................................6
Using Standard List Controller Actions :.....................................................................................6
Create custom controllers and standard controller extensions to incorporate new data and actions
into a page......................................................................................................................................... 7
Custom Controllers :...................................................................................................................... 7
What are Custom Controllers and Controller Extensions?..........................................................7
How To Create Page By Using Custom Controllers :..................................................................8
How to Building a Custom Controller :........................................................................................9
Controller Methods :................................................................................................................. 10
Standard Controllers :.................................................................................................................. 10
Associating a Standard Controller with a VisualForce Page :...................................................10
Accessing Data with a Standard Controller :.............................................................................10
Standard Controller Actions :....................................................................................................10
................................................................................................................................................. 11
Validation Rules and Standard Controllers :.............................................................................11
Understand the security implications of using custom vs. standard controllers................................12
Controller Class Security :........................................................................................................ 12
Implement wizards using custom controllers to handle the state and operations.............................13
Create custom components that use custom controllers..................................................................19




Page 2

Understand the VisualForce framework, including its
Advantages
Understand the VisualForce framework :
What is VisualForce ?
What is VisualForce?
VisualForce is a framework that allows developers to build sophisticated, custom user interfaces
that can be hosted natively on the Force.com platform. The VisualForce framework includes a tagbased markup language, similar to HTML.

What is a VisualForce Page ?
Developers can use VisualForce to create a VisualForce page definition. A page definition consists
of two primary elements:
• VisualForce markup
• A VisualForce controller
Where Can VisualForce Pages Be Used ?
Similar to s-controls, developers can use VisualForce pages to:
• Override standard buttons, such as the New button for accounts, or the Save button for contacts
• Override tab overview pages, such as the Accounts tab home page
• Define custom tabs
• Embed components in detail page layouts, similar to the way inline s-controls can be embedded




Page 3

Advantage of VisualForce :
As a markup language, VisualForce provides the following benefits :
User-friendly development :
Developers can edit their VisualForce markup in the same window that displays the resulting page.
Consequently, developers can instantly verify the result of an edit just by saving their code. The
VisualForce editor pane also include auto-completion and syntax highlighting.
Integration with other Web-based user interface technologies :
Because VisualForce markup is ultimately rendered into HTML, designers can use VisualForce tags
alongside standard HTML, JavaScript, Flash, or any other code that can execute within an HTML
page on the platform, including Force.com platform merge fields and expressions.
Model-View-Controller (MVC) style development :
VisualForce conforms to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) development pattern by providing a clear
division between the view of an application (the user interface, defined by VisualForce markup), and
the
controller and the controller that determines how the application works(the business logic, defined
by a VisualForce controller written in Apex).
Concise syntax :
VisualForce pages can implement the same functionality as s-controls but with approximately 90%
fewer lines of code.
Data-driven defaults :
VisualForce components are rendered intelligently by the platform. For example, rather than forcing
page designers to use different component tags for different types of editable fields (such as email
addresses or calendar dates), designer scan simply use a generic <apex:inputField> tag for all
fields. The VisualForce renderer displays the appropriate edit interface for each field.
Hosted platform :
VisualForce pages are compiled and rendered entirely by the Force.com platform. Because they
are so tightly integrated, they display the same performance as standard SalesForce pages,
regardless of the amount of data being displayed or edited.
Automatically upgradeable :
VisualForce pages do not need to be rewritten when other parts of the Force.com platform are
upgraded. Because the pages are stored as metadata, they are automatically upgraded with the
rest of the system.




