building on the.net framework visual basic learning user group may 17, 2004 creating professional...

Building on the .Net Framework

Visual Basic Learning User Group

May 17, 2004

Creating Professional WinFormsApplications

www.NovickSoftware.com© Copyright 2004 Andrew Novick


Andrew NovickVB Learning UG

May 17, 2004

Agenda

Where we start Where we’re going How we’re going to get there Code examples throughout Reuse – The Results




May 17, 2004

Novick Software

The consulting company of Andrew Novick Business Applications

Design – Programming - Project ManagementCoaching - Training

SQL Server, VB, C#, VB.Net, ASP.Net, XML http://www.NovickSoftware.com

Home of the

Transact-SQL User-Defined Function of the Week




May 17, 2004

Where We’re Starting

Windows Relational Database .Net Framework

4000 Classes Windows Forms 30 + Controls Several Programming Languages

C#, VB.Net, Jscript, J#, COBOL, APL




May 17, 2004

Start


Destination




May 17, 2004

The Destination




May 17, 2004

Typical n-Tier Architecture

ApplicationBusinessObjects

DataAccess




May 17, 2004

What makes an Application Great? Robust User Friendly Supportable Maintainable Attractive/Modern Scalable Secure




May 17, 2004

Additional Process Objective

Programmer Productivity Programmer Productivity Programmer Productivity Flexibility – Easily enhanced




May 17, 2004

3 Aspects Built on .Net

Business Objects Manage Data

Robustness Insure the application delivers it’s promises

Presentation Make it look good and up-to-date.




May 17, 2004

Bus

ines

s O

bjec

ts

Robustness

Trac

ing

Con

figur

atio

n

Messages

Presentation

Applic

ation

Life

time E

ase of Use

Appearance

DestinationStart

How are we going bridge the gap?

Dep

loym

ent R

eport Display




May 17, 2004

Extended Framework Architecture

Application

Business ObjectsData

AccessConfiguration

Tracing/Support

Lifetime Mgmt

Appearance Mgmt

Deployment

Security

Etc……Etc……

Etc……Etc……




May 17, 2004

Application 3

Component RelationshipsApplication 2

Application 1

Business Objects

Framework

Framework Biz Obj

CSLAApplication Blocks Free

GeneratedWrittenOnce

Written




May 17, 2004

Business Objects/Data

Data DB Connection Management Object/Relational Mapping Business Rules SQL Server Replication

Reporting Report Distribution Security/Authorization Database Connectivity




May 17, 2004

Business Objects - Options

Data Centric Solutions DataSets - Typed DataSets Deklarit/Component One/Other products

Object Oriented UML Object/Relational Mapping Tools Hand crafted business objects




May 17, 2004

Business Objects - Choice

CSLA Visual Basic .Net Business Objects

By Rockford Lhokta (Software Legend) ComExpress

Generates CSLA Objects Will generate a simple user interface

SQL Server Replication




May 17, 2004

Why CSLA?

UI application gets simplified data access. myGrid.DataSource = myOjbect.LoadList (key)

Scalable to multiple physical tiers Works fine in 2-tier (Client/Server) Scales to 3-tiers without changes to the

application Supports multilevel Undo




May 17, 2004

Reporting – Options

Crystal SQL Server Reporting Brio, ActiveReports, etc…. Roll your own

Could use Business Objects




May 17, 2004

Reporting – Choice

Crystal Comes in the box Has a standalone version Has a web based distribution product. Covers most of the bases

But It Doesn’t … Have a good development environment Use business objects.




May 17, 2004

Reporting – Code to support Crystal Dynamic database connection Menu Creation

Category Menus Report Items Supports Security

Parameter Gathering




May 17, 2004

Replication

Create Subscription Update Subscription Check status and clean up.

Requires Interop to: SQL-DMO SQL Server ActiveX objects for replication




May 17, 2004

Database Security

Requirements Easy administration Users can not use the database outside of the application.

Solution Database access based on a Windows Group

(Also known as Integrated Security) The group has no access to database objects SQL Server Application Role has all access rights SQL account needed for Crystal Reports




May 17, 2004

Database Concurrency - Choices Pessimistic Locking Optimistic Locking Check-in/Check-out




May 17, 2004

Database Concurrency – Choice Check-in/Check-out (Timestamp) Automated by the application Reservations Expire SysAdmin Override Form Batch Program Can SideStep




May 17, 2004

Presentation - Options

Stick with standard WinForms controls Enhance the standard controls Purchase one or more enhanced controls

Component One Sharp (DataDynamics) Janus Infragisitcs Many others




May 17, 2004

Standard WinForms Controls

30 or so controls Plain – mid 90’s look

Can be enhanced




May 17, 2004

Presentation - Choice

Infragistics NetAdvantage Suite Covers all the bases Gradients on all controls Borders on all controls Consistent Appearance management




May 17, 2004

Robustness (1/3)

Deployment Initial MSI (.Net Framework, Crystal, Ctlrs) No-Touch Deployment Updater Application Block

Handle Application Lifetime Correct number of instances Command line parsing Global Exception Handling




May 17, 2004

Robustness (2/3)

Supportability Event/Exception reporting/Help Desk notification.

