An Introduction to the Dynamics AX Application Integration Framework (AIF), its architecture, types of services and integration ports.

1. www.folio3.com@folio_3
Dynamics AX –Dynamics AX –
Application IntegrationApplication Integration
FrameworkFramework

2. Agenda
 Folio3 – Company Overview
 Introduction to Dynamics AX Application Integration Framework
 How Document Are Exchanged
 AIF Architecture
 Types of Services
 Integration Ports
 Lab session

3. Folio3 – An OverviewFolio3 – An Overview
www.folio3.com@folio_3

4. Folio3 At a Glance
 Founded in 2005
 Over 200 full time employees
 Offices in the US, Canada, Bulgaria & Pakistan
 Palo Alto, CA.
 Sofia, Bulgaria
 Karachi, Pakistan
Toronto, Canada

5. What We Do
 We are a Development Partner for our customers
 Design software solutions, not just implement them
 Focus on the solution – Platform and technology agnostic
 Expertise in building applications that are:
Mobile Social Cloud-based Gamified

6. What We Do
 Areas of Focus
 Enterprise
 Custom enterprise applications
 Product development targeting the enterprise
 Mobile
 Custom mobile apps for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BB OS
 Mobile platform (server-to-server) development
 Social Media
 CMS based websites for consumers and enterprise (corporate, consumer, community &
social networking)
 Social media platform development (enterprise & consumer)
 Gaming
 Social & casual cross platform games (mobile, web, console)
 Virtual Worlds

7. Areas of Focus: Enterprise
 Automating workflows
 Cloud based solutions
 Application integration
 Platform development
 Healthcare
 Mobile Enterprise
 Digital Media
 Supply Chain

8. Areas of Focus: Mobile
 Serious enterprise applications for Banks,
Businesses
 Fun consumer apps for app discovery,
interaction, exercise gamification and play
 Educational apps
 Augmented Reality apps
 Mobile Platforms

9. Areas of Focus: Web & Social Media
 Community Sites based on
Content Management Systems
 Enterprise Social Networking
 Social Games for Facebook &
Mobile
 Companion Apps for games

10. Dynamics AXDynamics AX
Application IntegrationApplication Integration
Framework (AIF)Framework (AIF)
www.folio3.com@folio_3

11. What is the AIF and Why is it Important?
 The Dynamics AX AIF provides the capability to integrate Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 with other
systems inside and outside an organization by enabling the exchange of data through XML.
 This formatted XML is referred to as a document, and each document contains data and business
logic. Documents are based on a document class and defined by using Microsoft Dynamics AX.
 Dynamics AX 2012 ships together with standard document services that support common business
processes. As in Dynamics AX 2009, in Dynamics AX 2012 we can also customize existing services or
create our services.

12. How Documents AreHow Documents Are
ExchangedExchanged
www.folio3.com@folio_3

13. How Documents Are Exchanged
 In synchronous mode requests are tightly coupled to responses, which means that the submitter
of the request must wait for a response from the AIF before proceeding. In this case, the AIF does
process the request immediately and then sends a response.
 In asynchronous mode however, requests are placed into a queue, called the Gateway Queue.
Queued messages are processed at a later time and the AIF sends a response when processing is
completed. In this case responses are delayed, but note that large volumes of messages can be
processed more efficiently, and message processing can be controlled by changing various
configuration settings. Furthermore the AIF can be used to send and retrieve data to and from
Dynamics AX.

14. AIF ArchitectureAIF Architecture
www.folio3.com@folio_3

15. AIF Architecture
 Dynamics AX 2012 exposes its functionality through services that are
based on the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and hosted on
the Application Object Server (AOS).
 External applications and client applications on the Local Area Network
(LAN) consume AX services by accessing them directly from AOS.

16. AIF Architecture

17. Integration Overview - AIF Architecture

18. Types of ServicesTypes of Services
www.folio3.com@folio_3

19. Types of Services
AX 2012 supports the following three kinds of services:
Document services - Query-based services that can be used to exchange data with
external systems by sending & receiving XML documents. These documents represent
business entities, such as customers, vendors, or sales orders.
Custom services - can be used by devs to expose any X++ logic such as X++ classes
and their members, through a service interface.
System services - provided by Microsoft Dynamics AX. System services include the
Query service, Metadata service and User Session service.
System services are not customizable and are not mapped to any query or X++ code.
For more information about system services, see AIF System Services.

20. Integration PortsIntegration Ports
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21. Integration Ports in AX 2012
Each integration port also has a direction. An integration port can be
either an inbound integration port or an outbound integration port.
Inbound integration port - a destination for messages that originate from outside
Microsoft Dynamics AX.
Outbound integration port - a destination for messages that originate from Microsoft
Dynamics AX System. Outbound integration ports are always enhanced ports.
 Outbound integration port - a destination for messages that originate from Microsoft
Dynamics AX System. Outbound integration ports are always enhanced ports.
Types
 Basic port
 Enhanced port

22. Layers of Customization in AX
 USR ( User layer)
 CUS (Customer layer)
 VAR ( Value added resellers)
 ISV ( Independent service provider)
 SNL (Solution layer)
 FPK,GLS,SYS (Microsoft
customizations )

23. Lab SessionLab Session
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24. Lab Session
AX Side
Create a Class and operations
Create a service and configure its
methods
Incremental Compile
Register Service
Configure Ports  Service
Operations
Client Side
Get WCF service URL from
Configuration Port
Consume Service
Create Client, configure Credentials,
Company, etc.
Call service method

25. Future Topics
 AIF Logging and Trace
 MS Certification (80416A)

26. Contact
 For more details about our Dynamics AX development
services, please get in touch with us.
dynamics@folio3.com
US Office: (408) 365-4638
www.folio3.com