Page 4

Use expressions to bind data and actions on a page to a
controller
Dynamic VisualForce Bindings :
In SalesForce Dynamic VisualForce bindings are a way of writing generic VisualForce pages that
display information about records without necessarily knowing which fields to show. In other words,
fields on the page are determined at run time, rather than compile time. This allows a developer to
design a single page that renders differently for various audiences, based on their permissions or
preferences. Dynamic bindings are useful for VisualForce pages included in managed packages
since they allow for the presentation of data specific to each subscriber with very little coding.
Dynamic VisualForce binding is supported for standard and custom objects :
Syntax : reference[expression]
Dynamic bindings can be used anywhere formula expressions are valid :
Syntax : {!reference[expression]}
Enters Dynamic VisualForce Binding.
Let's just quickly see what a regular VisualForce page looks like. As an example I want to display
the Employee first Name, Mobile Number, Position. To do that, all you need to do is a very simple
VisualForce page like this :




Page 5

Actions on a page to a controller :
Using Standard List Controller Actions :
Action methods perform logic or navigation when a page event occurs, such as when a user clicks
a button, or hovers over an area of the page.
Syntax
<apex:commandButton>
<apex:commandLink>
<apex:actionPoller>
<apex:actionSupport>

Description
creates a button that calls an action
creates a link that calls an action
periodically calls an action
makes an event (Ex: "onclick", "onmouseover", and so on) on
another, named component, call an action
defines a new JavaScript function that calls an action
calls an action when the page is loaded

<apex:actionFunction>
<apex:page>

Action Methods :
Action
Save

Description
Inserts new records or updates existing records that have been
changed.
Inserts new records or updates existing records that have been
changed.
Returns a PageReference object of the standard list page,
based on the most recently used list filter for that object when
the filterId is not specified by the user.
Aborts an edit operation.
Displays the first page of records in the set.
Displays the last page of records in the set.
Displays the next page of records in the set.
Displays the previous page of records in the set.

quicksave
list

cancel
first

last
next
previous

You can see below Example :




Page 6

Create custom controllers and standard controller extensions
to incorporate new data and actions into a page
Custom Controllers :
A custom controller is an Apex class that implements all of the logic for a page without leveraging a
standard controller.
- You want to leverage the built-in functionality of a standard controller but override one or more
actions, such as edit, view, save, or delete.
- You want to add new actions.
- You want to build a VisualForce page that respects user permissions.
Standard controllers can provide all the functionality you need for a VisualForce page because they
include the same logic that is used for a standard page. For example, if you use the standard
Accounts controller, clicking a Save button in a VisualForce page results in the same behavior as
clicking Save on a standard Account edit page.
However, if you want to override existing functionality, customize the navigation through an
application, use callouts or Web services, or if you need finer control for how information is
accessed for your page, you can write a custom controller or a controller extension using Apex:

What are Custom Controllers and Controller Extensions?




Page 7

In VisualForce custom control is an apex class that implement all of the logic for a page without
leaving a standard controller. Custom control use in VisualForce page run entirely in system mode
they does not enforce the permissions and field-level security of the current user.

How To Create Page By Using Custom Controllers :
Click on Setup > develop > Pages Then Click on New button.
OR
Directly write in address bar after login SalesForce site then add given address in url
/apex/Newpage1
for example you see here https://c.ap1.visual.force.com/apex/Newpage1
Note :- 1.Make Sure in User Setting Development Mode is enable.
2. You can Custom Control you in Standard Object and Custom object.
Example 1:- In this example create table with style sheet and how to call image by using custom
object Controller.
Step 1 :- Create new page /apex/Newpage1




Page 8

Note :- Before using this code <apex:image value="{!$Resource.imagename}"/> make sure add
image file in Static Resources.

How to Building a Custom Controller :
From Setup > Develop > Apex Classes then click New button.

After create apex class then you can create VisualForce page you can see below.



Page 9

Controller Methods :
Action Control :
<apex:commandButton> creates a button that calls an action
<apex:commandLink> creates a link that calls an action
<apex:actionPoller> periodically calls an action
<apex:actionSupport> makes an event (such as “onclick”, “onmouseover”, and so on) on
<apex:actionFunction> defines a new JavaScript function that calls an action
<apex:page> calls an action when the page is loaded

Standard Controllers :
In Salesforce.com VisualForce controller is a set of instructions that specify what happens when a
user interacts with the components specified in associated VisualForce markup, such as when a
user clicks a button or link. Controllers also provide access to the data that should be displayed in a
page, and can modify component behavior.

