Create a JavaScript Component

In this section you will learn how to create a Custom Component

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create a sample Custom Сomponent that you can, later on, extend to satisfy whatever needs you have.

1. Create your JavaScript component project (playground) or clone an example

A JavaScript Component uses Web Component specification to integrate any JS-based component to Jet Admin – this allows you to use any Frameworks and Libraries you like as long as you create them as custom Web Components. So it can be React, Angular, or Vue. js-based components, or any other.

First, you need to create a JavaScript Component project where you can develop and test it. This project will be your playground for creating JavaScript Components. It will work the same way as on Jet Admin but will make your development easier so that you can use your favorite IDE and environment. To make it simpler, you can use some of our ready-to-use starter projects on GitHub or use them as a reference:

• React – https://github.com/jet-admin/jet-flex-view-react-example

• Angular – https://github.com/jet-admin/jet-flex-view-angular-example

For example, here's an example of cloning React and preparing it for work:

git clone [e-mail]:jet-admin/jet-flex-view-react-example.git
cd jet-flex-view-react-example
npm install

2. Run your project

After you created your project and cloned an example, make sure it works by running this command (or any other you use):

npm run start

http://localhost:3000/

The project works fine, so you can start developing your JavaScript Component. But before that, read the following step if you need the Jet Admin API integration.

Consider the following limitations while developing:

• You can't change the URL inside the Custom Component since the component is embedded using inside Jet Admin view

• Consider incapsulating styles inside your view, not using global styles

3. (optional) Set up Jet API integration

To integrate your custom JavaScript Component with Jet Admin data and API, you can use the Jet Admin SDK library. To start using it, you would have to install it first:

npm install jet-admin-sdk

To work with API and perform queries, the SDK needs to know which Project you are working with and your Access Token. When a Custom Component is uploaded to production, it will fetch these automatically, but for development, you need to specify it manually, as shown below:

import { getPublicApiService } from 'jet-admin-sdk';

if (!process.env.NODE_ENV || process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development') {
  getPublicApiService().projectsStore.setCurrent('YOUR_PROJECT_UNIQUE_NAME');
  getPublicApiService().authService.tokenLogin('YOUR_USER_TOKEN');
}

• YOUR_PROJECT_UNIQUE_NAME – can be taken from the URL of your project on Jet Admin

• YOUR_USER_TOKEN – can be taken from the cookie token on https://app.jetadmin.io/

That's it! You can now use Jet Admin API through PublicApiService. For example:

import { getPublicApiService } from 'jet-admin-sdk';

getPublicApiService().currentUserStore.get().subscribe(result => {
  if (result) {
    console.log('Current User is ' + result.username);
  } else {
    console.log('Failed to get Current User');
  }
});

4. Upload your JavaScript Component to Jet Admin

Once you're finished with your JavaScript Component or just want to test it in a real application, you need to upload it. Build your project first:

npm run build

Usually, it will create your build files in the dist folder, but it can differ for your environment. To upload your Custom Component to Jet Admin, you need to upload a .zip file with your build files. Go to the dist folder and compress all the contents to a single .zip file.

Now go to Jet Admin and create a Custom Component as shown below.

You will need to specify the following settings and click the Save button:

• Compiled custom element – a zip file containing your build files of JavaScript Component.

• Custom element tag name – tag name that you used for the Web Component inside your JavaScript Component project. Should be prefixed with "jet-" and has a dash-case. Also, each of your JavaScript Components should have unique tag names across your Jet Admin project.

• Files to include in page – for your JavaScript Component to work JS and maybe CSS files should be included. You should check which files from your zip files should be included. The order of loading can be changed. These files will be included only once when Custom Component should be displayed and after inclusion they must define a custom element with a tag name the same as you specified for the Custom element tag name.

That's a wrap. Feel free to test your Jet Admin now. If you want to update it later, upload a new .zip file inside Custom Component.