DEV363Smart Client:  Getting the Most out of Windows Forms and WPF

Brad Abrams Group Program Manager .NET Framework Team

http://blogs.msdn.com/brada

What we are going to talk about

• Presentation Technology Choices

• Key WinForms Strengths (and demo)

• Key WPF Strengths (and demo)

• WinForms\WPF Interop (and demo)

• Orcas Era Features (and demos)• Occasionally Connected Applications

• Application Services

• ClickOnce

Presentation Technology Choices

App Requirements 1. Leverage the client

OfflineResponsive

2. Offer compelling UXProvides operational Efficiency Business insight

3. Enable familiar developmentLow training costsLarge skill pool

JSP

Swing

Win32

ATL

WPF\E

“Atlas”

ASP.NET

FoxPro

VB6

MFC

WinForms & WPF

Flash

WinForms + WPF = Success!

Windows Forms• RAD

• Great Designer Support

• Huge Ecosystem

WPF• Powerful and Flexible

• Rich Data Visualization

• Media Integration

WinForms+WPF

• Productivity of WinForms

• Richness of WPF

• Seamlessly use together in the same app

Windows Forms Enables rapid development of powerful

smart client application

• Low cost to deliver client solutions

• Focus on business logic rather than glue

• Productivity-focused tools support

• Extensive set of common of controls

WinForms 2.0 in action

Windows Presentation FoundationA unified approach to UI, media

and documents to deliver unmatched UX

• Deliver Innovative User Interfaces

• Increase Developer-Designer Productivity

• Achieve Flexible Application Deployment

• Leverage Existing Code Base and Skills Set

WPF in action

WinForms and WPF Together

Windows Forms Application

HwnSourceHwnSource

ElementHostElementHost

AdapterAdapter

WPF ElementsWPF Elements

• Host WPF in Windows Forms applications

• A set of services provided to support co-existence scenarios

• Type conversions

• Focus management

• Keyboard management

• Extensible property mapping

• A hosted control model

• Ships with .NET Framework 3.0

• Design Time experience in VS-Orcas

Orcas Era

WPF / WinForms Interop: Runtime• Light up existing WindowsForms app with WPF

• Full interaction between technologies • Call events on controls of the opposite technology

• Data bind to the same data source

• Set control properties on the opposite technology

• End user can’t tell where WPF starts or ends• Tab order, focus, all work seamlessly

• Fonts, Background Colors, visibility all are picked up automatically

WPF / WinForms Interop: DesignTime • Drag-and-drop WPF UserControls

directly onto WindowsForms Forms and UserControls

• Live preview of the WPF hosted content at design-time

• Edit content using the best designer for the job• WindowsForms designer for Form

layout

• WPF UserControl editor for WPF content

Orcas Era

WinForms and WPF Together

Occasionally Connected Applications• Easily enable client apps to work on-line and offline

• Local relational database• Small (< 1.5 MB)

• Non impactful “install”

• Same data programming model • Single file, code free format (.sdf)• In-Proc with the hosting app Doesn’t run as a service

• Up to 4 gigabytes per database• Multi connections for background data operations• Simplified security with password and encryption• Query Processor w/Transaction

• Sync Engine• Proven, Lightweight, 2 Tier, Scalable Sync API (RDA)• Full Featured Merge Replication• Occasionally Connected Sync Framework

• Works great in WinForms and WPF

Orcas Era

OCS Sync Component Architecture

SyncAdapter

ServerSyncProvider

Sync Adapter commands

Data Forms

SyncAgent

Data Access

Work against local databaseOutlook Model

Sync keeps the local and remote stores in syncCan push changes directly or via services Builds on your ADO.NET knowledgeComponentized for your usage patterns

ClientSyncProvider

SyncTable

SyncGroup

DBCommand

SQL Server Compact Edition

Transport

ServiceServiceProxy

Taking the Expense App offline

Vista Support

• Existing applications work seamlessly on Vista • Applications auto upgraded to Vista look and feel

Vista Support …

• Auto upgrade for Common File Dialogs

• Windows Forms work seamlessly under UAC• UAC Shield Icon support

Application Level Services

• Easily enable client apps to leverage ASP.NET application services

• Authentication

• Role Management

• Profile

• On the server• WCF Exposure of ASP.NET 2.0 AppServices

• On the client• Simple client library

• Offline enabled

• Works great in WinForms and WPF

Orcas Era

AppServices

ClickOnce Improvements

• Firefox Support• Will work with Non IE Browsers Out of the Box• Plus Firefox plugin ready

• Corp deployment of ISV’s Applications• Application Manifests can now provide App Trust information

• XCopy publishing• Publish Location optional for Installed App

Orcas Era

ClickOnce

Summary

• WinForms and WPF: The best marriage for client apps

• WinForms offers easy of use

• WPF offers power and flexibility

• “Orcas” Offers much more!• Design time support for using WinForms and WPF together

• Framework occasionally connected applications

• Great Vista support

• Access to application level services on the client

• Seamless deployment with clickonce

How Do I Get Started?

• WinForms Information• Deploy Visual Studio 2005 Today!• Join the community: http://windowsforms.net

• WPF Information• Evaluate WPF• Check the site: http://wpf.netfx3.com/

• Check out SQL Server Compact Edition RC1• http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/compact

• Get ready for Orcas• Get the CTP: http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/future/

• We’d love your feedback!Brad.Abrams@Microsoft.comhttp://blogs.msdn.com/brada

© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.This presentation is for informational purposes only.MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Vista Support

• Existing applications work seamlessly on Vista • Applications auto upgraded to Vista look and feel

Vista Support …

• Auto upgrade for Common File Dialogs

• Windows Forms work seamlessly under UAC• UAC Shield Icon support