Associating a Standard Controller with a VisualForce Page :
Use the standardController attribute on the <apex:page> </apex:page> tag and assign it the name
of any SalesForce object that can be queried using the Force.com API.
Syntax :
<apex:page standardController="Account">
</apex:page>

Accessing Data with a Standard Controller :
Every standard controller includes a getter method that returns the record specified by the id query
string parameter in the page URL.
- You can traverse up to five levels of child-to-parent relationship.
- You can traverse one level of parent-to-child relationships.

Standard Controller Actions :
<apex:commandButton> creates a button that calls an action



Page 10

<apex:commandLink> creates a link that calls an action
<apex:actionPoller> periodically calls an action
<apex:actionSupport> makes an event (such as “onclick”, “onmouseover”, and so on) on
<apex:actionFunction> defines a new JavaScript function that calls an action
<apex:page> calls an action when the page is loaded

Validation Rules and Standard Controllers :
If a user enters data on a SalesForce page that uses a standard controller, and that data causes a
validation rule error, the error can be displayed on the SalesForce page. If the validation rule error
location is a field associated with an <apex:inputField> component, the error displays there. If the
validation rule error location is set to the top of the page, use the <apex:pageMessages> or
<apex:messages> component within the <apex:page> to display the error.
you can see below

Example : The following page allows you to update an account after will all fields then click on
Save button.




Page 11

Understand the security implications of using custom vs.
standard controllers
Custom Control :
Standard controllers can provide all the functionality you need for a VisualForce page because they
include the same logic that is used for a standard page. For example, if you use the standard
Accounts controller, clicking a Save button in a VisualForce page results in the same behavior as
clicking Save on a standard Account edit page.
Standard Control :
In Salesforce.com VisualForce controller is a set of instructions that specify what happens when a
user interacts with the components specified in associated VisualForce markup, such as when a
user clicks a button or link. Controllers also provide access to the data that should be displayed in a
page, and can modify component behavior.
contain the same functionality and logic that are used for standardSalesforce pages.
Can be used with standard objects and custom objects.

Controller Class Security :
To set Apex class security from the class list page:



Page 12

Setup > Develop > Apex Classes
then you can see security link on given page you can see below.

Select the profiles that you want to enable from the Available Profiles list and click Add, or select
the profiles that you want to disable from the Enabled Profiles list and click Remove.
Then click Save.
You can see below.

Implement wizards using custom controllers to handle the state
and operations
Example : If you want to create a three-step opportunity wizard that allows users to create an
opportunity at the same time as a related contact, account, and contact role:
 The first step captures information related to the account and contact.
 The second step captures information related to the opportunity.
 The final step shows which records will be created and allows the user to save or cancel .

Solution :
1. Navigate to the URL for the Create VisualForce first page:
https://<host>.salesforce.com/apex/opptyStep1
2. Click Create Page newOpptyStep1.




Page 13

3. Repeat the Step (Step 1 or Step 2) and give VisualForce page Name opptyStep2 and
opptyStep3.
4. Create the newOpportunityController controller it's create on Apex class.
you can see below.

Create Apex class then you create newOpptyStep1, newOpptyStep2, and newOpptyStep3 Visual
Force page. You can see below.




