For about a week or so I've been really up to my ears in DMX code. Not that it changes much from the normal daily routine of working with DMX, but this time everything is in pieces. You know when you plan to 'redo the kitchen' or something like that? You look at it and have everything in your head (and/or drawing). And all along you're thinking: just need to tear down this bit and put up that and ... and ... etc. Then once you start you're up to your eyeballs in junk that gets displaced by your work and your family looks on in horror as the kitchen is in a much worse state than it was before ... OK, so that was the feeling this week. I redesigned the DAL so I yanked all the data classes out. This is like pulling out the foundation from some structure. Everything just comes crashing down. The error list in VS stays clipped at 100+ and whatever you do, for days it doesn't show any improvement. This is not coders heaven.

OK, now for the good news. What has been done so far:

DAL overhauled.

• Entry Permissions are now handled correctly using a link table. I've already implemented a hybrid permission structure at this level allowing you to set an extensible set of permissions for both roles and users. O, I almost forgot: and these permissions can be time limited, too.
• Categories are also split off using a regular link table.
• Keywords will become 'tags'. They will be stored in a separate table and again linked to Entries using a link table. The idea is stilll that users create them on the fly unlike categories.
• Introduction of proprietary dynamic localization solution. The DNN CT is not moving on this issue and after an initial debate here in Europe we still seem to be short of the magic solution for this. DMX can't wait any longer an I've decided to go ahead with my own solution.
• IsLocked will vanish to make way for a WebDAV compliant locking mechanism
• IsPrivate will vanish to be replaced by user-based security
• IsApproved will vanish to make way for a proper Approval mechanism

In other developments:

WebDAV is now nearing completion. You will be able to store an retrieve documents from your own Office programs straight into the DMX. I'm very excited about this as I believe it is one important difference between 'small' and 'big' DM systems available.

O, and I started this blog as well. Just so I can throw this stuff at you ...