Tracing Manage Trace Log locations Enhance Trace Contents

Configuration Before Application Startup System Wide Individual




May 17, 2004

Robustness (3/3)

Interface Management Application code shouldn’t directly access:

Win 32 API Office Com Objects Some parts of the .Net Framework

Security Who can do what when Auditing/recording of user actions




May 17, 2004

Robustness - Options

Roll-your-own Emerging Open Source Frameworks

Gengis Commercial Products

None available yet?




May 17, 2004

Robustness - Choice

Roll-your-own Built on a huge amount of example code

Google MSDN GotDotNet.com CodeProject.com WinForms.Net

Buy components where they’re available




May 17, 2004

Deployment - Requirements

Install COM components Install Components into the GAC Create Event Logs Allow for offline work Update automatically, even when the

application is in use. Force update when on-line




May 17, 2004

Deployment - Choices

XCOPY MSI No-Touch Deployment No-Touch with NetRun Updater Application Block (UAB)




May 17, 2004

Deployment Dimensions

Dimension Consideration Preference

1st Install How is the 1st install done on each client? Automatic

Updates How are updates applied? Automatic

Offline Does it support offline work? Yes

Security What are the security requirements? Full Trust

App.Config Can you use an App.Config file? Yes

COM Can COM objects be installed and used? Yes

GAC Can components be installed in the GAC Yes

Other Files Can other files be deployed? Yes




May 17, 2004

Deployment - Analysis

Type1st

Install UpdatesOff-line Security

App. Config COM GAC

Other Files

XCOPY Manual Manual Yes Full Trust Yes No No Any

MSI Manual Manual Yes Full Trust Yes Yes Yes Any

No-Touch

Auto Auto No Sandbox No No No No

No-Touch

NetRunAuto Auto No Full Trust Yes No No No

UABManual

MSIAuto Yes Full Trust Yes No No Any




May 17, 2004

Deployment - Choice

Initial MSI COM install Crystal component install Installer project to create event log Merge Module for Infragistics

Updater Application Block Downloads and applies updates when they become

available (5 min lag) The implementation can force a the user to wait for a

download during application startup.




May 17, 2004

Application Lifetime

How many instances are allowed at once? One One with many main windows Many

Did the application crash the last time? Crete an Exceptional Event Notification

Is Windows Shutting Down?




May 17, 2004

Configuration - Types System information need by .Net

Trace Flags Error handling

Application information Application wide

Before a database is available After a database is available

Per User information Before a database is available After a database is available

Overrides for Support




May 17, 2004

Configuration – Options

App.Config …. exename.exe.config Database Registry Settings files

XML INI

Isolated Storage




May 17, 2004

Configuration – Choice

App.Config Needed by .Net (trace flags, UAB, etc.) Before there is a database connection. Distributed with the software. Overrides database setting for support

Database – Uniform across the application Isolated Storage

Per Application / Per User Can be written to under CAS




May 17, 2004

Tracing/Exceptional Events

Used during both development and production

Trace object supplied by .Net Add a trace listener

Exceptional Events Event log Send e-mail to the help desk




May 17, 2004

Interface Management

Eliminate Win32 API calls in applications Minimize COM Interop in applications

Implement a series of helper classes WordManager, WordDoc SQLReplication, SQLServerManagement




May 17, 2004

Security

Privileges – permission to do something Groups – collections of IDs

MayI




May 17, 2004

Security – Schema




May 17, 2004

Additional Tools (Free)

Documentation VBCommentor PowerToy from GotDotNet NDoc from SourceForge

Development RegEx Tester Format Tester

Testing N-Unit Fx-Cop

CodeSmith Generation of strongly typed collections

Software Reuse

Don’t Start from Scratch




May 17, 2004




May 17, 2004

Application 3

Component RelationshipsApplication 2

Application 1

Business Objects

Framework

Framework Biz Obj

CSLAApplication Blocks Free

GeneratedWrittenOnce

Written




May 17, 2004

Reuse Quantified

Component K LoC %

Application 1 8 12Business Objects 18 28

Framework 15 24

Framework Biz Obj 9 14

CSLA 7 11

Application Blocks 7 11

Totals 64 100

.Net Framework




May 17, 2004

Where Did the Code Come From

22%

42%

24%

12%

Available For Free

Generated

Written Once

Application Code




May 17, 2004

Resources

www.windowsforms.net www.codeproject.com www.gotdotnet.com MSDN Windows Forms Programming in

Visual Basic .Net by Chris Sells & Justin Gehtland




May 17, 2004

Transact-SQL User-Defined Functions




May 17, 2004

New England Visual Basic ProfessionalUser Group 1st Thursday of each month

Microsoft’s Waltham office Focus on VB.Net Speakers

Local Professionals INETA Microsoft

www.NEVB.com [email protected]




May 17, 2004

www.NovickSoftware.com




May 17, 2004

Thanks for Coming

Please send feedback to:[email protected]

www.NovickSoftware.com

building on the.net framework visual basic learning user group may 17, 2004 creating professional...

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