Page 14

<apex:page controller="newOpportunityController"
tabStyle="Opportunity">
<apex:sectionHeader title="New Customer Opportunity"
subtitle="Step 1 of 3"/>
<apex:form >
<apex:pageBlock title="Customer Information">

<apex:facet name="footer">
<apex:commandButton action="{!step2}" value="Next"
styleClass="btn"/>
</apex:facet>
<apex:pageBlockSection title="Account Information">


<apex:panelGrid columns="2">
<apex:outputLabel value="Account Name" for="accountName"/>
<apex:inputField id="accountName" value="{!account.name}"/>



Page 15

<apex:outputLabel value="Account Site" for="accountSite"/>
<apex:inputField id="accountSite" value="{!account.site}"/>
</apex:panelGrid>
</apex:pageBlockSection>
<apex:pageBlockSection title="Contact Information">
<apex:outputLabel value="First Name"
for="contactFirstName"/>
<apex:inputField id="contactFirstName"
value="{!contact.firstName}"/>
<apex:outputLabel value="Last Name" for="contactLastName"/>
<apex:inputField id="contactLastName"
value="{!contact.lastName}"/>
<apex:outputLabel value="Phone" for="contactPhone"/>
<apex:inputField id="contactPhone"
value="{!contact.phone}"/>
</apex:panelGrid>
</apex:pageBlock>
</apex:form>
</apex:page>
Create newOpptyStep1, then create newOpptyStep2 VisualForce page.

<apex:form >
<apex:pageBlock title="Opportunity Information">



Page 16

<apex:outputPanel >
<apex:commandButton action="{!step1}" value="Previous"
styleClass="btn"/>
<apex:commandButton action="{!step3}" value="Next"
styleClass="btn"/>
</apex:outputPanel>
</apex:facet>
<apex:pageBlockSection title="Opportunity Information">
<apex:outputLabel value="Opportunity Name"
for="opportunityName"/>
<apex:inputField id="opportunityName"
value="{!opportunity.name}"/>
<apex:outputLabel value="Amount"
for="opportunityAmount"/>
<apex:inputField id="opportunityAmount"
value="{!opportunity.amount}"/>
<apex:outputLabel value="Close Date"
for="opportunityCloseDate"/>
<apex:inputField id="opportunityCloseDate"
value="{!opportunity.closeDate}"/>
<apex:outputLabel value="Stage"
for="opportunityStageName"/>
<apex:inputField id="opportunityStageName"
value="{!opportunity.stageName}"/>
<apex:outputLabel value="Role for Contact:
{!contact.firstName}
{!contact.lastName}"
for="contactRole"/>
<apex:inputField id="contactRole"
value="{!role.role}"/>
</apex:panelGrid>
</apex:pageBlock>
</apex:form>
</apex:page>
Create newOpptyStep2, then create newOpptyStep3 VisualForce page.




Page 17

<apex:form >
<apex:pageBlock title="Confirmation">
<apex:outputPanel >
<apex:commandButton action="{!step2}" value="Previous"
styleClass="btn"/>
<apex:commandButton action="{!save}" value="Save"
styleClass="btn"/>
</apex:outputPanel>
</apex:facet>
<apex:pageBlockSection title="Account Information">
<apex:outputText value="Account Name"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!account.name}"/>
<apex:outputText value="Account Site"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!account.site}"/>
</apex:panelGrid>
<apex:pageBlockSection title="Contact Information">
<apex:outputText value="First Name"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!contact.firstName}"/>
<apex:outputText value="Last Name"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!contact.lastName}"/>
<apex:outputText value="Phone"/>



Page 18

<apex:outputText value="{!contact.phone}"/>
<apex:outputText value="Role"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!role.role}"/>
</apex:panelGrid>
<apex:pageBlockSection title="Opportunity Information">
<apex:outputText value="Opportunity Name"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!opportunity.name}"/>
<apex:outputText value="Amount"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!opportunity.amount}"/>
<apex:outputText value="Close Date"/>
<apex:outputText value="{!opportunity.closeDate}"/>
</apex:panelGrid>
</apex:pageBlock>
</apex:form>
</apex:page>

Create custom components that use custom controllers
In SalesForce you can build your own custom components to augment this library.
Accessing Custom Component Attributes in a Controller :
Step 1:
Create Apex class :

Step 2 :
Create Component, how to create Component in SalesForce.com.
Setup > Develop > Components, Then click New button.




Page 19

Step 3 :
Create VisualForce page.




Page 20




Page 21

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