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Finance | Project Operations, Human Resources, ...
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How to interact with the ax client

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Posted on by 5

I am a newcomer and I am not very familiar with AX.
Now taking over a factory assembly line project, I need to automatically extract form data, modify and submit forms in the AX window.
The method currently thought of is to use WinAPI to send messages to windows and controls, Simulate manual operation.
But only for simple controls such as AxEdit, But controls such as datagrid is not easy to handle.
Does AX provide corresponding interfaces to realize these functions? 
I don’t have AX administrator privileges, nor can I apply for it.

  • Suggested answer
    nmaenpaa Profile Picture
    101,156 Moderator on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    You should start by thinking about data flows and triggers. What exactly should trigger the data entry/update in AX? What information should be entered and where is it coming from?

    If everything is automated, you should most likely forget AX client which is intended for human users.

  • hiron Profile Picture
    5 on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    The factory uses AX for process control.

    There are many stations in the assembly line of a factory.

    After the workers finish the work in a station, they need to scan barcode to query and submit in the AX window.

    Factory needs to introduce automated equipment instead of manual operation.

    So I need to write a program to automatically operate the AX window, Operations such as automatically extract data from the table in the AX window, and submit new data.

    Is there a better solution?

    Thanks for your reply.    @Martin Dráb    @Nikolaos Mäenpää

  • Martin Dráb Profile Picture
    231,923 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    I'm sorry, but this says very little. Please realize that we can't help you if you don't give us enough information about what you need.

  • hiron Profile Picture
    5 on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    There are many sites in the assembly line. After different sites are finished, operator need to manually operate different AX window to scan codes to achieve station-passing and other operations.

    Now the entire assembly line will be automated, and AX window will be automated too.

  • Suggested answer
    nmaenpaa Profile Picture
    101,156 Moderator on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    Actually interacting directly with the database is also a bad idea. You would bypass all security, validations, caching etc on the application.

    You should interact with the application via APIs as Martin suggested.

    You need to have system administrator privileges (or work with others who have) when setting up systems integrations.

  • hiron Profile Picture
    5 on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    Interaction with the client is only a bad idea. I think AX should have its database. It would be better if I can directly connect to its database, analyze the data structure, and directly manipulate the database.

  • Martin Dráb Profile Picture
    231,923 Most Valuable Professional on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    Can you explain your scenario, please? Do I understand correctly that "form data to extract" refers to a form in another application, therefore you're talking about application integration? If so, trying to do it through GUI sounds strange. The usual options include web services, file imports and calling .NET APIs offered by other applications. Nevertheless a real integration isn't a task for an end user. A manual data import may be the solution for you.

  • Suggested answer
    nmaenpaa Profile Picture
    101,156 Moderator on at
    RE: How to interact with the ax client

    If you want to interact automatically with AX client, I would say that you can use any software robotics solution that can interact with Windows applications.

    AX itself doesn't have any dedicated solution for that.

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