Suthep SangvirotjanaphatMicrosoft MVP

GreatFriends.Biz InstructorWeb: http://GreatFriends.Biz E-mail/MSN: Suthep@GreatFriends.Biz

MSDN Seminar

November 2006

Developing Vista and Live Gadgets

Agenda

Vista Gadget

Demo: Building the Gadget

The Got Gadget contest

Developer Resources

What’s the Gadgets?

Gadgets are customizable

mini-program that display continuously updated information and allow you to perform common tasks without opening a window.

Windows Sidebar is located on

the desktop and host gadgets.

Gadget Characteristics

•Installed locally, run locally.

•Multiple instances, separate settings.

•User interaction:More than running in tray, but less than full window app style.

Gadget Categories

•Fun and Games

•Tools and Utilities

•Music, Movies, TV

•Search tools

•News and feeds

•Miscellaneous

•Mail and Contacts

•Safety and Security

•Lifestyle

•Techy, geeky, cool

•IM and Spaces

© GreatFriends.Biz VBBIZ-1105Visual Basic 2005 for Business

Gadgets gallery

Calendar

Clock

Contacts

CPU Meter

Currency

Feed Headlines

Notes

Picture Puzzle

Slide Show

Stocks

Weather

© GreatFriends.Biz VBBIZ-1106Visual Basic 2005 for Business

Gadget Files

Gadget Manifest –XML file defining the gadget properties.

HTML files –defines the core code for the gadget.

HTML setting files –user settings.

Others files - Images, Script(.js), and Style Sheets (.css), Icon.

How to build a gadget

•Create a folder.%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets

•Create the Gadget manifest.

•Create an HTML page.

•Test gadget from Sidebar

Gadget Manifest sample

HTML page sample

Got a gadget

Security Issues

Windows Vista treats gadgets very similar to executable programs.

Gadgets are written using HTML likes Web apps but run from the local computer.

Gadgets can be signed using Signtool.exe which included with VS 2005

Security Issues

MSHTML runtime is configured for gadgets similarly to HTA or Local Machine Zone security configuration

Allow to create installed ActiveX objects.

Allow to access data sources across domain.

But not allow to download and install new ActiveX controls.

Security Issues

Sidebar Gadgets will not display the UAC elevation prompts.

Administrator can set group policy:

Turn off Windows Sidebar

Disable unpacking and installation of gadgets that are not digitally signed.

More resources…

http://gallery.live.com

http://microsoftgadgets.com

http://blogs.msdn.com/sidebar

http://www.microsoft.com/thailand/msdn/gotgadget/

For slides, demos, and further questions.

Please visit http://GreatFriends.BizThe Thailand .NET community and training